Fanny Freeth was the third child of James Freeth & Maria Vezey christened March 6th, 1836 at Smethwick, Staffs.
At the time of the 1851 census Fanny was living at home with her parents, brothers & sisters at Moore St, West Bromwich.
Fanny married Joseph Westwood in April-June 1856 at West Bromwich. Joseph was born c1833 at West Bromwich.
In 1861 Fanny & Joseph were living at Sams Lane, West Bromwich. Joseph’s surname was given as Westwood Lawley & he was working as a roller.
In 1871 Fanny & Joseph were living at Albert St, West Bromwich & Joseph was a roller in the iron works. They had 3 children – George (8), Joseph (5) & William H (13 months). Another son, Anthony was born in 1878 & at the time of his christening in June 1879 Joseph & Fanny were still living at Albert St & Joseph was still a roller.
In 1881 Fanny, noted as married, was living at 87 Sams Lane, West Bromwich & was described as a charwoman. With her were George, a painter, Joseph, an iron worker & William, a scholar. The whereabouts of Joseph at this time are uncertain.
Son George married Harriet Muggleston in 1885 in West Bromwich. George & Harriet emigrated to Queensland, Australia in 1886. George was listed as a painter & member of the Southern Cross Lodge of Freemasons, Toowoomba, Queensland in 1897-98. Sadly Harriet died in 1899. He was recorded as a housepainter living in Cecil St, Toowoomba in electoral roles in the early 1900s with Rosina Westwood. He had married Rosina Ellis in 1901in Queensland.
By 1891 Fanny, now listed as a widow was living at 14 Pitt St, West Bromwich. She was now described as a caretaker & with her were sons Joseph, a spring maker, & William, a gauge maker.
In June 1900 son William Henry married Hannah Rebecca Sophia Russell in West Bromwich
Fanny was still at the same address in 1901 & was now described as living on her own means. Head of the house was son William, a steam gauge finisher, & he was now married to Annie. Son Joseph had married Jane Morris in 1891 & they were living at 11 Moor St, West Bromwich at the time of the census with their 2 children, Fanny & Sydney. Joseph was still a spring maker.
Fanny died on April 2nd, 1907 at 20 Pitt St, West Bromwich & was buried at Heath Lane Cemetery, West Bromwich. Probate was granted at Lichfield on May 15th to brother-in-law Joseph Poulton (husband of Fanny’s sister Elizabeth [fh.4.6.1.7.2]), a turner, & Jane Westwood, wife of son Joseph. Fanny’s effects were £207.4s. She was buried at Heath Lane Cemetery, W. Bromwich with her parents, James & Maria Freeth & her young niece Florence Louisa Wall, daughter of sister Louisa Freeth.
Son Joseph & his wife Jane were living at 26 Barrow St, West Bromwich in 1911 & in addition to Fanny & Sydney they now had son Joseph. Joseph was still a spring maker but now an employer.
In 1924 son William Henry married Sarah Rozannah Breese in Birmingham. William was widowed as his first wife Hannah had died in 1923.
The children of Fanny Freeth & Joseph Westwood were:
fh.4.6.1.7.3.1 George William Westwood born 1863 in Albert St, West Bromwich & christened July 19th, 1863 at Christ Church, West Bromwich; died August 10th, 1950 in Queensland, Australia
fh.4.6.1.7.3.2 Joseph Westwood christened April 8th, 1866 at Christ Church, West Bromwich; died March 12th, 1958 at Hinton Lodge, Newton Rd, Great Barr, Birmingham
fh.4.6.1.7.3.3 William Henry Westwood born April-June 1870 at West Bromwich; (of 54 Barrows St, W. Bromwich) died September 4th, 1939 at Gloucester Infirmary
fh.4.6.1.7.3.4 Anthony Westwood born December 3rd, 1878 at Albert St & christened June 27th, 1879 at St John, West Bromwich; died July-September 1879 at West Bromwich