William Freeth was the fourth child of William Freeth & Sarah Gutteridge christened June 5th, 1836 at Smethwick, Staffs.
In 1841 & 1851 William was living at home at Roebuck Lane, Smethwick with his parents & siblings. In 1851 William was working as a labourer at the glass works.
William married Emma Standley on August 1st 1857, at St Peter’s, Harborne, Staffs. Witnesses at the wedding were William’s older sister Hannah & her husband Henry Blackman. Emma was born c1836 at West Bromwich, Staffs, the daughter of John Standley, a labourer.
In 1861 William & Emma were living at George St, West Bromwich & William was a glass flattener. They had 2 children – Sarah (1) & William S (5 months). They had a 14 year old niece with them, Sarah Freeth, who was working as a general servant.
By 1871 William & Emma had moved to Oldbury Rd, Smethwick & with them were children Sarah Hannah, William S, Georgina (8), Edwin (6), Leonard (5) & Kate (3).
In 1881 the family were living at Cemetery Rd, Oldbury & William was still a glass flattener. Children at home were Georgina, Edwin & John Leonard, both glass makers, Kate, Amy (9), Albert (6) & Henry (3).
William & Emma had moved again by 1891, this time to 36 Trinity Rd, West Bromwich. John L was now a brick layer’s labourer, Amy was still at home, as was Albert E, a glass flattener’s assistant, & Henry.
Emma died in Oct-December 1891, aged 55, the death being registered at West Bromwich.
Tragedy struck the family again in 1897, when daughter Amy & son Henry Thomas both died.
In 1901 widower William was still at 36 Trinity Rd & was now a glass packer. With him was son Albert, a sheet glass flattener, & his wife Mary (30) & their daughter Gladys A (1).
In 1911 William was living with his son Albert & his second wife, Alice, & their family at 28 Francis St, West Bromwich. William was described as a pensioner (glass flattener) & Albert was also working as a glass flattener.
There is a death recorded for William Freeth, aged 80, in Jan-March 1917, at West Bromwich.
The children of William Freeth & Emma Standley were:
fh.4.6.1.4.4.1 Sarah
Hannah Freeth born July-September 1859 at Smethwick, Staffs, died Oct-December 1902 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.4.4.2 William Samuel Freeth born Oct-December 1860 at Smethwick,
Staffs; died July-September 1900 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.4.4.3 Georgina Freeth born October 9th,1862 at Smethwick, Staffs; died November 14th, 1943 in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, USA
fh.4.6.1.4.4.4 Edwin Freeth born
April-June 1864 at West Bromwich, Staffs; died Jan-March 1938 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.4.4.5 John Leonard Freeth born April-June 1866 at Smethwick, Staffs; died Jan-March 1952 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.4.4.6 Kate
Elizabeth Freeth christened December 18th, 1867 at Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.4.4.7 Amy Freeth christened November 5th, 1871 at Smethwick, Staffs, died
Jan-March 1897 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.4.4.8 Albert
Ernest Freeth born Oct-December 1873 at Smethwick, Staffs; died April-June 1934 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.4.4.9 Henry Thomas Freeth born Jan-March 1878 at Smethwick, Staffs,
died July-September 1897 at West Bromwich