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Eliza Elizabeth Freeman

Born: 1847
Died: 30 January 1879

Author: Tony McGarry

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BACKGROUND

Very little could be found during research on Eliza Freeman, but we do know about her father, mother, and six siblings. Their story has been included to show just how isolated Eliza was from her family when she entered Sussex County Asylum; where she died five years later and was buried.

The Freeman family seems to have been a strong unit. The family members moved around the south of England at points in their lives – and the sons joined the Royal Navy and probably served overseas – but they all lived within about 30 miles of each other later in their lives.

Eliza and her siblings are all buried in Sussex, like their father (who was born in London) and mother. Most, if not all, of their marriage partners were buried in Sussex too. Eliza’s parents and all her siblings were buried in a small area of West Sussex and their burial sites are within a circle less than 10 miles in diameter.

Poor Eliza Freeman was buried almost 40 miles from the centre of that circle: in the cemetery of Sussex County Asylum, just south of Haywards Heath. Did her mother or any of her siblings ever visit her in the asylum? (Her father did before she was admitted.) Did they later come to her grave? We will probably never know.

Travelling from Brighton to West Sussex, the distances in miles to the locations in the story are:

• Aldwick: 28
• Bognor Regis: 26
• Felpham: 25
• Littlehampton: 18
• Portsmouth: 40
• Bersted: 26
• Westhampnett: 28

ELIZA’S PARENTS

Eliza’s parents were James Freeman and Mary Allen. They were married on 30 June 1840 in St. Nicholas Church in Brighton, Sussex. Mary was around 27 years old and James was a widower, around 37 years old. They both lived in Brighton. Under the heading “Rank or Profession” in their wedding details, James is described as a Letter Carrier and Mary as a Servant, James’s father is described as a Cow Man, and Mary’s father is described as a Mariner.

The 1841 Census was the first Census that recorded names, ages, and occupations. This Census lists James, a Postman, aged 35, and Mary, aged 25, residing in Peter Street, Brighton (subsequently renamed St. Peter’s Street between 1848 and 1856 – thank you Google).

In the 1841 UK Census, children under 15 had their exact ages recorded, but anyone aged 15 and older was directed to have their age rounded down to the lowest multiple of five (e.g. a 37-year-old was recorded as 35). In 1841 the population of Brighton was 26,000.

James and Mary eventually had seven children. Their names and years of birth are:

• Mary Ellen: 1841
• Sarah Ann: 1843
• James: 1845
• Eliza: 1847
• Susan Allen: 1849
• Agnes: 1852
• Charles Allen: 1856

ELIZA’S EARLY LIFE

Eliza was baptised on 29 August 1847 in St. Nicholas Church, Brighton. Her parents were still living on Peter Street. The street still exists (though now named St. Peter’s Street) and is north of the Sussex University City Campus, about half a mile northeast from St. Nicholas Church.

In the 1851 Census, Eliza was living with her parents at Number 16 on Peter Street. Present were:

• James, Head, 46, Postman
• Mary, Wife, 34,
• James, Son, 11 (actually about 6)
• Mary, Daughter, 10
• Sarah, Daughter, 8
• Eliza, Daughter, 4
• Susan, Daughter 2

All were born in Brighton apart from Eliza’s father James, who was born in Marylebone, London.

In the 1861 Census the family were still in Brighton, but now living at 26 Oxford Street (about 160 metres northeast from their old home in Peter Street). Present were:

• James, 56, Wood Turner
• Mary, 48, Laundress
• Mary Ellen, 20, Laundress
• Sarah Ann, 18, Laundress
• Susan Allen, 12, at School
• Agnes, 10, at School
• Charles Allen, 5

So, James has changed trades and is now a Wood Turner rather than a Postman. His wife Mary and his daughters Mary Ellen and Sarah Ann are all working as Laundresses. Did this increase in bread winners (since the 1851 Census) enable them to get bigger and/or better accommodation?  

Eliza was in Brighton at the time of the 1861 Census, but was recorded at 4 Tidy Street, about 450 metres southwest of most of her family in Oxford Street. The Census entry reads:

• Mary A. Newman, Head, Unmarried, 43, Laundress, born Kent
• Eliza Freeman, Servant, Unmarried, 14, born Brighton
• James Johnson, Head, Married, 22, Labourer, born Brighton
• Eliza Johnson, Wife, Married, 22, Laundress, born Brighton

Eliza’s brother James was at 9 Prince Albert Street, Brighton for the 1861 Census, which is about 1500 metres southwest of most of his family in Oxford Street. His details are given as James Freeman, Servant, Unmarried, 16, Baker, born Brighton. James was in the house of John Penfold, Master Baker, for whom he presumably worked.

