William Freeth was the eighth child of Josiah Freeth and Mary Yates born April-June 1861 at Smethwick, Staffs.
William’s mother Mary died prior to 1871 as his father Josiah (mistakenly written as Breath in census) was registered as a widower. They were living at St George St. & William had 1 brother & a sister still at home.
William married Elizabeth Millward in Oct-December 1879, the marriage being registered at Kings Norton. Elizabeth was born Jan-March 1859 at Oldbury, Worcs, the daughter of Sarah & William Millward, a fitter & turner in the iron trade. Elizabeth had given birth to an illigitimate daughter, Bertha Ellen, earlier in 1879.
In 1881 William & Elizabeth were living at 58 Regent St, Smethwick & William was a pipe setter. They had 2 children at home, Bertha E (2) & Leonard (5 months). Living next door were Elizabeth’s parents & their family.
By 1891 William & Elizabeth had moved to 7 St George St, Smethwick & William was now described as a ‘pipe setter pottery earth’. They had 3 children at home – William (9), Ernest (6) & May (2).
Daughter Bertha was visiting her grandfather William Millward & aunt Mary A Millward at 60 Regent St, Smethwick at the time of the 1891 census. Bertha was to marry Matthew Payton in Jan-March 1900 in Smethwick & by 1901 they had a daughter Elsie L.
The family were still at St George St in 1901, now at number 108. William was now described as a drain pipe maker & there were 7 children at home – William, a screener of coal above ground, Ernest, an iron ….. dresser, Tom (15), an iron rivet maker, May, Maud (10), Harold (6) & Robert (3).
Elizabeth died, aged 45, in Oct-December 1904 at Smethwick.
Daughter May married John Thomas Jarvis in 1907 & in 1911 they were living at 68 Edward St, Langley Green, West Bromwich. John was a labourer at Rolling Mills & they had a 3 year old son John. By 1939 they were living in Edward St, Oldbury with a son & daughter still at home. John was now a gardener.
In 1911 widowed William was living at 122 White Rd, Smethwick & was described as a tube maker for bedsteads. Living with him was son Robert who was described as a ‘school programme seller’! Also with William was son Thomas Leonard, an iron roller, & his wife Elizabeth (nee Banner) & their 3 month old daughter, Gladys Irene. It was noted on the census that William & Elizabeth had had 9 children, only 7 of whom were still alive.
Daughter Maud married Arthur Harvey in 1914 in Smethwick. She married for the second time in 1920, her second husband being William Charles Baskett. By 1939 she was widowed & living in Edward St, Oldbury & working as a canteen manageress, cook. With here were 2 daughters, both confectioners.
By 1939 son Thomas Leonard & his wife Elizabeth A were living at Mornington Rd, Smethwick & Thomas was incapacitated. Elizabeth Ann (nee Griffiths) was a shopkeeper & Thomas’s second wife, his first wife having died in 1928. She too was a widow on their marriage having previously been married to Thomas Palk.
The children of William Freeth & Elizabeth Millward were:
fh.4.6.1.6.8.1 Bertha Ellen (Millward) Freeth born April-June 1879 at Smethwick,
Staffs; died Jan-March 1933 in Birmingham
fh.4.6.1.6.8.2 Leonard Freeth born Oct-December 1880 at Smethwick, Staffs,
died Jan-March 1885 at Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.8.3 William Henry Freeth born April-June 1882 at Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.8.4 Ernest Freeth born Jan-March 1884 at Smethwick, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.6.8.5 Thomas Leonard Freeth born May 19th, 1886 at Smethwick,
Staffs; died April 12th, 1947 at 65 Mornington Rd, Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.6.8.6 Sarah May Freeth born April 25th,1887/8 at Smethwick, Staffs; died April-June 1954 at Oldbury
fh.4.6.1.6.8.7 Maud Freeth born May 3rd, 1888 & christened May 7th, 1891 at Smethwick, Staffs; died December 25th, 1960 at Oldbury
fh.4.6.1.6.8.8 Harold Freeth born 1896 at Smethwick, Staffs; died April-June 1901 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.6.8.9 Robert Freeth born Oct-December 1897 at Smethwick, Staffs