James Wilfred Freeth was the third child of James Freeth & Mary Eliza Owen born February 4th, 1872 at West Bromwich.
In 1881 James was living at 289 High St, West Bromwich with his parents, 3 brothers & 2 sisters, where his father was a grocer.
James was still at home in 1891with his 4 brothers & a sister at 289/287 High St, West Bromwich. He was now an art student.
James was to hold appointments in West Bromwich, Bristol & Bromley.
James was not found in the 1901 census, but in July-September 1901 he married Elizabeth German at West Bromwich Register Office. Elizabeth was born November 29th, 1874 in West Bromwich, the daughter of Martha & William German, a gardener.
James & Elizabeth were found in Ireland in 1911. At the time of the census they were living at 27 South Circular Rd, Limerick where James was an art master. They had 3 children by this time – Florence Elizabeth (7), James Wilmot O (4) & Brian William (1), all born in Limerick. The family were all listed as Methodists & they had a general domestic servant, Kathleen Moloney.
James became headmaster of the Rotherham (Yorks) School of Art from 1911-1937, when he retired. During this time he grew the number of students from 22 to 270 & was one of the founders of Rotherham Society of Artists. James had a drawing, ‘Evening Shadows, Tramore, Waterford’ exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1914.
James who had trained at the Royal College of Art, London became a pencil & watercolour artist of some repute. He painted a picture entitled ‘Old Cottages at Senna Cove Cornwall’ in 1933 which was sold at Christies in 2006.
Son James Wilmot Owen became a medical officer in the Prison Service in 1933 according to the London Gazette of November 7th. In December of that year James married Joan Margaret Nightingale in Strood, Kent. His brother Brian was best man. James married for the second time in Brighton in 1946, his second wife being Edith Georgina Hancock.
The 1939 register shows James & Elizabeth living at 1 Beresford Home, Cheltenham & James was headmaster of a School of art. With them was son Brian who was not married but described as 'manager of egg laying ....?. Daughter Florence was living at 9 Claremont Rd, New Windsor, Berks in 1939 where she was a secondary school mistress. She was living with a retired school mistress, Ada Ellis.
James died on December 11th, 1940 at 1 Beresford House, Cirencester, Gloucestershire. Probate was granted at Gloucester on January 31st, 1941 to widow Elizabeth & his effects were £3,559.13s.3d.
Son Brian married Nancy Margaret Tranter in 1951 in Cirencester.
Elizabeth died on Mach 1st, 1957 at 12 Briar Walk, Putney, London S.W.15. Probate was granted in Gloucester on July 4th, 1957 to daughter Florence Elizabeth German, spinster, son James Wilmot Owen, medical practitioner & son Brian William, poultry farmer. Her effects were £6,446.18s.7d.
The children of James Wilfred Freeth & Elizabeth German were:
fh.4.6.1.7.5.3.1 Florence Elizabeth German Freeth born March 14th, 1904 in Limerick, Ireland; of 12 Briar Wk, Putney died Jan-March 1984 at Wandsworth, London
fh.4.6.1.7.5.3.2 James Wilmot Owen Freeth born June 7th, 1906 in Limerick, Ireland; of 17 Cornwall Rd, Dorchester died August 20th, 1963 in Weymouth Bay, Dorset
fh.4.6.1.7.5.3.3 Brian William Freeth born January 18th, 1910 in Limerick, Ireland; of 1 Beresford House, Shepherds Way, Cirencester died December 11th, 1984 at Cirencester, Gloucestershire