The freemen were the faction of Nephites who, around 67 BC, took up that name during a contention over the chief judge Pahoran I. When part of the people petitioned to alter the law and remove him, those who wanted him to remain chief judge covenanted to maintain their rights and the privileges of their religion by a free government, opposing the king-men, who sought to overthrow that government and set up a king (Alma 51:6).
The contention was settled by the voice of the people, which came in favor of the freemen; Pahoran I kept the judgment seat, and the king-men were put to silence (Alma 51:7). The dispute fell during Amalickiah’s renewed war on the Nephites, and Captain Moroni commanded the armies in the field.
In an epistle to Pahoran I, Moroni threatened that unless the government strengthened and supplied the armies, he would leave a part of his freemen to hold their portion of the land (Alma 60:25). Pahoran replied that he had not failed Moroni but had been driven out: those who sought the judgment seat had risen in rebellion, withheld provisions, and forced him to flee to the land of Gideon (Alma 61:3-5).
Moroni marched to Gideon, joined his forces with Pahoran’s, and the two went against Zarahemla, which the dissenters under Pachus held. Pachus was slain, Pahoran was restored to the judgment seat, and the captured king-men who would not take up arms in defense of their country were executed according to the law (Alma 62:1-9).