James Freeth was the sixth child of Josiah Freeth and Mary Yates born September 16th, 1847/8 at Smethwick, Staffs
In 1851 James & his parents, 2 sisters & 2 brothers were living at Stoney Lane, Smethwick.
By 1861 James was still living at home at St George St, Smethwick with his 3 sisters & 2 brothers.
In 1870 James married Alice McGarvey on January 23rd, 1870 at St Thomas, Dudley, Staffs. Alice was born c1847 in Dublin, Ireland, the daughter of Ann & Peter McGarvey, a labourer, both born in Ireland. Witnesses at the christening of daughter Julia in 1872 were John & Julia McGarvie.
In 1871 James & Alice were living at Dartmouth Rd, Smethwick with the 1 year old son John. This was near to Brass House Lane where several other members of the Freeth family lived. James worked as a glass maker.
By 1881 James & Alice had moved to 62 Brook St, Smethwick & James was now described as a glue boiler. They now had 3 more children, as well as John there was Julia (9), Alice (4) & Edwin (2).
They were still at 62 Brook St in 1891& James (Fruth in Ancestry.co.uk index) was still a glue maker. At home were John Henry, a gold jeweller, Julia, a machinist, Edwin, Theresa (9), Emily (7) & Mary E (5). With them at the time of the census was Alice’s brother John McGarvey (45), a forge roller. Daughter Alice was working as a general servant for Thomas Paul Ellis, a pawn broker & grocer in Smethwick.
In 1901 James & Alice had moved a short distance from Brook St to 1 Pool Rd in Smethwick. James was listed as a labourer (size manufacturer) & also at home were Alice, a machine minder (screwing), Edwin, a labourer at the brass foundry, & Emily. Also with the family was daughter Julia, now married to Thomas Barrowman Love (29), a wood patten maker, & their children – Thomas, John & William.
By 1911 James & Alice (Freith on 1911 index) were living at 8 High Park Rd, Smethwick with their daughter Theresa & her husband John Joseph Jones, a cycle maker & repairer, who married in 1905 & their 2 young daughters. James was a size boiler at the glue works. James & Alice were recorded as having had 11 children, only 6 of whom were still living.
In 1911 daughter Julia & husband Thomas Love & their 4 children were living at 47 Harding St, Smethwick & boarding with them was Julia's brother Edwin Freeth. The 1939 register shows widowed Thomas Love living at 22 Highfields, Smethwick with daughter Mary C, a warehouse cycle manufacturer.
There is a record for Emily Freeth, aged 27 (born at Smethwick), in the Union Workhouse, Selly Oak, Birmingham in the 1911 census.
On June 22nd, 1912 James (Jacobus) was baptized into the Catholic faith at St Philip Neri, Smethwick.
Alice died in Jan-March 1914, her death being registered at Kings Norton, Staffs.
James died Oct-December 1918, aged 71, the death being registered at Kings Norton, Staffs.
In 1919 son Edwin married Ida Beatrice Clifton & at the time of the 1939 register they were living at Addenbrook Rd, Smethwick with their family & Edwin was a public works department labourer.
In 1939 daughter Theresa & husband John Jones & their family were living at High Park Rd, Smethwick & John was a millwright drop forgings.
The children of James Freeth & Alice McGarvey were:
fh,4.6.1.6.6.1 John Henry Freeth born c1870 at Hanley, Staffs; died Jan-March 1934 at Lichfield, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.6.2 Julia Freeth christened February 20th, 1872 at St Philip’s RC Church, Smethwick, Staffs; died April-June 1916 in Kings Norton
fh.4.6.1.6.6.3 Mary Ann Freeth born July 28th 1874 & christened August 5th, 1874 at St Philip’s RC Church, Smethwick; died Oct-December 1876 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.6.6.4 Alice Freeth born Jan-March 1877 at Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.6.5 James Thomas Freeth born Jan-March 1877 at Smethwick; died Jan-March 1877 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.6.6.6 Edwin Freeth born February 21st, 1879 & christened March 9th, 1879 at St Philip’s RC Church, Smethwick, Staffs; died Jan-March 1951 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.6.6.7 Theresa Freeth born May 17th, 1881 & christened June 4th, 1881 at St Philip’s RC Church Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.6.8 Emily Freeth born September 16th, 1883 & christened September 23rd, 1883 at St Philip’s RC Church, Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.6.9 Mary Ellen Freeth born Jan-March 1886 at Smethwick, Staffs,
died April-June 1891at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.6.6.10 James Freeth born April 17th, 1891 & christened April 17th, 1891 at St Philip’s RC Church, Smethwick; died April-June 1891 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.6.6.11 Stephen Freeth born April 17th, 1891 & christened April 17th, 1891 at St Philip’s RC Church, Smethwick; died April-June 1891 at Smethwick