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 (1848-1924). 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 was baptised in Fen Ditton on 26 March 1843. He married Louisa Jane Lee (1844-) in Hackney, London in 1870. In 1871 the couple were living in Shoreditch, where he was working as a saddler. They had one daughter Louisa Jane (1872-1873) who was born in Shoreditch, before the family emigrated to Canada. What took them to Canada is not known, but his younger brother Thomas followed later followed him. John’s ‘sudden’ death aged 31 was reported in the Cambridge Independent Press on March 12th 1874. Thomas, who was based in Toronto received a telegram saying ‘Your brother John is very ill. No hope. Come at once’. He was buried in Hamiton, together with his daughter who had died the previous August.
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.
Joseph and Hannah’s eldest daughter Lavinia and her family are also buried in the St. Andrew the Less area of the Cemetery. Their grave has not yet been found.
Lavinia Lane (née Freestone) (1834 – 25 August 1880)
Lavinia was baptised in Fen Ditton on 9 November 1834. She married Thomas Lane (1838-1898) on 24 May 1856 at St. Giles’ Church and they had eleven children: William Arthur (1857-1940), Joseph Matthew (1858-1859), Emily Ann (1859-1954), Joseph John (1863-1929), Frederick Matthew (1866-1934), Susan Elizabeth (1869-1909), James Albert Thomas (1872-1959), Margaret Lavinia (1874-1874), Jane Margaret (1876-1877) and Charles Bertie (1878-1937). Thomas worked as an agricultural labourer and the family lived on the High Street, Teversham, next door to Lavinia’s parents (1861). They later moved to Abbey Street (1871) and Thomas worked as a groom, later moving to Sturton Street. Lavinia died at home aged 45 and was buried on 27 August.
Margaret Lavinia Lane (1870 – December 1871)
Margaret was baptised at St. Andrew the Less on 24 September 1871. She died at Abbey Street aged 1 year and was buried on 1 January 1872.
Margaret Lavinia Lane (July 1874 – August 1874)
Margaret was baptised at St. Matthew’s Church on 18 August 1874. She died at Sturton Street aged 24 days old and was buried on 26 August 1874.
Jane Margaret Lane (1876 – April 1877)
Jane was baptised at St. Matthew’s Church on 4 April 1877. She died at Sturton Street aged 5 months old and was buried on 7 April 1877.
Thomas Lane (1838 – 1 May 1898)
Thomas was born in Teversham, the son of agricultural labourer Thomas (1798 – 1855) and Ann (née Muggleton) (1807-1855). He was baptised in the village on 5 August 1838 and married Lavinia Freestone when he was 18 years old. He worked as a groom and later as a gardener (1881). After he was widowed he moved to live at 1 Stone Street (1881/1891). Thomas died at the Hackney Infirmary and was buried at Mill Road Cemetery on 8 May 1898.
Sources:
CFHS transcripts of Census Parish records
Pub Histories .com
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
by Mary Naylor and Claire Martinsen
With many thanks to B.A. great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Freestone for further information about the family
[If you have any information about this family, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]