John Millar Freeth (1902 - 1962)

Born 18 May 1902 in Hempstead, Nassau, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Edna Catherine (Fischer) Freeth — married 1 Dec 1926 in Hempstead, Nassau, New York, USA

Descendants

Died 6 Aug 1962 at age 60 in Hempstead, Nassau, New York, United States

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Biography

John Millar Freeth was born on 18 May 1902 in Hempstead, New York. His parents were Samuel Thomas Freeth and Lillian Agnes Hughes.

The 1910 U.S. Census shows him (age 6) living with his parents (Samuel and Lillie, ages 43 and 32 respectively) and four siblings (Samuel R., age 12; Lillian R., age 11; Richard T., age 9; Ada C., age 2) at 292 Court House Road, Hempstead, New York.^[1] Five years later, the Freeth family is enumerated at a different address on Floral Park Road and there were three more siblings: Agnes (age 5), Laura (age 2), and Caroline (age 1).^[2]

After his parents' separation and divorce, John and his siblings moved with their mother into a boarding house called the "Moose Inn" at 343 Front Street. The 1920 U.S. Census^[3] enumerates him there (age 16) working as a machinist in a garage. Also listed in the household are Lillie A. Freeth (age 41), Samuel Freeth and his wife Bertha (ages 22 and 19 respectively); Lillian Freeth (age 21), Richard Freeth (age 19), Ada Freeth (age 11), Agnes Freeth (age 9), Laura Freeth (age 7), Caroline Freeth (age 5), and an adopted brother named Nicholas Fredericks (age 20). He is also listed at the same address in the 1925 New York Census.^[4]

John Freeth attended Munson Union School^[5] and Franklin Square Grammar School, where he was elected president of his graduating class in 1917.^[6]

On 28 November 1926, he married Edna Catherine Fischer.^[7][8][9] Their known children are:

• Gloria Catherine (Freeth) Vasta aka Lutes (1927-2007)
• Carole Anne (Freeth) Seager (1939-2017)

John, Edna, and Gloria appear in the 1930 U.S. Census living at 71 Albermarle Avenue, Hempstead, New York.^[10] John is described as 27 years old, married, and working as a Patrolman for the Police Department. His wife and daughter are ages 26 and 2.5 years old respectively. Ten years later^[11], John is enumerated by himself as a lodger at 49 High Street; his wife and two daughters (Gloria, age 12; Carole Anne, age 6 months) are listed living in his mother's boarding house nearby. Finally, the 1950 U.S. Census shows a 47-year-old John M Freeth living at 47 Gladys Avenue with his wife, Edna (age 46); their daughter, Carole (age 10); and his aunt, Mary J Millar (age 82).^[12]

John Freeth worked as a patrolman and radio operator with the Hempstead, New York Police Department beginning in 1928.^[13][14] In 1942, he was involved in a race riot that ended with an overturned police car and the military called; left 3 policemen, including himself, hospitalized.^[15] During the late 1940s, he served as the department clerk and was recognized for the accuracy of the records he kept on police activities.^[16] In 1952, he was promoted to Detective.^[17]

An avid bowler, he owned a bowling alley near his mother's boarding house during the late 1920s and 30s.^[18] In 1938, he was charged with conduct unbecoming a police officer for causing a scene during a bowling tournament while off duty.^[14][19]

John Freeth was a member of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association and St. George's Episcopal Church.^[20]

He died on 6 August 1962^[21][22], and was buried in the family plot at Greenfield Cemetery, Uniondale, New York.^[23]

