William Freeth was the eighth child of Josiah Freeth and Mary Yates born April-June 1861 at Smethwick, Staffs.
William’s mother Mary died prior to 1871 as his father Josiah (mistakenly written as Breath in census) was registered as a widower. They were living at St George St. & William had 1 brother & a sister still at home.
William married Elizabeth Millward in Oct-December 1879, the marriage being registered at Kings Norton. Elizabeth was born Jan-March 1859 at Oldbury, Worcs, the daughter of Sarah & William Millward, a fitter & turner in the iron trade. Elizabeth had given birth to an illigitimate daughter, Bertha Ellen, earlier in 1879.
In 1881 William & Elizabeth were living at 58 Regent St, Smethwick & William was a pipe setter. They had 2 children at home, Bertha E (2) & Leonard (5 months). Living next door were Elizabeth’s parents & their family.
By 1891 William & Elizabeth had moved to 7 St George St, Smethwick & William was now described as a ‘pipe setter pottery earth’. They had 3 children at home – William (9), Ernest (6) & May (2).
Daughter Bertha was visiting her grandfather William Millward & aunt Mary A Millward at 60 Regent St, Smethwick at the time of the 1891 census. Bertha was to marry Matthew Payton in Jan-March 1900 in Smethwick & by 1901 they had a daughter Esie L.
The family were still at St George St in 1901, now at number 108. William was now described as a drain pipe maker & there were 7 children at home – William, a screener of coal above ground, Ernest, an iron ….. dresser, Tom (15), an iron rivet maker, May, Maud (10), Harold (6) & Robert (3).
There is a death recorded for Elizabeth Freeth aged 45 in Oct-December 1904 at Kings Norton.
The children of William Freeth & Elizabeth Millward were:
fh.4.6.1.6.8.1 Bertha Ellen (Millward) Freeth born April-June 1879 at Smethwick,
Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.8.2 Leonard Freeth born Oct-December 1880 at Smethwick, Staffs,
died Jan-March 1885 at Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.8.3 William Henry Freeth born April-June 1882 at Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.8.4 Ernest Freeth born Jan-March 1884 at Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.8.5 Thomas Leonard Freeth born July-September 1886 at Smethwick,
Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.8.6 Sarah May Freeth born April-June 1888 at Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.8.7 Maud Freeth born April-June 1891 at Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.8.8 Harold Freeth born 1896 at Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.8.9 Robert Freeth born Oct-December 1897 at Smethwick, Staffs