John Freeth was the third child of Samuel Freeth & Catherine Wilton christened June 21st, 1863 at Smethwick, Staffs.
John was living at Brasshouse Lane in 1871 with his parents, 3 brothers & a sister.
John married Mary Ann Stokes at Holy Trinity, Smethwick in 1885. Mary was born c1864 at Dudley/Rowley, Staffs.
In 1891 John & Mary were living at 60 Brasshouse Lane where John was a stationary engine driver. They had a son Willie (3) & daughter Nellie (Ellen on census) (1).
By 1901 they had moved to 230 Halford Lane, Smethwick & John was now a labourer at the railway carriage works. Children at home were Nellie (11) & Alice (6).
Mary died in Oct-December 1901, aged 36, at Smethwick.
The children of John Freeth & Mary Ann Stokes were:
fh.4.6.1.6.1.3.1 Lizzie Freeth born Jan-March 1888 at Smethwick; died Jan-March 1888 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.6.1.3.2 William Freeth christened January 25th, 1889 at Smethwick, Staffs,
died April-June 1895 at Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.1.3.3 Nellie Freeth born March 1st, 1890 at Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.1.3.4 Alice Freeth born February 24th, 1895 at Smethwick, Staffs; died Oct-December 1943 in Birmingham
John remarried in April-June 1903 at Smethwick. His second wife was widow Emma Chance (nee Webb) born c1864 in Battersea, London, daughter of Alfred Webb, a labourer. Emma had previously married William Chance in 1895 in West Bromwich.
In 1911 John & Emma were living at 345 St Pauls Road, Smethwick & John was an engineer’s labourer. With them was Emma’s daughter Emma Chance (13) born in Smethwick, & John & Emma’s daughter Elizabeth (5).
John’s daughter Alice was working as a dometic servant in 1911 for Katie & Thomas Radford, an accountant, & family in Birmingham. Daughter Nellie was working as a general cook for Fanny & Arthur Tovey, an upholsterer, & their family in Aston, Warks. With Nellie was a 2 and a half year old nurse child, Oliver Freeth, born in Selly Oak, Kings Norton.
Daughter Alice married William Percy Houlton in Jan-March 1917 in Smethwick. The 1939 register shows them living at 14 Cambridge Rd, Smethwick & William was a rubber down at coach painters. Daughter Nellie also married in 1917. On December 3rd she married Edwin Cornelius Reeves at St Aidans, Small Heath. Edwin was a soldier & Nellie worked in munitions. By 1939 they were living in Birmingham & Edwin was a packer glee fittings at the brass foundry & Nellie was a charwoman.
Daughter Elizabeth married Benjamin Carpenter in July-September 1932 in Birmngham. Sadly by 1939 Elizabeth was widowed & was living at the house of her deceased parents, 345 St Pauls Rd, Smethwick. Elizabeth was a canteen assistant.
John died in July-September 1933, aged 70, at Smethwick. Emma died in Oct-December 1933, aged 69, at Smethwick.
The children of John Freeth & Emma Chance were:
fh.4.6.1.6.1.3.5 Elizabeth Freeth christened February 1st, 1906 in Smethwick; died Oct-December 1955 at Rowley Regis, Staffs