Frelighsburg is on land that was originally inhabited by the Abenaki. It was established as a colony in the late 1790s by American Loyalists, including pioneer Abram Freligh, a physician of German origin who lived in Clinton, New York. The sawmill built by his son in 1839, and several other buildings from the 19th century are considered historical monuments. Prior to being named Frelighsburgh it was named Conroy's Mills, named after another mill owner, and Slab City because of the great quantities of sawdust and slabs (slang for bark) that were there.[1]
