Sarah Ann Freeth was the second child of Edwin Freeth & Thomason Ann Collins born March 3rd, 1869 at Smethwick, Staffs.
In 1871 Sarah Ann was living with her parents & 2 brothers at Hawthorn St, Smethwick.
In 1891 Sarah Ann was still at home with her parents, 6 brothers & 3 sisters at 36 Victoria St, Smethwick. She was working as a frying pan polisher.
Sarah Ann married James Betts in Jan-March 1897 at St Paul’s, Smethwick. James was born Oct-December 1868 at Tipton, Staffs, the son of Phoebe J & James Betts, a labourer in the ironworks.
In 1901 Sarah Ann & James were living at 48 Victoria St, the same street as her widowed mother & other members of her family. James was a general labourer. They had 2 children – Edwin (2) & James (1).
The family were still living at the same address in 1911 & James was now a labourer at the iron foundry. They now had 6 children at home – Edwin, James, Beatrice (9), Kate (8), Louisa Adelaide (4) &Vera (9 months). It was noted on the census that they had had 8 children, only 6 of whom were alive.
James died on September 19th, 1918 while serving as a sapper with the Royal Engineers. He was buried at Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. Son Edwin also served in WW1 in France with the RASC as a driver.
Daughter Kate married John L Yates, a wood machinist, in 1923 & the 1939 register shows them living near Kate’s mother at 53 Victoria St, Smethwick. The following year Louisa married David H Bennett & Ada married Edward J Reynolds.
The 1939 register shows widowed Sarah Ann still living at 48 Victoria St, Smethwick. With her were daughters Beatrice & Louisa , both ‘tender screw maker automatic machines’, & Ada, ‘viewer screw works’.
In 1939 son Edwin was living at 8 Thomson Rd, Smethwick with his wife Florence L & family. Edwin was a general fitter on railway wagon & carriage works. Son James & his wife Violet (nee Vickers) & family were living at 17 Clent Rd, Oldbury & James was a ‘miller, iron weigh bridge works’.
Sarah Ann administered the will of her deceased brother Harry in June 1941.
Sarah Ann died on December 1st, 1948, aged 79, & was buried at Uplands Cemetery, Smethwick.
The children of Sarah Ann Freeth & James Betts were:
fh.4.6.1.4.6.2.1 Edwin Betts born June 4th, 1898 at Smethwick, Staffs; died Jan-March 1964 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.4.6.2.2 James Betts born October 25th, 1899 at Smethwick, Staffs; died April-June 1973 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.4.6.2.3 Beatrice Betts born April 14th, 1901 at Smethwick; died July-September 1971 at North Bierley, Worcs
fh.4.6.1.4.6.2.4 Kate Betts born March 14th, 1903 at Smethwick; died July-September 1981 at Sandwell, Staffs
fh,4.6.1.4.6.2.5 Harold Betts born Oct-December 1904 at Smethwick; died Jan-March 1906 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.4.6.2.6 Louisa Adelaide Betts born May 21st, 1906 at Smethwick; died Oct-December 1991 at Sandwell, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.4.6.2.7 Alfred Betts born Oct-December 1908 at Smethwick; died Oct-December 1908 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.4.6.2.8 Vera Betts born July-September 1910 at Smethwick; died April 18th 1934 & buried at Uplands Cemetery, Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.4.6.2.9 Ada Betts born January 25th, 1912 at Smethwick, Staffs; died April-June 2001 at Birmingham