George Freeth was the eighth child of John Freeth & Sarah Ann Felton born October 2nd, 1875 & christened October 22nd, 1875 at Christ Church, West Bromwich, Staffs.
In 1881 George & his 5 sisters & 4 brothers & parents were living at 15 Watton St, West Bromwich.
By 1891 the family had moved to 26 Watton St & George was now a spring maker.
In 1901 George was lodging at 36 Queen St,West Bromwich & was now working as an assistant in the poultry trade.
George married Mercy Sadler in April-June 1903 at Dudley, Staffs. Mercy was born October 19th, 1879 at West Bromwich.
George & Mercy were living at 74 Pleasant St, West Bromwich in 1911 with their 5 children – George (6), Fred (5), Norman (3). Florence (2) & baby Jane aged 6 months. George was now a carter (night soil).
In 1923 son David George emigrated to Melbourne, Australia giving his last address as 74 Pleasant St & his occupation as labourer. His brother Frederick followed in 1924 giving his last known address as 39 Newhall St, West Bromwich. He was a horse man. In 1936 there is a record of Frederick returning to England to 74 Pleasant St.
Kelly’s 1932 directory for west Bromwich shows George & Mercy Freeth, both shopkeepers, living at 74 Pleasant St, son Ernest Edward, coal deliverer, living at 66 Newhall St, & son Norman Stanley, shopkeeper, living at 65 Newhall St.
Daughter Florence married John Thomas Watkins in 1933 in West Bromwich. In 1939 they & their daughter Doreen were living at 63 Newhall St, West Bromwich & John was a casement fitter. Living at number 66 Newhall St was Florence’s uncle, Ernest Edward Freeth, a coal merchant, & with him was Florence’s aunt, Ann M Freeth, housekeeper.
The 1939 register shows George & Mercy living at 20 Watton St, West Bromwich with children James, a lorry driver for a green grocer, Annie, a factory hand (springs) & Lilly, unpaid domestic duties. George was working as an ‘odd man (fish shop)’. Living next door was Florence M Freeth, a cinema cashier, born 1913 and married. There is a record for Ernest Edward Freeth marrying Florence M Robinson in 1939 in West Bromwich. It is thought that Ernest enlisted in the Royal Horse Artillery in 1939 but was sadly killed in action in 1942 in Egypt.
In 1939 son Fred & his brother Norman & wife Eileen M (nee Whitehouse) were living at 1 Barnett Cottages, Barnett Mill Farm, Harvington, Kidderminster, Worcs & both brothers were farmers. Daughter Florence had married in 1933 & the 1939 register shows her & husband John T Watkins, a casement fitter, living at 63 New Hall St, West Bromwich. Daughter Doris had married John T Welch, an iron foundry fitter, in 1931 & in 1939 they were living at 22 Watton St, West Bromwich. Daughter Edna had married Reginald I Knight, a hot drop stamper, in 1937 & in 1939 they were living at Ebenezer St, West Bromwich.
Son George married Gwendoline Wills in 1940 in West Bromwich.
Mercy died on September 8th, 1941 at 20 Watton St, West Bromwich. Probate was granted to Leonard Peters, steel tube annealer & Edna May Knight, (wife of Reginald Isaac Knight). Her effects were £1,763.18s.9d.
Daughter Annie married William A Davis in 1947 in West Bromwich.
George died on October 1st, 1947 at West Bromwich.
Daughter Lily married Howard D Dean in 1948 in West Bromwich.
The children of George Freeth & Mercy Sadler were:
fh.4.6.1.2.10.8.1 David George Freeth born July-September 1904 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.8.2 Frederick Freeth born January 31st, 1906 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.8.3 Norman Stanley Freeth born November 4th, 1907 at West Bromwich; November 8th, 1972 at Barnett Mill Farm, Kidderminster, Worcs
fh.4.6.1.2.10.8.4 Florence Irene Freeth born June 27th, 1909 at West Bromwich; died Jan-March 1989 at Stourbridge, Worcs
fh.4.6.1.2.10.8.5 Jane Elizabeth Freeth born Oct-December 1910 at West Bromwich; died Oct-December 1924 at Birmingham
fh.4.6.1.2.10.8.6 Doris Mabel Freeth born April 21st, 1912 at West Bromwich; died March 3rd, 1986 at 16 Irvan Ave, West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.8.7 Edna May Freeth born March 27th, 1914 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.2.10.8.8 Ernest Edward Freeth born Oct-December 1915 at West Bromwich; died October 29th, 1942 in Western Desert, Egypt & commemorated at El Alamein War Cemetery
fh.4.6.1.2.10.8.9 James Freeth born December 24th, 1916 at West Bromwich; died Oct-December 1979 at Walsall, West Midlands
fh.4.6.1.2.10.8.10 Annie Freeth born April 7th, 1920 at West Bromwich; died May 2003 at Sandwell, West Midlands
fh.4.6.1.2.10.8.11 Lily Freeth born October 28th, 1924 at West Bromwich; died Jan-March 1990 in Birmingham