Maria Freeth the eighth child of James Freeth & Maria Vezey born December 6th, 1844 at Lyng & christened February 6th, 1844 at Christ Church, West Bromwich, Staffs.
At the time of the 1851 census Maria was living at home with her parents, brothers & sisters at Moore St, West Bromwich.
In 1861 she was still at home at the Pheasant Inn, Albert St, West Bromwich.
On November 19th, 1865 Maria married William Evans at St James, Handsworth. Witnesses at the wedding were Maria’ sister Jane Freeth & her brother-in-law Joseph Westwood (husband of Fanny Freeth). William was born c1839 at West Bromwich, the son of John Evans, a smith.
In 1871 William & Maria were living in Albert St, next door to Maria’s parents & brother William & sister Louisa. William was a dresser in the iron foundry & they had 3 children, John (5), Elizabeth (3) & James (1).
By 1881 the family were living at 14 Lyons Rd, West Bromwich & William was still an iron dresser & son John was an iron caster. Elizabeth was still at home, but listed as Annie E (13), as was James. New children were Louisa (9), William (8), Fanny (6), Harry (4) & Arthur (1).
In 1889 there was a double wedding in the family. Daughter Ann Elizabeth married Dennis Woodhall, a whitesmith, on November 2nd & son John, a moulder, married Julie Bircher on November 3rd, both at Christ Church, West Bromwich. Brother James was a witness at Ann’s wedding.
In 1891 William & Maria were living at 27 Bratt St, West Bromwich. Still at home were James, an iron dresser, Louisa, William, also an iron dresser, Fanny, Harry & Arthur.
Son William married Susannah Moore in August 1894 in West Bromwich. They were both living in Overend St, W. Bromwich in 1901. In 1911 Susannah was living on her own at Sams Lane, W. Bromwich. There is a record for William Evans, iron dresser, a patient in Blackwell Sanitorium in 1911.
In 1901 Maria & WIlliam were still living at Bratt St & William was still an iron dresser. At home was son Arthur, a house painter, & also daughter Louisa, now married to Jonathan Wilkins (29) a railway shunter. Also listed was Olive L Wilkins described as William’s niece but presumably Louisa’s daughter. Also with them at the time of the census was John Woodhall (11), listed as a nephew, but who was probably daughter Annie’s child. Annie & Dennis Woodhall were living at Cottrell St, West Bromwich at this time with other children Gertrude (7) & Florence (6).
Maria & William were still at 29 Bratt St in 1911 & William was described as a whitesmith at a spring manufacturers. Son Arthur was still at home employed as a house painter & daughter Fanny, who had married John Saunders in 1900 & was working as a japaner at a spring manufacturers. It was noted that sadly Fanny had lost all 6 children that had been born to her. Her husband John was a brick burner & was working in Newport, Monmouthshire at the time of the census. John Thomas Woodhall, now described as grandson, was still living with them & was also a whitesmith at a spring manufacturers like his grandfather. His parents, Ann & Dennis were living at Spon Lane, West Bromwich in 1911 with 3 children. It was noted on the census that Maria & William had had 10 children, only 7 of whom were still alive.
The children of Maria Freeth & William Evans were:
fh.4.6.1.7.8.1 John Evans born Oct-December 1865 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.8.2 Annie Elizabeth Evans born July-September 1867 at West Bromwich; died April-June 1918 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.8.3 William Evans born Oct-December 1868; buried April 11th, 1871 at Christ Church, West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.8.4 James Evans born February 17th, 1870 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.8.5 Louisa Evans born April-June 1871 at West Bromwich; died April-June 1912 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.8.6 William Evans born Oct-December 1872 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.8.7 Fanny Evans born July-September 1874 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.8.8 Harry Evans born Jan-March 1877 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.8.9 Arthur Evans born Jan-March 1880 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.8.10 Alice Evans born July 14th, 1884 at 29 Sam’s Lane & christened August 1st, 1884 at St John’s West Bromwich; died April-June 1885 at West Bromwich