We are grateful to John Keenan, great grandson of John Freeth, for information on his family.
John Freeth was the tenth child of Thomas Freeth & Sarah Hemings born January 16th, 1843 at Smethwick & christened February 5th, 1843 at Smethwick.
In 1851 John was living with his widowed father Thomas, sister & brothers at Horton St, West Bromwich.
In 1861 John was still living at home, now Albert St, West Bromwich & was employed at the glass works.
In Jan-March 1863 John married Sarah Ann Felton at All Saints, West Bromwich. Sarah was the daughter of James & Sarah Felton born Jan-March 1842 at West Bromwich.
By 1871 John, a labourer, & Sarah were living with Sarah’s parents at the Prince of Wales pub, Paradise St, West Bromwich with their 3 children - Ellen (4), Lucy (2) & Sarah Ann (8 months). Sadly daughter Sarah died in July-September of that year.
By 1881 John & Sarah were living at 15 Watton St, West Bromwich & John was still a labourer. At home were 10 children which included 2 sets of twins - Ellen, Louisa (Lucy?) (12), Tom (10), Annie (8), John (6), George (5), Jane E (5), Ernest E (4), Lilley (1 month) & Berty (1 month). Unfortunately baby Lilley died soon after the census. Also living with them were Sarah’s father James Felton (81), an annuitant & a niece & nephew – Jane (15) & James (13) Felton.
In 1891 John & Sarah were still living at Watton St, now #26, & John’s occupation was now a glass maker. At home were Ellen (24), Thomas, an engine fitter, Annie, a tailoress, John, a greengrocer, George, a spring maker, Jane, Ernest, an engine fitter, & Bertie, with new addition James (8), Maria (7) & Letitia (4).
Sarah died in July-September 1891,at West Bromwich, aged 49 – she had given birth to 14 known children!
In 1901 John was living at 66 Newhall St, West Bromwich, noted as living on own means, as were his daughters Ellen (34) & Ann (28). Also at home were Ernest, a night soil man (carter), & Bert, a horse driver (groom), & Letitia.
John died on July 14th, 1913, aged 70, at West Bromwich.
The children of John Freeth & Sarah Ann Felton were:
fh.4.6.1.2.10.1 Ellen Freeth born Jan-March 1867 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.2 Louisa Freeth
born 1868 at West Bromwich, died November 7th 1941 at Birmingham
fh.4.6.1.2.10.3 Sarah Ann Freeth born July-September 1870, died July-September
1871
fh.4.6.1.2.10.4 Thomas Freeth
born Oct-December 1871 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.5 Ann Freeth born Jan-March 1873 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.6 John Freeth
born April 21st,1874 at West Bromwich, died March 17th, 1942 at Coventry
fh.4.6.1.2.10.7 George Freeth born Oct-December 1875 at West Bromwich, died
October 1st, 1947 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.8 Jane
Elizabeth Freeth born Oct-December 1875 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.9 Ernest Edward Freeth born April-June 1877 at West Bromwich,
died October 13th, 1948 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.10 Lily Freeth born 1881 at West Bromwich, died April-June 1881
at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.11 Bertie Freeth
born 1881 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.12 James Freeth born July-September 1882 at West Bromwich, died
April 12th, 1897 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.13 Ann Maria Freeth born Jan-March,1884 at West Bromwich, died
March 21st, 1961 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.14 Letitia Freeth born Oct-December 1886 at West Bromwich, died
April 12th, 1948 at West Bromwich