Arthur Leonard Freeth was the fourth child of Edwin Freeth & Thomason Ann Collins born August 11th, 1872 at Smethwick, Staffs.
In 1881 Arthur was living at home at 11 Hawthorn St with his parents, 4 brothers & 1 sister.
In 1891 Arthur was still at home with his parents, 5 brothers & 4 sisters at 36 Victoria St, Smethwick. Arthur was employed as a rail packer.
The following year Arthur joined the Grenadier Guards on October 25th, 1892 in London. He served in South Africa during the second Boer War from 1900 to 1902.
Arthur married Louisa Holloway in Oct-December 1896 at Holy Trinity, Smethwick. Louisa was born December 17th 1869 at West Bromwich, the daughter of Rebecca Hetheridge & Thomas Holloway.
While Arthur was serving in South Africa, his wife was living at 4 Victoria St, Smethwick with their 2 daughters – Ada (4) & Annie (2) at the time of the 1901 census. There was also a boarder, Thomas Reeves (19), an engine furnace latheman. Thomas was in fact Louisa’s half brother. [Louisa’s mother remarried in 1884 to a Thomas Reeves.] Living next door to Louisa was her brother William Holloway who had married Arthur’s sister Ada Freeth.
In 1911 Arthur & Louisa were living at 10 Church St, Smethwick & Arthur was a general labourer at a glass manufacturers. They now had 4 children – Ada, a press girl at a spring manufacturers, Annie, Arthur (7) & Nellie (5). Still living with the family was Louisa’s half brother, Thomas Reeves, now an iron turner at a railway wagon manufacturers.
The 1939 register shows Arthur & Louisa still living at 10 Church St & Arthur was a glass makers labourer. Daughter Ada & her husband Albert Winston, a press tool worker, & family were living at 16 Caldwell St, West Bromwich in 1939. Son Arthur Edwin & his wife Lucy L (nee Jones) & family were living at 69 Lones Rd, Smethwick & he was a ‘charge hand tool setter, capstan’.
In 1939 daughter Ellen & her husband Joseph Samuel Stevens, a bread & cake baker, & their children were living at 192 Oldbury Rd, West Bromwich. Ellen & Joseph married on August 29th, 1925. Also with them was Lucy Louisa Freeth who had been born on January 22nd, 1925. Lucy was working at carding curling pins! Lucy was daughter of Arthur Edwin Freeth & Lucy Louisa Jones who married in 1924.
Arthur died on November 28th, 1948, aged 76, at Smethwick & was buried December 3rd.
Louisa died in July-September 1953, aged 77, at Smethwick.
The children of Arthur Leonard Freeth & Louisa Holloway were:
fh.4.6.1.4.6.4.1 Ada Freeth born February 9th, 1897 & christened March 2nd, 1897 at Smethwick, Staffs ; died August 3rd, 1974 at 16 Caldwell St, West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.4.6.4.2 Annie Freeth born April-June 1899 at Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.4.6.4.3 Arthur Edwin Freeth born September 2nd,1903 at Smethwick; died June 17th, 1970 at 11 Sandfields Oldbury Rd, Smethwick
fh,4.6.1.4.6.4.4 Ellen Louisa (Nellie) Freeth born July 29th, 1905 at Smethwick, Staffs; died May 19th, 1978 & cremated May 25th, in West Midlands