THE FAMILY MOVE TO BOGNOR REGIS

Eliza’s father James died aged 63 in 1866. The death was registered in the September quarter in the Chichester Registration District. He was buried on 29 July 1866 in St. Mary Magdalen churchyard, South Bersted, Sussex.  

The 1871 Census shows that Eliza, her mother Mary, sister Agnes, and brother Charles had all moved to Bognor Regis. Their address was 95 New Street and the Census records:

• Mary Freeman, Head, Widow, 56, Lodging House Keeper, born Bognor.
• Mary Freeman’s children:
  • Eliza, 23, Domestic Servant, born Brighton
  • Agnes, 19, Domestic Servant, born Brighton
  • Charles, 15, Grocer’s Assistant, born Brighton
    
• Also present were
  • Henry L. Round, Head, 40, Commander Royal Navy (Active List), born Essex
  • Frederick Coates, Servant, 19, Groom, born Suffolk

New Street no longer exists. When the 1871 Census was taken Eliza’s sister Mary Ellen had married (1864) and was living with her husband in West Ham, London; James was in Portsmouth serving in the Royal Navy in Portsmouth; Sarah had married in South Bersted, Sussex (1866); and Susan was working in Lee in south east London.

ELIZA ENTERS THE ASYLUM

On 11 February 1874, Eliza was admitted to the Sussex County Asylum (later St. Francis Hospital) in Haywards Heath, Sussex. She was 28 years old. There was no hint in the family story before this that Eliza had a mental health problem.

Eliza’s form of Mental Disorder was described on admission to the Asylum as “Mania”. Today Mania would be described as Bipolar Disorder, which was formerly known as manic depression. Her Bodily Condition was described as “Enfeebled”. This meant she had little vitality and was weak and frail.

Eliza lived in the asylum for almost five more years and tragically died there on 30 January 1879, aged 32. 

Eliza was buried in the asylum’s cemetery on 3 February 1879 in an unnamed and, to this day, unmarked grave. Almost 1,000 mental health patients from the asylum had been buried there before her – during the 19 years since it started being used. By 1953, when the cemetery was closed to further burials, almost 4,000 patients had been buried there.

ELIZA’S FAMILY AFTER HER DEATH

Two years after Eliza died, the 1881 Census reveals that her mother Mary was living without any of her family. She is listed in a house on London Road, Bognor Regis. The entry reads:

• Mary Freeman, Head, Widow, 67, late Laundress, born Bognor.

Her daughter Susan was living three doors away, with her husband Robert and their son William Taylor, aged 2. Their marriage had been registered in the district of Westhampnett in the September Quarter of 1879.

Mary Freeman died aged 81 in 1894. She was buried in Bersted parish church on 23 January.

ELIZA’S OTHER SIBLINGS

James:

James’s birth register records him as James William Henry, in the Brighton registration district in the March quarter of 1845. He was baptised on 2 March 1845 at St. Peter’s Church, Brighton, and his parents are recorded as James and Mary. However in the 1851 Census his parents gave his year of birth as 1840.

In the 1871 Census, a James Freeman was aboard the HMS Duke of Wellington in Portsmouth Harbour (Portsea Island). This James was described as being aged 26, born in Brighton, and he had duties as the Captain’s Cook. Up until late 1869, HMS Duke of Wellington had been a Royal Navy training ship, but it was then made flagship of the Port Admiral, replacing HMS Victory. Captain George Hancock was the commander of HMS Duke of Wellington.

In the 1891 Census, James was listed as a Licenced Victualler, living with his wife Ann at 34 Warblington Street, Old Portsmouth. (This area of Old Portsmouth would have been well known to the James Freeman of the previous paragraph. Is it OUR James Freeman?) They lived above the pub he managed, called The Bee Hive Inn.

In the 1901 Census, James was living in Ascension Cottage, Aldwick, with his wife Ann. He was described as a Boat Owner.

He died in 1906, aged 61. His death was registered in the June quarter in the Westhampnett registration district. 

Mary Ellen

Mary was baptised on 4 July 1841 at St. Nicholas Church Brighton. In 1864 she married Thomas Lewis, and the marriage was recorded in the September quarter in the Chichester registration district.

