Letitia Freeth was the fifth child of Thomas Freeth & Sarah Hemings christened December 16th, 1832 at Smethwick.
In 1841 Letitia was still living with her parents, sisters & brother at Oldbury Rd, Harborne, Smethwick
In 1851 Letitia was a servant for Thomas & Hannah Tilsley at Summer Row, Birmingham. Her occupation was described as ‘all work’. Thomas Tilsley was a victualler.
Letitia married Richard Battersby in April-June 1855 at Kings Norton. Richard was christened September 29th, 1833 at Warrington, Lancs, the son of Ann & Richard Battersby, a handloom weaver.
In 1861 Letitia & Richard were lodging at 8 Heath St, Mile End Old Town, Stepney at the house of George Tomsette, a master mariner & pilot. Richard was an iron turner & they had 3 children, Letitia (5), James (3) & Richard M (9 months).
Letitia & Richard were still at Heath St (now at #10), Mile End Old Town in 1871. Richard was described as an engine turner. Children at home were James (13), Richard (11), George S (7), Anna (4) & Ellen (1 month). A son William had been born to Letitia & Richard in 1869 who sadly only lived for 2 weeks. His burial record reveals that the family were non-conformists.
In 1873 daughter Letitia married Joseph Plunkett at Mile End Old Town, Stepney.
In 1879 son Richard married Susannah Ashford at Greenwich, London. In 1891 Richard & Susannah were living with his brother George, an engine turner & his wife Alice Rebecca (nee Stevenson, married 1889) & their baby son at Bromley, Poplar. Richard was a pattern maker & he & Susannah had 4 sons & 2 daughters.
By 1881 the family had moved to Bromley St Leonard in the parish of All Hallows, East India Dock, & were living at 36 Benlade (?) St. Richard was an engine fitter (at works), son James was a general labourer & George an engine fitter. Also at home were Ellen & another son Joseph (7).
In 1891 Richard & Letitia were living at 26 Abbott Rd, Bromley. Richard was working as an iron turner & Letitia was described as a fancy trimmer. Son James was a waterproof maker & also still at home were Ellen & Joseph who was a pattern maker. Lodging with them was Letitia’s brother Thomas Freeth (listed as Furth) who was an engineers labourer, aged 54.
Son Joseph married Edith Emma Jane Stanley in 1897 in Poplar. By 1911 Joseph, a pattern maker & gun engineer, was a patient at West Ham Union Infirmary, Low Leyton, Essex.
By 1901 Richard & Letitia had moved to Plaistow, West Ham, Essex & were living at 97 Malmesbury Rd with their 43 year old son James who was an iron foundry labourer. Richard (68) was still an engineers turner.
In 1911 Richard & Letitia were living at 97 Malmesbury Rd, Canning Town, West Ham & Richard was now a pensioned engineer. Son James was still living with them & his occupation was given as ‘general labourer, not working’. It was noted on the census that Letitia had had 9 children, only 4 of whom were still living.
Letitia died in Jan-March 1914, aged 80, her death being registered at Poplar, London.
Richard died in Jan-March 1917, aged 86, his death being registered at Poplar, London.
The known children of Letitia Freeth & Richard Battersby were:
fh.4.6.1.2.5.1 Letitia Battersby born August 27th, 1855 at West Bromwich; died March 9th, 1927 at Kings College Hospital, Surrey & buried at Ladywell & Brockley Cemeteries, London
fh.4.6.1.2.5.2 James Battersby born Oct-December 1857 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.2.5.3 Richard Malcolm Battersby born Aug-September 1860 at Mile End
Old Town; died Jan-March 1899 at Poplar, London
fh.4.6.1.2.5.4 George Henry Battersby born June 1st, 1863 at 110 Heath St, Mile End Old Town; died July-September 1928 at Poplar, London
fh.4.6.1.2.5.5 John Battersby born July-September 1865 at Mile End Old Town; died July-September 1865 at Mile End Old Town
fh.4.6.1.2.5.6 Annie Battersby born Oct-December 1866 at Mile End Old Town
fh.4.6.1.2.5.7 William Battersby born April 1869 at Mile End Old Town; died at 10 East? St, Mile End Old Town & buried May 5th, 1869 at Victoria Park Cemetery, Hackney
fh.4.6.1.2.5.8 Ellen Battersby born April-June 1871 at Mile End Old Town
fh.4.6.1.2.5.9 Joseph Battersby born July-September 1873 at Mile End Old Town; died Oct-December 1947 at Poplar, London