I managed to find the key to answering my own question
about scripting the adding of users in FreeBSD.

The chpass(1) ("change" password) includes an option
whereby root can *create* a password entry. It doesn't
do all the stuff like copy in a skeleton directory,
etc., but I can deal with that separately.

Sorry for the interruption. We now return you to your
regularly scheduled Linux discussion.

-- 
Lynn David Newton
Phoenix, AZ