The 1871 Census has the family living at 21 Alice Street, West Ham, London the entry reads:

• Thomas Lewis, Head, about 35, Engine Fitter, born Brighton
• Ellen, Wife, about 35, born Brighton
• Lilley, Daughter, 7, at School, born Brighton
• Thomas, Son, 4, at School, born Bognor Regis
• Frederick, Son, 18 months, born Essex.

Sometime after 1871 the family moved back to West Sussex.

Thomas Lewis died in 1880, aged 46. His death was registered in the September quarter in the Brighton registration district. Had Thomas for some reason parted with his wife Mary Ellen (nee Freeman) and children, moving back to where he was born in Brighton?

In the 1881 Census Mary was at the Westhampnett Workhouse. The entry reads:

• Mary E. Lewis, Pauper 43 Laundress born Brighton
• Alfred M. Son 7 at school born Bognor
• John, Son, 2 born Bognor

On the same page there is an entry for Richard Horne, Pauper, 52, Shepherd, born Aldingbourne, Sussex.

The 1891 Census was taken on Sunday 5 April. The entry for the Chichester Workhouse has the following entries:

• Ellen Lewis, Head, Widow, 51, Laundry work, born Brighton
• Anne, Daughter, 9, born Brighton,                   
• Richard, Son, 6, born Westhampnett
• Richard Horne, Head, Widower, 62, Farm labourer, born Aldingbourne, Sussex

On 29 June 1891 Mary, age 50, married Richard Horne, age 62, at St. Paul’s Church, Chichester. Her address was given as the Workhouse. She was illiterate and signed the register with a cross. His address was given as Cross Street, Chichester.

Mary’s death, aged 53, was registered in the March quarter of 1895 in the East Preston West Sussex registration district. 

Sarah Ann

Sarah was baptised Sarah Ann Catherine on 26 March 1843 in Brighton. She married Thomas Tate, a cabinet maker, on 9 February 1866 in South Bersted.

Thomas died in 1877, aged 33. He was buried in the parish church of South Bersted, Sussex, on 30 July.

In the 1881 Census, Sarah Ann, 37, was living in London Road, Bognor Regis, recorded as a Widow and a Dressmaker. She was with her two sons: Charles, 14, an Errand Boy, born in Bognor and George, 5, a Scholar.

Sarah died in 1891, aged 48, and was buried on 7 January in in the parish church of South Bersted.

Susan Allen 

Susan’s birth was registered in Brighton in the June quarter of 1849.

The 1871 Census lists Susan as cook in a house in Lee, Kent. The Head of the household was Eliza Mary Rawlings. The entry reads:

• Susan Freeman (mistranscribed as Freiman) Servant, Unmarried, 22, Cook, born Brighton.

In 1879, Susan married Robert Taylor. The marriage was registered in the Westhampnett Registration district in the September quarter.

The 1881 Census has the family living in Bognor Regis, four doors away from Susan’s mother Mary on London Road. In the 1901 Census, Susan, aged 51, and her husband Robert Taylor, aged 64, were living in Osborn Cottage on Lyon Street, Bognor.

In the 1911 Census, Susan and Robert were living at 9 Ithaca Terrace, Felpham. Robert was described as a Royal Navy Pensioner. He joined the Navy in November 1854. Susan’s sister, Agnes Moore, a Widow, was also living with them. The house still exists. 

Robert died in 1917, aged 81, and was buried on 15 November in St. Mary the Virgin churchyard Felpham.

In the 1921 Census, Susan was still at Ithaca Terrace, Felpham. She was a widow, aged 72. There were four female visitors in the house: three ladies from a family with the surname Adlington (seemingly a mother who was born in London and her two daughters, born in Glasgow) and a lady named Marian Booth.

Susan died aged 81 in 1930. She was buried on 17 October in St. Mary the Virgin churchyard, Felpham, like her husband Robert.

Agnes

Agnes was baptised on 27 June 1852 at St. Nicholas Church, Brighton.

At the time of the 1871 Census, Agnes was living in her mother Mary’s house in Bognor with her brother Charles and her sisters Eliza and Mary Ellen.

The 1881 Census finds Agnes Freeman, aged 28, working as a cook in Lansdown Road, Lee, in southeast London. She was in the house of Eliza M. Rawlins, an accountant. Had Agnes taken over this position from her sister Susan, who was Eliza Rawlins’s cook in Lee (when the 1871 Census was taken)?

In 1887 Agnes married Owen Moore. The marriage was registered in the September quarter in the Westhampnett registration district.

