This name is confined to the centre of England and to the
adjoining eastern and western counties. Two lines drawn west from the
Wash and the Thames to the Welsh border will roughly include the
principal area of this name, which for an area of its size is
remarkably well defined. It is at present most numerous in Suffolk and
in Worcester; and likely enough the Freemans of the west and of the
east may owe their surname to different events in the history of our
country. Not improbably "Freeman" early appeared as an
appellation in the counties bordering Wales, since we learn that in
the 10th century the Welsh captives, reduced to slavery, were so
numerous in the English shires on the border that the proportion of
slaves to freemen would seem to have been unusually large. Freeman’s
“Norman. Conquest,” vol. 1, p. 365 (1867). It is singular that
the surname of Fry (Old English for Free) is confined to the south of
England, occurring chiefly in Wilts.
- A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, written: 1872-1896 by
Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley
"Gentleman" of Badgeworth. Married (by licence) Elizabeth Bingle of "Senbridg" (Saintbridge?) Upton St.Leonards 8/8/1674. Elizabeth was 30 years old, his age was not given, but calculation says he was also about 30.
Children:
He became parish clerk at Upton, which became something of a family tradition - his G-G-Grandson Robert Thomas was clerk from about 1858 until his death in 1882 when his G-G-G-Grandson Frederick Francis took over until his death in 1903.
From "Gloucestershire Notes and Queries Volume 3" published in 1887:
JOHN FEILD, clerk of Matson 1831-1835, belonged to a race of village pedagogues, extirpated by the educational laws of recent years. He lived in the old house in the centre of Sneedham's Green, where his father and grandfather had lived before him ; and -here it was that he kept a nourishing school. Mr. Charles Higgs, an old parishioner, was one of his pupils, and has a kindly remem- brance of his tutor. Charles Gibbs has often told me where John Feild was buried in Matson churchyard just below the north-west window of the church. No stone,
"With uncouth rhymes and shapeless sculpture deck'd,
Implores the passing tribute of a sigh."
The clerk's son, Richard Feild, was buried at Matson in 1839 ; but his widow long survived him, became an inmate of the workhouse, and, I fear, lies in an unknown pauper's grave. The Feilds, how- ever, were yeomen in the eighteenth century, and gentry in the seventeenth. Amongst the many noble altar-tombs with which Upton St. Leonards churchyard abounds, will be found more than one to the memory of his ancestors. As long ago as August 13, 1693, Thomas Feild and Edith Freeman were married by licence in Matson Church, and there is a fine tomb fast falling to decay, at Upton, which commemorates the death of Edith, wife of Thomas Feild, of Gloucester, gentleman, and daughter of Rowland Freeman, gentleman, who died November 4, 1698, aged 23 years. This Rowland Freeman was an ancestor of the present clerk of Upton, and died in 1715.
From Upton St. Leonards memorial inscriptions
"In Memory of ROWLAND FREEMAN, of this parish, Gent. who departed this Life, June 4, 1715, Aged 71 years. Also of ELIZABETH, the wife of ANTHONY FREEMAN, of this parish Gent. March 22 1713, Aged 19 years.
In Memory of EDITH, the late wife of THOMAS FIELD, of the City of Gloucester,Gent. and daughter of ROWLAND FREEMAN ,of this parish, who died Nov. 4, 1698, Aged 23 years."
Birthdate was inferred from the inscription on his headstone. He could be the Robert Freeman who was christened 14/2/1686 at Lydney, with parents Robert and Anne.
Married Mary (Maria) VALLENDER 28/1/1716 at Gloucester Cathedral.
Children:
Married Joan (Joanna) STOCK, a spinster of Badgeworth, aged 40 at Gloucester Cathedral 13/10/1732.
Children:
Joan died 9/5/1752 Aged 57
years. She was buried at Upton St.Leonards the following day.
From Upton St. Leonards memorial inscriptions
"Here lyeth the body of Robert Freeman Senr. of this parish, Yeoman, who departed this life Oct 7 1769, Aged 84 years. Also William and James, Sons of Robert Freeman Junr. (by Alice, his Wife.) who died infants."
A yeoman.
Married Alice STROUD in Upton St.Leonards 17/1/1758. One of the
witnesses was William WEBB, the husband of Robert's sister; the other
witness was William MARDEN.
Marriage licence
Marriage certificate.
Alice was christened in Upton St.Leonards 12/5/1734. Her parents Thomas STROUD and Elizabeth HARRISON were married 26/3/1732 in Corse, Gloucestershire (10km north of Gloucester). Alice was again christened 12/7/1753: "a young woman aged nineteen years".
Children:
Note in Upton St Leonards church register: "It appears that there was no entry kept by the Minister of baptisms and burials from the year 1774 to the year 1783."
There is a record of Land Tax assessment for Robert of £3 2s. 6d. dated 24/12/1798 for land owned by Richard Frankis and occupied by Robert. This most likely applies to the 1763 Robert, as his father had died earlier in the year.
Robert died 17/5/1798; Alice died 5/1/1816 aged
81 years.
