SAMUEL FEEEMAN

THE LATE MR. SAMUEL FREEMAN.

By the demise of this venerable and respected old citizen of the borough, at the ripe old age of 89, another link of the past half-century has been severed and is gone, as representative of the business and public life of that period. For a long term of years, he was the head of the old millwrighting firm carried on at West Mills, and in his business no man of his time was better known or sought for among the milling fraternity of this and adjoining counties.

He did not seek public life, but he was passionately devoted to music, and in its amateur public renderings in Newbury a couple of generations since, he was at the front. Possessed of a good tenor voice, a keen and correct reader of the divine art, he was in general request, and sang to appreciative audiences. He devoted his gifts to the Church and was a member of St. Nicholas Choir, in which he did his best to aid in rendering the musical portion of the services for over 30 years, during the prime of the Bishop of Reading's ministry, and the early days of Rector Gardiner, and when the late Mr. James H. Godding was organist and choirmaster. At the death of that gentleman Mr. Freeman stepped into the breach and for a little time practised and led his colleagues until other professional service could be obtained. Such was his proficiency and talent. He then retired from his old place in the choir stalls, in 1884. Since that time he has led a retired life.

On Monday last the ripe fruit of 89 years, fell from the tree of life and passed peacefully away, in the presence of his aged widow, children and grandchildren. The funeral took place yesterday; the first portion of the service was said in the Parish Church, where so many of his happiest hours were spent. The Rev. G. Dangerfield, curate, officiated.

The mourners were Mr. H. Freeman (son) Mr. and Mrs. F. Newton, Mr. and Mrs. Offer (daughters and sons-in-law), Mr. J. Freeman, Mr. W. Freeman and Mr. Arthur Elliott (grandsons). The corpse was then taken to the Cemetery and deposited in the family vault, and where Mr. Dangerfield continued and completed the service.

Among the floral tributes were those “From a sorrowing wife," "In loving memory, from Marmie (daughter)," "In loving memory of dear- grandfather”, from George, Ethel and Olive Stevens (nephew and nieces)" “In loving memory, from Fred and Fanny (son-in-law and daughter), 'Till the day dawn, the shadows flee.'"

Newbury Weekly News and General Advertiser - Thursday 10 May 1906