Cork-Cutters by Royal Appointment     Notes on the Freeman Family Baptisms, marriages and burials were found in: London parish registers, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online (unless otherwise stated). John Freeman – PCC Will (National Archives) will dated 28 March 1818, probate date 22 March 1820. John Freeman of Watling Street, aged 83 years, was buried on 24 March 1820 at Bunhill Fields, London (FindMyPast).     Will Summary John Freeman of Watling Street in the City of London, Cork-Cutter. "I have good reason to believe that my former wife Jane Freeman is dead, more particularly as I have not heard from or received the least tidings whatever of her for upwards of twenty-four years". grandson Thomas Freeman of Jewry Street, Aldgate in the City of London, cork-cutter. son Thomas Freeman of Warwick Lane, City of London, cork-cutter. daughter Mary, the wife of James Howard, gentleman. daughter Elizabeth, the wife of William Home. wife Ann Freeman, formerly Ann Dellamore, sole executrix. children by Ann Freeman, formerly Dellamore: Charles John Freeman, Leonora Freeman, and Rachael Freeman; all under age twenty-one years. friends Thomas Parry and William Cross. desires his wife Ann Freeman to carry on the trade and business of a cork-cutter at Watling Street for the benefit of herself and their children.     Family History Notes In his will John Freeman stated that he had not had contact with his former wife, named Jane, in about 24 years. This suggests that Jane left the family home in about 1794. A Faculty Office marriage licence dated 1 July 1793 was issued for John Freeman and Jane Freeman (Society of Genealogists, London, online data). Marriage on 2 July 1793 at St Mary Aldermary [in Watling Street]:     John Freeman of the parish, widower, and     Jane Freeman of Portsea in the Co. of Hants [Hampshire], spinster, by licence. The appearance is that Jane was a second wife and she abandoned her husband shortly after the marriage, never to be heard from again. John Freeman and Ann Dellamore were married two weeks before the will was written. On 14 March 1818 the parish register of St Sepulchre, City of London (known as St Sepulchre Newgate in FamilySearch; and Holborn St Sepulchre in Ancestry) recorded the marriage:     John Freeman, widower, of the parish of St Mary Aldermary, London, and     Ann Dellamore, spinster, of the parish of St Sepulchre, London. Their three children, who were named in the will, were born out of wedlock. Baptisms at the parish of St Sepulchre, London:     13 Dec 1816, Charles John Freeman, illegitimate son of Ann Delamore; and     22 Jan 1817, Rachel Freeman, and Leonora Freeman,                 illegitmate daughters of Ann Dellamore. The family trade was given as cork-cutter, and their residence was Green Arbor Court. An earlier baptism for Leonora was recorded in the parish register of St Saviour, Southwark (FamilySearch Historical Records and London parish registers, Ancestry):     Leonora Freeman, daughter of John Freeman, cork-cutter, and Ann,     born 3 Nov 1807, baptised 17 Jan 1808. (It seems plausible that this was the same Leonora, sister of Rachel Freeman). There is evidence that John Freeman and Ann Dellamore also had a son who died in infancy. The parish register of St Mary Aldermary, London, recorded that Horatio Dellamore, the son of Ann Dellamore, was baptised on 13 August 1806 and buried 19 August 1806 in the ’vault from Mr Freeman, No. 72 Watling Street‘. Horatio likely was named after Admiral Horatio Nelson, who commanded the great victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, where he died of his wounds. His funeral took place in London on 9 January 1806; he was interred in the crypt at St Paul’s Cathedral. Watling Street, the location of John Freeman’s cork-cutting shop, was by the eastern boundary of the grounds of St Paul’s Cathedral. The dome of St Paul’s Cathedral loomed up over Watling Street. Therefore, it can be surmised that the Freemans may have been spectators at Nelson’s funeral procession. It appears that the testator John Freeman was predeceased by his son John Freeman who was a cork-cutter at Star Alley. John Freeman [junior], bachelor, and Catherine Maw, spinster, were married at St Dunstan, Stepney, on 29 August 1789. The parish register of All Hallows Staining, London, recorded baptisms of children of John and Catherine Freeman. The parish register entries recorded the father’s occupation as cork-cutter, the mother’s maiden name as Maw, and the family residence as Star Alley. Star Alley runs alongside the old churchyard and then turns up to Fenchurch Street. birth baptism 21 Jun 1794 20 Jul 1794 Thomas Freeman 17 Jul 1795 16 Aug 1795 William Freeman 13 Oct 1796 6 Nov 1796 Frederick Freeman 12 Feb 1799 10 Mar 1799 Elizabeth Freeman 1 Dec 1800 21 Dec 1800 Henry Fredrick Freeman 30 Jul 1802 22 Aug 1802 Charles Freeman [buried 28 Sep 1802] 21 Dec 1803 15 Jan 1804 Charles Freeman 29 Apr 1806 25 May 1806 Robert Freeman [buried 13 Sep 1807] Burials at All Hallows Staining, London Age 28 Sep 1802 Charles Freeman 2 months 5 Mar 1806 John Freeman 14 2 Aug 1807 Catharine Freeman 39 13 Sep 1807 Robert Freeman 1 6 Nov 1811 John Freeman 47 Census Returns, maintained by The National Archives, can be viewed at the Ancestry family history website. Notes: In the 1841 census, the age was rounded down to the nearest five for those aged 15 or over. However, it appears that this rule was not always applied. Name Age   Occupation Born in County? 1841 census – Watling Street, St Mary Aldermary, London                         Reference: HO107/722/3 (folio 3, p. 1) Charles John Freeman 37 Cork-cutter Y Ann Freeman 69 Independent Y Charles John Sayer 6   N Charlotte Humphries 33 Servant N Notes: Charles John Sayer was Ann’s grandson. The next transcribed census return shows Ann’s two daughters Leonora, the mother of Charles John Sayer, and Rachel. 1841 census – Trafalgar Street, St Mary Newington, Lambeth [South London]                         Reference: HO107/1064/7 (folio 32, p. 6) Leonora Sayer 30 Independent N Emily Sayer 3   Y Mary Merten 15 Servant N Rachel Freeman 30 Independent N   Name and relation to Head of household Marital Status Age Occupation Birth Place 1851 census – 2 West Street, Walworth [South London]                         Reference: HO107/1567 (folio 45, p. 22) Rachel Freeman Head Unmarried 39 Fund holder London Charles J Freeman Brother Unmarried 48 Retired cork-cutter London Notes: West Street was later renamed to Penrose Street. 1851 census – Lewisham Road, Deptford, Greenwich [south-east London]                         Reference: HO107/1584 (folio 173, p. 13) Leonora Sayer Head Widow 41 Annuitant St Mary, London Emily A Sayer Daughter   13   Greenwich, Kent   1861 census – 2 West Street, Walworth [South London]                         Reference: RG 9/339 (folio 1, p. 6) Rachel Freeman Head Unmarried 49 Fundholder St Mary Magdalene, London Charles J Freeman Brother Unmarried 57 Fundholder, Retired cork-cutter St Mary Aldermanbury, London Copyright © WhistlerHistory 2021.