Robert's will
Christened 17/2/1758 at Upton St Leonards. Parents Robert and Allis (Alice).
He was a Carpenter, stood 5'5" tall, had dark brown hair and grey eyes.
Married Harriett BURBRIDGE (BURBIDGE?, BURBAGE?) at Uley 25/9/1804 by licence. George was 41, Harriett was 24. Uley is 32km south of Gloucester.
Harriett's parents were Thomas and Betty, but the surname might have been BURFORD - Harriot was born to Thomas and Elizabeth BURFORD at the British Lying-In Hospital, Endell Street, Holborn, Middlesex 28/12/1781 and christened 10/1/1782. Her siblings included Thomas (chr.24/2/1784 at Uley) and Mary.
Children:
The Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Advertiser
reported on 9/7/1829:
"COURT FOR THE RELIEF OF INSOLVENT DEBTORS - On Saturday se'enight a
court was held in the Shire Hall, Gloucester before Mr. Commissioner
Law, when the following Insolvent Debtors were adjudged entitled to
the benefit of the act , and ordered to be discharged forthwith, viz,
from the County Gaol, George Freeman, of Upton StLeonards, Carpenter
... (others)"
In August 1829 George, Harriett, and daughter Mary Ann were gaoled (Register Q/Gc5/3) for "Charges on the oaths of George Williams, Ann Charles and others of having within four months last past feloniously stolen taken and carried away from the dwelling house of Thomas Baynton Esq. situate in the parish of Upton Saint Leonards a variety of articles of wearing apparel and other things the property of the said Thomas Baynton".
George was released on a finding "not a true bill", which means that there was not sufficient evidence to commit him for trial. Harriett and Mary Ann stood trial; Mary Ann was found not guilty, but Harriett got three months in the penitentiary.
George died at Upton St Leonards 6/10/1844, aged 87.
Following George's death, Harriett lived with daughter Martha and son-in-law Edwin MARDEN. 1861 census Harriett died in Gloucester Q4 1866, aged 86.
Born 29/12/1804; christened at Upton St Leonards 20/4/1805.
Married Mary Ann WHITE Upton St Leonards 8/12/1825. Mary Ann was christened 5/3/1806 at Painswick - parents John and Mary. Her siblings were Richard (1797), William (1799), John (1800), Edwin (1802), Joseph (1804), Thomas (1807), Louisa (1812).
Children:
See: 1841 census
At the 1851 census the household also included Thomas WHITE aged 44 "Late Sgt in Rural Police Painswick" (presume wife Mary Ann's (twin) brother) together with Elizabeth 35, John 7, and Alfred 6 (presume to be Thomas' wife and children..
See: 1861 census where they were living at Cross House at the junction of Portway Road and Valley Lane in Upton St Leonards.
Robert Thomas was parish clerk from about 1858 until his death. As such he witnessed many marriages in Upton St.Leonards, including:
Mary Ann died Q1 1868 aged 61.
Robert Thomas subsequently married Jane Susannah HAIL (born 1832/3 at St Stephens parish London) at Bristol Q4 1869.
Children:
1871, living at 58 Upton Street, Upton St.Leonards. At the household there were also:
Robert died 22/12/1882 at Upton St.Leonards, leaving his fortune to his widow..
Christened at Upton St.Leonards 27/12/1829; worked as a Carpenter.
Married Jane AYLIFFE (AYLISS? AYLIS?) 19/4/1855. Her father is shown as George AYLIFFE; Thomas AYLIFFE and Sarah EDMUNDS were witnesses at the wedding (A Thomas AYLIFFE married Sarah EDMUNDS 25/10/1828 at Cranham - no idea whether this means anything).
In the 1841 census, Jane AYLIF (5) is living with Sarah AYLIF (45) at Eddells (?) Cranham. There is no sign of George anywhere. George AYLIFF married Sarah NEWMAN at St.Mary de Crypt, Gloucester 24/8/1835; Witnesses were Thomas AYLIFF and Elizabeth HUNT.
In the 1851 census , Thomas AYLIF (44) has joined Jane (now 15) and Sarah (59) has aged considerably, or can't subtract. If this is the same Thomas, he got married at 11, or can't subtract either.
Children:
A George Freeman (not necessarily this George) was convicted of larceny 1/7/1856 and gaoled for 2 months.
George Frederick died at Painswick in Q2 1857 aged 27.
Jane didn't grieve for very long; she married Henry WILSON at Cirencester in Q4 1857.
Children:
Born 15/1/1856 in Cranham. Christened in Cranham 2/3/1856
Following the death of his father, he disappeared fom the records until adulthood. Possibly placed in an orpanage, alternatively, he was adopted by relative Henry, see 1861 census 1871 census
Occupation: Deal Porter, Coal Porter.
Married Sarah Anne GRESTY 17/9/1878 at St Luke's church Gloucester. Sarah Anne was born in Gloucester Q3 1854. See the Gresty family tree.
Children:
Some crook genes here!
In the 1881 census, Father-in-law William GRESTY and his two sons were staying with the family, following the death of mother-in-law Anne.
