Born in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, Freeman worked in his youth as a brickmaker.

Freeman was the only survivor of the Whitby Lifeboat disaster of 9 February 1861, during which a great storm wrecked more than 200 ships on the east coast.

He participated in many rescues, saved many lives, and became a respected ambassador for the lifeboat cause and a prominent spokesman for his fellow fishermen.

[4] In 2005, a solid bronze bust of Freeman, sculpted by Richard Sefton, was installed and unveiled at Lifeboat Museum in Pier Road, Whitby; it was transferred to an exterior wall on the new lifeboat station upon its completion in Spring 2007.

The grant-making charity provides financial and practical support to talented young people resident in Yorkshire and the Humber.