In the 1891 Census, Agnes was living at 1 Richmond Road, Bognor Regis, The Census records:

• Owen Moore, Head, Married, 30, Signalman (Railway), born Newhaven
• Agnes, Wife, Married, 38, born Brighton
• They were sharing the house with:
  • Eliza Skilton, Head, Single, 70, Living on her own means, born Epsom, Surrey.

Owen died in 1896, aged 36. He was buried in St. Mary the Virgin churchyard, Felpham.

In the 1911 Census, Agnes Moore (nee Freeman) is recorded as a Widow, aged 58. She was living with her sister, Susan Taylor (nee Freeman), aged 60, and Susan’s husband Robert, aged 74, at 9 Ithaca Terrace Felpham. This house was about 2 kilometres southeast of where Agnes lived with her husband Owen on Richmond Road, Bognor, in the 1890s. 

Agnes died in 1913, aged 62, and was buried on 5 April. She was buried in the churchyard of St. Mary the Virgin Felpham, the same churchyard as her husband Owen, her sister Susan, and Susan’s husband Robert.

Charles Allen

Charles’s birth was registered in the September quarter of 1856 in the Brighton registration district.

Charles joined the Navy in 1873 and gave his date of birth as 13 March 1857. He served for 22 years and retired in 1895 as a Chief Petty Officer. During this time, Charles served on fifteen ships with a maximum stay of three consecutive years; this was on HMS Pallas from 1875 to 1878. His character rating ranged from Good to Exemplary. Like his brother James he served on HMS Duke of Wellington, but they were not on the ship at the same time. 

Charles was married on 14 May 1890. He was 33 and a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy. At this time, Charles was serving on HMS Excellent which was a “shore based” establishment on Whale Island, connected by a bridge to Portsea Island in Portsmouth Harbour. His bride was Adelaide Shipton, aged 27. They were married in St. Mary’s Church, Walberton, a village 5 miles northeast of Littlehampton.

The 1901 Census recorded the family living in Bognor Road, Aldwick. Charles was a labourer, aged 44, and Adelaide was 39. Five of their children were present:

• Mary, aged 10
• Charles, aged 8
• Susan, aged 5
• James, aged 2
• Kitty, 9 months

In the 1911 Census, the Freeman family were living in Willow Cottage, Aldwick. Charles was 54 and a Navy Pensioner/Builder’s Labourer; Adelaide was 48. They had six children:

• Charles Allen, aged 18, Grocer’s Assistant (in Home & Colonial Stores)
• Susan Allen Freeman, aged 15, Servant
• James Freeman, aged 12, Scholar
• Catherine Freeman (Kitty from 1901 Census), aged 11, Scholar
• John Freeman, aged 6
• Enid Freeman, aged 3

Charles and Adelaide’s daughter Mary – who would have been about 20 at this time – was not present. We know from the Census that whilst nine children were born to the couple, only seven still lived.

In the 1921 Census the family were still living in Willow Cottage, Aldwick:

• Charles Snr., aged 65, Labourer
• Adelaide, aged 58
• James William Henry, aged 21, Jobbing Gardener
• Catherine Agnes, aged 20, Domestic
• Enid Nellia, aged 14 

In the 1939 Registry, Charles and Adelaide and two of their children – James and Enid – were living in 109 Rose Green Road, Aldwick. The house still exists. 

Charles died aged 89 in 1946. He was buried on 5 May in Bognor Regis Old Cemetery.

This research has been particularly poignant as I live in Aldwick. 

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Author’s Thoughts 

Unfortunately we know very little about Eliza. She spent most of her life in Brighton. She was born in 1847, and in 1851 she was four years old, living with her parents and siblings in Brighton. In 1861 she was fourteen, working as a servant in Brighton. By 1871, aged about 23, she was back with her mother in Bognor (her mother’s place of birth), working as a servant. Her sister Agnes and brother Charles were also with their mother. All Eliza’s other siblings were elsewhere in 1871.

Eliza was the last person in the family left in Brighton by the time she came back to the family. Was this period as the last family member somehow the cause of her mental health problem? Was her separation from her tight family unit a contributing factor? We don’t know the exact time she left Brighton and moved to Bognor.

In 1874 Eliza was admitted to the Sussex County Asylum. Her last address prior to her admission to the Asylum was Bognor. She died in the Asylum five years later at the early age of 32. We may never know the root cause of her admission.

– Tony McGarry