Research Notes

I've found references to John Freeth's police career as early as 1928. It appears that he primarily worked the overnight shift. There are many stories in the local newspapers about his work busting petty criminals, testifying in trials, and otherwise serving the public. - Freeth-52 23:54, 3 March 2024 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M53C-DRS : accessed 26 November 2015), John M Thomas in household of Samuel Thomas, Hempstead, Nassau, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1119, sheet 18A, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,008.
2. ↑ "New York State Census, 1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9V2-TDZ : accessed 26 November 2015), John M Freeth, Hempstead, A.D. 01, E.D. 34, Nassau, New York, United States; from "New York, State Census, 1915," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing p. 02, line 48, state population census schedules, 1915, New York State Archives, Albany.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJGX-FM8 : accessed 26 November 2015), John Fretts in household of Lillie A Fretts, Hempstead, Nassau, New York, United States; citing sheet 10B, family 235, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,127.
4. ↑ "New York State Census, 1925," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KS4T-YTQ : accessed 5 February 2016), John M Freeth, Hempstead, A.D. 01, E.D. 22, Nassau, New York, United States; records extracted by Ancestry and images digitized by FamilySearch; citing p. 24, line 41, New York State Archives, Albany.
5. ↑ "Program given on Arbor Day at Munson Union School...", The Hempstead Sentinel (Hempstead, New York), 1909-1912. p. 8. Accessed on fultonhistory.com Link to search page
6. ↑ "The Commencement exercises of the Franklin Square Grammar School, were held last Friday evening...", The Hempstead Sentinel (Hempstead, New York), 28 Jun 1917. p. 8. Accessed on fultonhistory.com. Link to search page
7. ↑ "New York State, Marriage Index, 1881-1967", database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 Mar 2024), John M Freeth and Edna C Fisher, 28 Nov 1926, Hempstead, New York. Cert. no. 39794. New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA; New York State Marriage Index
8. ↑ "John Millar Freeth, 343 Fourth Street Hempstead, and Miss Edna Catherine Fischer, Poplar Street...", Marriage Licenses. The Nassau Daily Review (Long Island, New York), 1 Dec 1926. p. 2. Accessed on fultonhistory.com Link to search page
9. ↑ "Freith-Fischer", The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 13 Mar 1927. p. 27. Accessed 1 Mar 2024. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-marriage-of-fis/142412699/
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X782-CY6 : accessed 26 November 2015), John M Fruth, 1930.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQT1-61F : accessed 26 November 2015), John M Freeth, Hempstead, Hempstead Town, Nassau, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 30-68, sheet 82A, family , NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 2685.
12. ↑ "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XYS-9CPN : Wed Oct 04 21:31:34 UTC 2023), Entry for John M Freeth and Edna C Freeth, 13 April 1950.
13. ↑ Just Somemore by Justa Nother, "In the long hours of the night when business is dull, Radio Operator John Freeth fills in the time at police headquarters by reading the 'pocket detective book'". The Hempstead Sentinel (Hempstead, NY), 7 Oct 1937. p. 6. Accessed on fultonhistory.com Link to search page
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} "Cop Faces Trial", The Nassau Daily Review-Star (Nassau, NY), 8 Apr 1938. p. 11. Accessed on fultonhistory.com Link to search page
15. ↑ "Arrest Of Soldier Causes Fight; 3 Policemen Injured", The New York Age, 9 May 1942. p. 1. Accessed 1 Mar 2024. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-new-york-age-arrest-of-soldier-cause/142414572/
16. ↑ "No Auto Deaths In Year In Village of Hempstead", The Nassau Daily Review-Star (Nassau, NY), 10 Jun 1949. p. 7. Accessed on fultonhistory.com Link to search page
17. ↑ "Village Awards Road Contracts", The Nassau Review-Star (Nassau, NY), 7 May 1952. Accessed on fultonhistory.com Link to search page
18. ↑ "V. of F. W. Plan Sale", The Daily Review (Long Island, NY), 10 Dec 1925. p. 14. Accessed on fultonhistory.com Link to search page
19. ↑ "Fined Five Days Pay", The Nassau Daily Review-Star (Nassau, NY), 13 Apr 1938. p. 2. Accessed via fultonhistory.com Link to search page
20. ↑ "Mr and Mrs Samuel R. Freeth and Mr and Mrs John M. Freeth, two brothers and their wives, shown leaving St. George's Episcopal church, Hempstead, yesterday" (pictured), The Nassau Daily Review-Star (Nassau, NY), 11 Apr 1939. p. 12. Accessed via fultonhistory.com Link to search page
21. ↑ "New York State Health Department, Genealogical Research Death Index, 1957-1963," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CH6-9K5 : accessed 26 November 2015), John M Freeth, 06 Aug 1962; citing Death, Hempstead, Hempstead, Nassau, New York, New York State Department of Health—Vital Records Section, Albany.
22. ↑ Death notice - John M. Freeth, Newsday (Suffolk, NY), 7 Aug 1962. p. 78. Accessed 29 Nov 2022. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-obituary-for-j/113833324/
23. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/209073227/john_m-freeth: accessed March 4, 2024), memorial page for John M. Freeth (1902–1962), Find a Grave Memorial ID 209073227, citing Greenfield Cemetery, Uniondale, Nassau County, New York, USA; Maintained by Anonymous (contributor 47533540).