CFHS code : AL143
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : In Memory of JOSEPH FREESTONE b June 21 1812 d May 18 1875 also WILLIAM FREESTONE b August 31 1832 d July [10] 1866 also JOHN FREESTONE b Jan 8 1843 d March 11 1874 who was interred at [Hamilton] Toronto Canada HANNAH relict of the above b Feb 14 1810 d June 27 1881
Monument : Headstone
Above information amended from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Monument
Located to the east of the central path.
Inscription
In Memory of JOSEPH FREESTONE born June 21 1812 died May 18 1875
“
F
Yet died with
lies. “
Also WILLIAM FREESTONE born August 31 1832 died July [10] 1866
Also JOHN FREESTONE born Jan 8 1843 died March 11 1874
who was interred at Hamilton Toronto Canada
HANNAH relict of the above born Feb 14 1810 died June 27. 1881
3 lines illegible
Relationship: Joseph was the husband of Hannah. James and John were two of their sons.
Joseph Freestone (21 June 1812 – 18 May 1876)
Joseph was from Fen Ditton, the son of James and Ann Freestone . He married Hannah Wilderspin in Fen Ditton on May 27th 1832 and they had at least eight children: Lavinia (1835-1880), William (1836-), Matthew (1837-1903), James (1838-1886), Joseph (1841-1908), John (1843-1874), Susan Ann (1845-1925) and Thomas (1848-). In 1851 the family were living in Bridge Street and Joseph was working as a mustard maker. In 1861 he was living with Hannah and four children at High Street, Teversham and still working as a mustard maker. By 1871 he was the publican of the City Arms at 184 Sturton Street. He was living in Sturton Street when he died and the pub was taken over by his son James. In July 1876, Joseph’s property portfolio which consisted of 1-4 Gwydir Terrace, Gwydir Street was auctioned. The houses were said to be newly built, ‘having six rooms, passage, and pantry, also an out-door coal place, and other conveniences, and water is laid on. There is a long garden at the back, and a small flower garden in front, protected with iron palisade fencing’.
It is not known why the date of death was recorded as 1875 on the grave monument, rather than 1876
William Freestone (1832-1866)
This could possibly be William Freestone, the eldest son of Joseph and Hannah. However, according to census records he was born in either 1835 or 1836, rather than 1832. There is a record of a William Freestone dying in Cambridge in 1866, but there is not entry in the St. Andrew the Less parish burial record of his name for 1866.
John Freestone (8 January 1843 – 11 March 1874)
John married Laura (1844-) and in 1871 the couple were living in Shoreditch, where he was working as a saddler. What took him to Canada is not known. John’s ‘sudden’ death aged 31 was reported in the Cambridge Independent Press on March 12th 1874.
Hannah Freestone (née Wilderspin) (14 February 1810 – 27 June 1881)
Hannah was born in Cambridge and baptised in 8 July 1810. She was the daughter of Thomas and Rosamond (née Flack) Wilderspin and married Joseph Freestone when she was 22 years old. After she was widowed she lived at 178 Sturton Street and died at home aged 71 years old.
Sources:
CFHS transcripts of Census Parish records
Pub Histories .com
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
by Mary Naylor and Claire Martinsen
[If you have any information about this family, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]