Joseph Freeth was the fourth child of Samuel Freeth & Catherine Wilton born January 16th, 1866 at Smethwick, Staffs. (There is a christening record for Josiah Freeth on October 16th, 1866 at Smethwick to Samuel & Catherine Freeth but no christening record for Joseph has been found.)
Joseph was living at Brasshouse Lane in 1871 with his parents, 3 brothers & a sister.
Joseph continued to live at home at 90 Brasshouse Lane in 1881with his parents, 2 brothers & 2 sisters.
Joseph married Elizabeth Edgerton in April-June 1889 at St Paul’s, Smethwick. Elizabeth was born Jan-March 1867 at Smethwick, the daughter of Maria & Emanuel Edgerton, a mill furnaceman.
In 1891 Joseph & Elizabeth were living at 181 Halford Lane, Smethwick & Joseph was a general labourer. Lodging with them was Emanuel Edgerton, Elizabeth’s brother, also a general labourer. They had a 9 year old visitor Rose Shaw.
By 1901 Joseph & Elizabeth had moved to 217 Halford Lane & were close neighbours of brother John Freeth & his family. Joseph was now described as an engine fitter labourer. They had a 9 year old daughter Elsie. Joseph & Elizabeth had had 5 sons, all of whom sadly died in infancy.
Elizabeth died in Jan-March 1911, aged 44, at Smethwick.
In 1911 widowed Joseph was living at 82 Union St, Smethwick with his daughter Elsie who was a button coverer. Joseph was now a confectioner. It was noted that Joseph & Elizabeth had had 6 children, but only Elsie was still living.
The 1939 register shows Josiah Freeth, an old age pensioner, living at 82 Union St, Smethwick, with daughter Elsie, now married to Samuel Houlton. Elsie & Samuel, a foreman iron dresser, had married in 1915 & with them were 2 sons – Eric S, an electrical field coil insulator, & Stanley, a wood pattern maker. (Interestingly Samuel’s brother William Percy Houlton had married Elsie’s cousin, Alice Freeth [fh.4.6.1.6.1.3.3])
There is a death for Josiah Freeth, aged 80, in Jan-March 1946 in Smethwick.
The children of Joseph (Josiah) Freeth & Elizabeth Edgerton were:
fh.4.6.1.6.1.4.1 James Freeth born July-September 1889 at Smethwick; died July-September 1889 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.6.1.4.2 Herbert Freeth born July-September 1890 at Smethwick; died Oct-December 1890 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.6.1.4.3 Elsie May Freeth born October 1st, 1891 at Smethwick; died Oct-December 1979 in Walsall, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.1.4.4 Bert Freeth born Jan-March 1893 at Smethwick; died July-September 1893 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.6.1.4.5 Thomas Freeth born Jan-March 1895 at Smethwick; died Jan-March 1895 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.6.1.5.6 Leonard Freeth born Oct-December 1896 at Smethwick; died Oct-December 1896 at Smethwick