James Fruin/Frewin

1788-1856

James was born on the 12^th June 1788, he was baptised on the 18^th July 1788 at St Mary Reading, Berkshire, the son of Moses and Sarah Frewin (formerly Freebody, nee Lewington) who were married on the 15^th April 1783, at St Mary, Reading.

Moses and Sarah also had the following children baptised at St Mary, Reading:

Elizabeth, 7^th February 1787

Robert, 3^rd February 1790

George, 25^th May 1791

Elizabeth, 15^th June 1792

James Frewin married Esther Cowdrey on the 13^th December 1810, at St Mary, Reading, Berkshire.

(Esther was baptised Hester in 1785 in Hurley, Berkshire, the daughter of George and Mary Cawdrey (nee Lewington) who were married on the 29^th September 1779 in Hurley.)

James and Esther had the following children:

Esther Frewin, 23^rd February 1812, in Caversham, Oxfordshire

James Moses Frewin, born 5^th February 1815, baptised 31^st July 1816, in Caversham

Anne Frewin, 24^th November 1816 in Caversham

Rebecca Fruen, 23^rd September 1818 in Kingsclere Hampshire

Caroline Brunswick Frewen, 25^th December 1820 in Kingsclere

In 1841 James (50) was recorded as a Schoolmaster living in St Mary’s Hill, Newbury, with Esther (55).

The 1851 census also records James (63) as a Schoolmaster, living in St Mary’s Hill, Newbury, with Hester (66) (Esther), their widowed daughter Hester (Esther) Seward (40) and their grandchildren, Rebecca Seward (9), William Pinnock (5), Alfred Pinnock (4) and Charles Pinnock (2).

In 1851 James was elected as the Goaler of Borough of Newbury, the following appeared in the newspaper:

Reading Mercury

Dated 5^th July 1851

The Election of Goaler: The candidates for the office were; James Frewin, Charles Samuels and William Samuels; when the election fell upon James Frewin, who was appointed for one year only.

It appears that James continued to hold the position of Goaler of the Borough of Newbury until 1856 as the following appeared in the newspaper:

Berkshire Chronicle

Dated 5^th April 1856

NEWBURY TOWN COUNCIL

A letter from James Frewin, the Goaler, was read by the Mayor, praying for the reduction of the whole of his rent on the grounds of ill-health, and that he only had 3s 1½d per week to live upon when he had paid his rent and taxes.

A long discussion ensued upon this, the majority of the council being of opinion that the emoluments of the office were quite sufficient for the services rendered. It appeared also to be unanimous opinion of the meeting that the state of the goaler’s health was such as to render him hardly competent to fulfil the duties; but taking everything into consideration they were willing to forego the quarter’s rent due now, and not ask for the ensuring quarter’s rent; but that such should not be considered as a precedent, or as at all affecting the salary of the goaler, or any advance thereupon.

James Fruin died aged 68 on the 14^th September 1856. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 18^th September.

Esther Frewin died aged 74 on the 19^th April 1859. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 23^rd April.

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