In the 1891 census, Frederick WOOLLY was boarding with the family. Coincidence? Frederick was born 1865 in Hasfield. His parents were Henry and Ann. No obvious link with our related WOOLLEYs.
Thomas died Q3 1898 in Gloucester aged 42.
Sarah Ann married John Thomas FARMER at St.Lukes, Gloucester Q4 1899.
At the 1901 census, the family are living at 9 Alma Place. Also living with them are William GRESTY (76), Sarah Anne's father and Annie GRESTY (31), the wife of Sarah Anne's brother John Samuel.
In the 1911 census, they are atill living at 9 Alma Place. The GRESTYs have left.
Sarah Anne died in Gloucester Q1 1928 aged 73
Born 2/6/1890 at 43 Vauxhall Road Gloucester.
Sold newspapers at "The Cross" (the junction of Northgate, Eastgate, Southgate, and Westgate streets), in Gloucester.
Married "the girl next door" Beatrice WOOLLEY 9/4/1917 . He lived at 32 Alma Place, she lived at number 30. (For her family, refer to the Woolley family tree). They lived at 6 Alma Terrace, Bristol Road, Gloucester.
Children:
Victor, Bert, and James c.1930
Victor lost a finger in a schoolyard accident.
Albert John was born 20/4/1926 and christened at St.Lukes church 20/4/1926. He married Elizabeth May Moyra LAKE Q4 1950 and had three children: Peter J. (1951), Keith (1954), and Warren. He subsequently married Patsy.
Edward Roland was born 17/1/1932 and christened at St.Lukes church 3/2/1932. He married Ellen Matilda LEE and had four children: Robert C. (1955), Carole A. (1959), Nigel E. (later changed to Dale) (1960), and Martin (1968-1970).
Trixie married George Anthony DURRANT Q1 1959 and had three children: Lesley A. (1960), Angela (1962), and Tony. Angela has possession of a family bible inscribed "George Henry WEBB Feb 24th 1834" - presumably an ancestor of Annie WEBB.
Albert Charles was known as "Crutchy" because he had only one leg. According to a newspaper report of his death, he was "born a cripple" and had his leg amputated five or six years previously. According to family oral history, he knelt on a wicker chair as a child to look out the window and a sharp piece of cane went through his knee-cap.
Albert died 10/8/1935; his funeral received a lot of press coverage. Present at the funeral were:
Floral tributes include some from
He was buried at Tredworth Cemetery 13/9/1935 in an unmarked grave, plot B7855.
In 1940, due to wartime labour shortages, Beatrice began driving a 40-ton overhead crane at Fielding and Platt Heavy Engineering works. She continued doing so until she was compulsorily retired at age 65 in 1962. See: article in The Times article in The Citizen Photo1 Photo2
Many of the descendants of Albert and Beatrice met up in 1963, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2019. Everyone pictured is either a direct descendant or the partner of one.
He was born 31/3/1918 and christened at St.Lukes church 17/4/1918.
He was an errand boy in 1932.
Took over the newspaper stand on the Cross on the death of his father in 1935.
He met his future wife as early as July 1936.
Married Doreen Frances CLOSE 16/9/1939 Marriage Certificate . Photo . Newspaper report . For Doreen's family, see the Close family tree
Children:
During WW2 Sergeant #1534020 in Royal Indian Artillery. Served as an anti-aircraft gunner in India and Burma. On leave January 1945
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They lived at 11 Savernake Rd, Coney Hill, Gloucester until about 1950, when they moved to 23 Willowleaze, Elmbridge Gloucester. |
He worked as an aircraft fitter at Gloster Aircraft Factory at Brockworth, Gloucestershire, as well as maintaining a paper round part-time, until migrating to Australia , leaving 19/8/1958, travelling on SS Orontes, and arriving in Sydney 25/9/1958. After a mercifully short stay at the Cabramatta Migrant Hostel, the family moved to 12 Candover St, West Geelong in December 1958.
Around 1968, the family moved to 14 Clavus Rd, Corio
James died 16/10/1984, aged 66; Doreen died 18/8/1986, aged 67.
Born 9/8/1945 at 186 Linden Rd. Gloucester; lived in Gloucester, Sydney, West Geelong, St Kilda, Elwood, Preston, Essendon, Dallas, Lara, Little River.
Married Wendy Joan TAYLOR 17/12/1966.
Children:
Spent almost all of working life in IT at Sigma, Caterpillar, Ford, Optimation and CoffeeSnobs.
Divorced in 1988. Married Vanessa CASSIDY-READ 30/11/2002.
Born at Royal Womens Hospital, Carlton shortly after midnight 12/6/1967. As far as I can figure, he is the first Freeman to have been born in a hospital. He lived in St Kilda, Elwood, Preston, Essendon, Dallas, Lara, West Geelong, Herne Hill, Hamlyn Heights, and Lethbridge.
A master of career change: Courier, Caterer, Furniture maker, IT support, and Coffee business owner.
Married Paula Jeanie HINEMAN 21/5/1995
Children: