Louisa Freeth was the third child of John Freeth & Sarah Ann Felton born December 12th,1868 & christened March 6th, 1873 at Holy Trinity, West Bromwich, Staffs.
In 1871 Louisa (Lucy on census) & her sisters were living with her parents at the Prince of Wales, Wednesbury, West Bromwich. The family was with Louisa’s grandparents, Sarah & James Felton who was the publican at the Prince of Wales.
By 1881 the family had moved to 15 Watton St, West Bromwich & Louisa now had 4 sisters & 5 brothers.
Louisa married Thomas Onions on September 1st, 1889 at St John the Evangelist, West Bromwich. Thomas was born January 6th, 1869 at Rounds Green, Worcs, the son of William Onions.
In 1891 Louisa & Thomas were living at 87 Littleton St, West Bromwich & Thomas was a hay fork roller. They had a 1 year old son Thomas.
By 1901 Louisa & Thomas had moved to 14 Gaskell St, Stockton Heath, Cheshire where Thomas was a spade roller. With them was son Nathaniel, aged 2. Next door at 13 Gaskell St, their son Thomas was described as visiting Sarah Maddock, a 38 year old widow, & her son Joseph W Maddock (3).
In 1911 Louisa & Thomas had returned to the Midlands & were now living at 12 Chattaway St, Nechells, Birmingham. Thomas was now a cast iron examiner & at home were sons Thomas, Nathaniel & Ernest (1). Thomas’ father, William Onions, aged 71 was visiting at the time of the census. It was noted on the census that Louisa & Thomas had had 6 children, only 3 of whom were still living.
Son Nathaniel enlisted with the Army Service Corps in 1915 & gave his father Thomas as next of kin living at 221 Shortheath Rd, Erdington, Birmingham. He was a motor driver. There is a marriage for Nathaniel in 1919 in Birmingham to Elizabeth L Smith. The 1939 register shows Nathaniel, motor driver, living in Birmingham & with him is Dorothy M Onions, married & born in 1909. A report in the Birmingham Mail of October 15th, 1999 reveals that a lady was searching for Geoffrey Onions who was her brother & not her cousin as she had been led to believe. Geoffrey was born to Nathaniel Onions & his mistress Dorothy May Carter in the early 30s. To avoid the affair becoming public Geoffrey was raised by Nathaniel & his wife Elizabeth. A few years later Nathaniel left Elizabeth for Dorothy & they lived happily together having 2 more children. Geoffrey continued to be raised by Elizabeth & probably did not know of his sisters.
Son Thomas, aged just 28, was sadly killed in action while serving with the Royal Fusiliers in Flanders, France. He left a wife, Elizabeth, whose address was 20 Clifton Terrace, Erdington, Birmingham. Thomas had married Elizabeth Pollard in Jan-March 1912 at Aston.
The 1939 register shows Thomas & Louisa living at 49 Cook St, Birmingham & Thomas was a labourer. With them was Florence Onions (nee Widdus), wife of son Ernest & her 9 year old son Reginald. Ernest was the owner & driver of a motor lorry which was carrying cases of tea from Birmingham to Leeds in 1930. There was a problem with the gears when he was halfway up a hill & the lorry began to roll backwards. In an effort to steady its speed Ernest steered the lorry into a bank which it mounted & overturned. He was pinned between the steering wheel & the wrecked cab & his companion from another lorry managed to pull him out. Luckily no bones were broken & apart from shock Ernest had a lucky escape! (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, May 16th, 1930) In 1935 Ernest was in trouble with the law when he was fined for obtaining money on false pretences. (Evening Despatch, May 14th, 1935) Ernest’s wife Florence died in 1949 & he married again, is second wife being Agnes Cleaton.
Louisa died November 7th, 1941 at Birmingham. Thomas died September 19th, 1951 at Birmingham.
The children of Louisa Freeth & Thomas Onions were:
fh.4.6.1.2.10.3.1 Thomas Onions born Jan-March 1890 at West Bromwich, Staffs, died September 1st, 1918 at Flanders, France & buried at Sailly-Saillisel British Cemetery, Department de la Somme, Picardie, France
fh.4.6.1.2.10.3.2 John Onions born Oct-December 1891 at West Bromwich; died Oct-December 1891 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.3.3 Jane Elizabeth Onions born Jan-March 1894 at West Bromwich; died Jan-March 1895 at Runcorn, Cheshire
fh.4.6.1.2.10.3.4 George William Onions born Jan-March 1897 at Runcorn; died Jan-March 1897 at Runcorn
fh.4.6.1.2.10.3.5 Nathaniel Onions born May 7th, 1898 at Stockton Heath, Cheshire, died September 6th, 1956 at Birmingham
fh.4.6.1.2.10.3.6 Ernest George Onions born October 1909 & christened October 10th, 1909 at St Peter & St Paul, Aston, Birmingham; died October 27th, 1964 at 46 Hampton Rd, Birmingham