Jane Freeth [fh.4.6.1.7.9]

Jane Freeth was the ninth child of James Freeth & Maria Vezey born September 1st, 1846 & christened September 20th, 1846 at Christ Church, West Bromwich, Staffs.

At the time of the 1851 census Jane 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 December 27th, 1870 Jane married Thomas Smith at the Parish Church, West Bromwich. Thomas was a manufacturer’s clerk. Witnesses at the wedding were Jane’s father James Freeth & Mary Smith. Thomas was born 1848 at West Bromwich, the son of Elizabeth Cadman & Abraham Smith, a forgeman.

In 1871 they were living at 2 Park Terr, West Bromwich & Thomas was a clerk.

By 1881 Jane & Thomas were living at 31 Thyme St, West Bromwich & Thomas was described as a manufacturers clerk. They had 4 children – Edith E (9), Rosa E (6), Louisa (5) & Thomas A (2).

The following story about Thomas comes from his great granddaughter, Wendy Partridge. ‘In the late 1880s Thomas (known as Tom) was secretary of West Bromwich Albion football club & suggested that a throstle sitting on a crossbar should be adopted for the club crest. The throstle was chosen because the pub where the team used to change kept a pet thrush in a cage.’ Tom was centrally involved with West Bromwich Albion FC for many years, first playing for the junior team & later with the administration of the club.

In 1891 they had moved to nearby Nichols St, #9, & Thomas was still a manufacturers clerk. At home were Edith, Louisa, Thomas & a new addition Mabel (5).

Jane & Thomas (courtesy of great granddaughter Wendy Partridge)

Daughter Edith married Thomas Whitehouse in April-June 1894 at West Bromwich. By 1939 Edith & Thomas were living at Rosemary Crescent West, Sedgley & Thomas was a retired railway agent.

In 1899 daughter Rosa Emily married Jeremiah Richards Durnall, a whitesmith, at West Bromwich. In 1901 they were living at Temple St, West Bromwich with 2 sons. Sadly Rosa died in 1905.

Jane & Thomas were still living at Nichols St in 1901 & at home were Louisa, Thomas, a manufacturers clerk like his father, & Mabel.

Son Thomas, clerk to a spring manufacturers, married Maud Twist, a milliner, in 1903 at West Bromwich & by 1911 they were living at High St, West Bromwich with a daughter Marion Helen. Also with them was Maud’s widowed father Thomas Twist.

In 1911 Jane & Thomas were still living at 13 Nicholls St & Thomas was a clerk at a spring balance manufacturers. Daughter Mabel was still at home & Thomas’ widowed older brother, Abraham, was also living with them.

Daughter Mabel married James Enoch Caldecott, a butcher, in 1913 at the Wesley Chapel, West Bromwich. By 1939 they & their family were living at 12 Holly Hedge Rd, West Bromwich.

Jane died February 25th, 1921, aged 74, at West Bromwich & was buried at Heath Lane Cemetery, West Bromwich.

Thomas of Newlyn Bowling Green Rd, Stourbridge Worcs died November 11th, 1921, aged 74, at 12 Stream Rd, Kingswinford, Worcester & was buried alongside his wife. Probate was granted at Worcester on January 25th, 1922 to son Thomas Abraham, commercial clerk, & son-in-law Thomas Whitehouse, railway agent. Thomas’ effects were £1,337.8s.11d.

In 1939 son Thomas, a despatch clerk, & Maud were still living in West Bromwich & with them was son Jack A, an estate agent, valuer & surveyor & son-in-law Donald H Haylock who had the same occupation as Jack.

The children of Jane Freeth & Thomas Smith were:

fh.4.6.1.7.9.1 Edith Elizabeth Smith born December 4th, 1871at Park Terrace, West Bromwich; died October 25th, 1939 at Queen Victoria Nursing Institution, Wolverhampton
fh.4.6.1.7.9.2 Rosa Emily Smith born July-September 1874 at West Bromwich; died September 26th, 1905 at 31 Mares Green, West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.9.3 Louisa Smith born July-September 1876 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.9.4 Thomas Abraham Smith born October 21st, 1878 at West Bromwich
fh.4.6.1.7.9.5 Mabel Smith born June 25th, 1885 at West Bromwich; died March 17th 1971 at 82 Waddington Ave, Great Barr, Birmingham