Mary Freeth [fh.4.6.1.7.4]

Mary Freeth was the fourth child of James Freeth & Maria Vezey christened February 18th, 1838 at Smethwick, Staffs.

At the time of the 1851 census Mary was living at home with her parents, brothers & sisters at Moore St, West Bromwich.

Mary married Joseph Bird on March 26th, 1860 at St Martin (Pepper Box), Tipton, Staffs. Witnesses at the wedding were James Freeth & Elizabeth Lyman, both of whom made their mark. Elizabeth was Joseph’s older sister who had married James Lyman in 1849. Joseph was born c1835 at Netherton, Worcestershire, the son of Rebekah Hall & Joseph Bird, a butty collier.

Marriage certificate of Mary & Joseph

In 1861 Mary & Joseph were living at Littleton St, West Bromwich & Joseph was a coal miner.

They were still at the same address in 1871 & now had 5 children – James (9), Margaret (6), Mary (4), Joseph (3) & Thomas (9 months). Joseph was still a miner. Living next door was Joseph’s sister Elizabeth & husband James Lyman & family.

By 1881 Mary & Joseph had moved to the Old Bell Inn, 108 Spon Lane, West Bromwich where Joseph was now a publican. At home were James, a time keeper at the iron works, Margaret, Mary Jane, a dressmaker, Joseph, Thomas, Esther (7) & John Thomas (5).

Son Joseph married Emily Kate Darby on August 9th, 1890 at West Bromwich. By 1911 Joseph had become a grocer & general dealer & he & Emily were living at Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick with their 2 daughters & 2 sons.

In 1891 the family were living at 2 Hall St, Spon Lane, West Bromwich & Joseph was still described as a publican. Still living at home were James, a time keeper, Margaret, Thomas, a spring maker, Esther & John T, a telegram messenger. Son Thomas was to become an engineer’s press worker & to marry Edith Badger in 1896. Daughter Margaret had in fact married Isaac Parker in 1890, but she was not listed with her married name. Witnesses at Margaret’s wedding were her sister Esther Bird & Thomas Freeth. Margaret & Isaac had a daughter Margaret but sadly Isaac died before 1898. Margaret & her 9 year old daughter Margaret were living at Sams Lane, W. Bromwich in 1911 & she was a teacher of swimming. Margaret became a swimming instructor for schools.

Son James, a time keeper, married Mary Jane Warburton in October 1895 at St John’s, West Bromwich. His sister Esther was one of the witnesses. By 1911 they were living at Lodge Rd, W. Bromwich with daughters Ethel (m. Arthur Carpenter) & Hilda. James was a clerk in the Borough Surveyors Dept.

Son Thomas married Edith Badger in 1896 in West Bromwich & by 1911 they were living at Walter St, West Bromwich with daughter Elsie & son Norman Gilbert. Thomas was a whitesmith, tool maker.

Joseph died on September 27th, 1898 at the age of 63, at Sam’s Lane, West Bromwich. Probate was granted on June 1st, 1899 to son James, a time keeper, son Joseph, a spring manufacturer, & widowed daughter Margaret Parker. His effects were £1197.

Son John Thomas married Emma Susannah Dangerfield in 1900 & by 1911 they were living at Trinity St, West Bromwich where John was a metal polisher in the spring trade. They had a daughter Gladys & a baby son Leslie John.

In 1901 widowed Mary was living with her daughter Mary Jane who had married Joseph Samuel Bartram in 1889, an electro depositor. They were living at 21 Cambridge St, West Bromwich & also with them was Mary’s daughter Esther.

In 1905 daughter Esther married Ezekiel Parkes in West Bromwich. By 1911 Ezekiel was living in west Bromwich with his 2 sons at the home of his brother-in-law & family. Sadly Esther was a patient at Burntwood, Ethal & Woodhouses Asylum, Lichfield, Staffs.

Mary died on March 22nd, 1907 at 21 Cambridge St, West Bromwich. Administration was granted on April 8th, 1907 to son James Bird, a machine clerk & her effects were £113.12s.

Son James was widowed by 1939 & still living at Lodge Rd, W Bromwich & was a retired surveyors clerk. In 1939 daughter Margaret was living in Cambridge St, W. Bromwich & now a retired swimming instructor. With her was daughter Margaret Esther, also a swimming instructor, & her husband, Arthur William Mason.
Daughter Mary Jane & husband Joseph Bartram, now a retired electro depositor, were still living at 21 Cambridge St, W. Bromwich in 1939.

Son John Thomas & wife Emma were living in Glover St, West Bromwich in 1939 & John still worked as a metal polisher.

The children of Mary Freeth & Joseph Bird were:

fh.4.6.1.7.4.1 James Bird born July 22nd, 1861 at West Bromwich, Staffs; died January 11th, 1942 at 90 Lodge Rd, W. Bromwich

fh.4.6.1.7.4.2 Job Bird born Jan-March 1863 at Lyttleton St, West Bromwich & christened July 19th, 1863 at Christ Church, West Bromwich; buried May 22nd, 1864 at Christ Church, West Bromwich

fh.4.6.1.7.4.3 Margaret Bird born July 30th, 1864 at West Bromwich, Staffs; died November 30th, 1951 at 46 Cambridge St, W. Bromwich
fh,4.6.1.7.4.4 Mary Jane Bird born May 15th, 1866 at West Bromwich, Staffs; died May 16th, 1943 at Lodge Road Nursing Home, W. Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.4.5 Joseph Bird born Oct-December 1867 at West Bromwich, Staffs; died 1924 in W. Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.4.6 Thomas Bird born July-September 1870 at West Bromwich, Staffs, died April 16th, 1930 at 71 Sams Lane, West Bromwich, Staffs
fh.4.6.1.7.4.7 John Bird born Jan-March 1872 at West Bromwich; died 1872/3 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.4.8 Esther Bird born December 13th, 1873 at West Bromwich, Staffs; died Jan-March 1916 at Lichfield
fh.4.6.1.7.4.9 John Thomas Bird born April 5th, 1875 at West Bromwich, Staffs; died August 29th, 1961 at 134 Glover St, West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.4.10 Job Bird born Oct-December 1876 at West Bromwich; died Oct-December 1876 at West Bromwich