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(C.1786 - 1859)

of Mellor, Derbyshire (now Cheshire)

born in Foston , Leicestershire

His picture (above) is in my FREEMAN family photo album and in 1856 he received money from the estate of Thomas FREEMAN of Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Leicestershire, on behalf of my ancestor - Jemima FREEMAN.

1824 - he was made perpetual curate for Mellor in the chapelry of Glossop¹ following the death of the Reverend Matthew OLERENSHAW. He was listed as "Clergy" for Mellor in Commercial Directories as early as 1821², perhaps assisting the latter in his final years.

1828 - he married Elizabeth OLERENSHAW at the Parish Church in Glossop on 25^th September 1828³. Elizabeth was the daughter of Rev. Matthew OLERENSHAW and Elizabeth WOOD of Northenden.

1829 - a son, Thomas Matthew FREEMAN was born to the couple and baptised at Mellor on 25^th September 1829⁴.

1837 - Thomas FREEMAN of Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Leicester wrote a will⁵ bequeathing his estate to his wife Mary and his children Mary, Suzanna, Elizabeth, Phoebe, Jemima, Matthew (not the Revd.) and Charles.

1840 - Thomas FREEMAN of Ratcliffe dies on 5^th March 1840.

1841 - Listed in the 1841 Census⁶ (55) with wife Elizabeth (45) and son Thomas (11).

1856 - The final division⁷ of Thomas FREEMAN's estate takes place and Jemima's share is given to "Rev M and Mrs J Freemen".

1859 - The Revd. Matthew FREEMAN dies on 14^th March. His obituary states that he was born at Foston in the county of Leicester January 1786 and Incumbent of Mellor for nearly 35 years. He was buried in the vault in Mellor Churchyard.

1859 - 67 Matthew and son Thomas are still shown in "The Clergy List" an annual publication of the time in the alphabetical list of clergy. In the later years Thomas is shown as Surrogate Perpetual Curate of Mellor.

1876 - by this time Thomas has been appointed Perpetual Curate of Mellor.

1881 - Thomas Matthew FREEMAN listed in the 1881 Census⁸ as Vicar of Mellor (51) b. Mellor with wife Jemima (55) b. Ratcliffe. Leicester and a servant Annie BEDFORD.

1896 - Thomas's wife Jemima dies and Thomas is left a Widower at the age of 67.

1899/90 - Thomas reads the banns in his own Church announcing his forthcoming marriage to a spinster from Leicestershire, Ada Annie Leoline BRADBURY age 38. The church is packed to watch the 70 year old Reverend and his new bride.

1900ish - My family receive a photograph of the happy couple outside the vicarage. One of the family scribbles out the likeness of Matthew's new bride - they are scandalised!

***Look carefully at the photograph and you can see her left hand on his right shoulder and her white skirts behind him.***

1906 - Thomas Matthew FREEMAN dies (without issue) - the end of that Freeman line!