Rebecca Freeth was the first child of Samuel Freeth & Frances Grigg born March 27th, 1797 at Harborne & christened May 14th, 1797 at the Presbyterian Church, Oldbury by Halesowen, Shrops.
Rebecca married John Downing on June 8th, 1818 at Harborne, Staffs. Witnesses at the wedding were Thomas Freeth & Mary Perry. John was the son of John & Mary Downing christened April 19th, 1795 at Harborne, Staffs.
In 1841 Rebecca (Rebaca in census) & John were living at Oldbury Rd, Harborne, Smethwick & must have been near neighbours of her parents who also lived at Oldbury Rd. John was a turner & he & Rebecca had 8 children at home – Samuel (20) a turner, Thomas (15), George (15), Mary (11), John (10), Fanney (4), Rebaca (4) & Phoebe (2).
In 1844 son Samuel married Lucy Banner at Harborne. They & their family continued to live in Smethwick where Samuel worked as a hollowware turner. Widowed Lucy was still living in Smethwick in 1901 & with her were 2 daughters – Maria & Alice.
In 1851 Rebecca & John were still living at Oldbury Rd, & John was a hollowware turner, They had 4 children at home – Mary (22), a warehouse girl, John (20) a hairdresser, Rebecca (14) & Phoebe (12).
Son George married Ann Maria (Collins?) & in 1851 they were living at Carters Green, West Bromwich where George was a maltster. By 1871 they & their family were living at Oldbury Rd & George was a farmer with no occupation now.
Rebecca died in Jan-March 1853, her death being registered at Kings Norton.
In 1856 daughter Mary married William Collett, a labourer at the glass works, at Harborne. They & family lived at Oldbury Rd in 1871. By 1881 William was a baker.
Widower John continued to live at Oldbury Rd, & in the 1861 census their house was described as a hairdressers shop, & son John was a barber & hairdresser. John (65) was still working as a hollowware turner, daughter Rebecca was a servant & Phoebe a housekeeper.
John died in Jan-March 1866, the death being registered at Kings Norton.
In 1871 son John was still living at Oldbury Rd where he was still hairdressing. With him at the time of the census were his sisters Phoebe & Rebecca, now Rebecca Smout, & 2 nieces – Ada (8) & Polly (5) Smout. Rebecca had married Thomas Smout in Jan-March 1862 at Birmingham. It appears that Thomas died (death recorded 1867 at Sedgley) & Rebecca remarried in July-September 1877 to a John Horton. Rebecca & John (a blacksmith from Appleby Leicestershire)) were living at Victoria St, Harborne in 1881 with Rebecca’s daughter Polly Smout, aged 16.
Son John died in 1872 & his estate was administered by his brother Samuel of Corser St, Smethwick.
The children of Rebecca Freeth & John Downing were:
fh.4.6.1.1.1 Samuel Downing born c1821 at West Bromwich; died November 8th, 1877 at Causer St, Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.1.2 Thomas Downing born c1824 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.1.3 George Downing christened December 11th, 1825 at Smethwick
fh,4.6.1.1.4 Mary Downing christened November 30th, 1828 at Smethwick; died September 26th, 1907 at 121 St Pauls Rd, Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.1.5 John Downing christened June 19th, 1831 at Smethwick; died January 12th 1872 at Mallin St, Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.1.6 William Downing christened February 16th, 1834 at Smethwick,
died October 18th, 1836
fh.4.6.1.1.7 Fanny Downing christened September 11th, 1836 at Smethwick, died
March 13th, 1842
fh.4.6.1.1.8 Rebecca Downing christened September 11th, 1836 at Smethwick; died April-June 1891 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.1.9 Phoebe Downing christened December 30th, 1838 at Smethwick