Jeremiah Freeman (1763-1823) & Sarah Arger (c1757-1821)
Jeremiah Freeman was baptised at St Michael at Coslany, Norwich, on 26 June 1763, the son of James Freeman (1725-1794) a throwster [twisting silk into thread] and Ruth Garthone (1722-1792) who had married in 1750. He was the youngest of four brothers – James “many years a throwster in this city”, William, most probably a gilder, and John.
It is likely that he was the Jeremiah Freeman who was apprenticed to the painter Robert van der Mijn in Norwich for £40 in 1777.
Jeremiah Freeman of St Peter’s per Mountergate parish married Sarah Arger at St Peter of Mancroft on 30 September 1784.
At some time soon after the marriage they moved to London, possibly living in the Russell Square, where their son, William, was born in 1785 (according to later census returns).
Jeremiah worked as a journeyman [trained worker] for the leading picture framer Thomas Allwood in London in 1784. A letter to Jeremiah from the leading Norwich carver and gilder, Benjamin Jagger, dated 2 November 1784, gave some advice: “I am glad to hear you are at Mr. Alwoods – take care to continue there, at least for 2 or 3 mths & part of time as a Carver – ‘tho you will, if in Gilding Shop see their Methods of Working & thereby practice on Evenings – that alone will not be sufficient you must enquire ab other shops – & where the best work is done – you shd also see their Methods in the City, for there they work quick, cheap & shewy – this method you must also learn – don’t forget the putty work.” (npg.org.uk)
Jeremiah and Sarah returned to Norwich and their daughter, Maria, was born on 24 May 1786 and was baptised in the parish of St Lawrence in Norwich on 28 May.
By 1790 Jeremiah had opened a shop at 9 London Lane as a carver, gilder, looking glass and picture frame maker, and print seller: “Most humbly begs leave to inform the nobility, gentry and public in general of Norwich, Norfolk and Suffolk (having had many years experience in the above trade in Norwich and in the first house in London), that he has taken the above shop; where he respectfully solicits their patronage and assures them it will be his peculiar study to execute such commands as he may be honoured with in the most fashionable, approved modern taste, and on the most reasonable terms. Pier, chimney and dressing glasses, girandoles, brackets, chimney pieces, with wood or composition ornaments, drawings of all kinds for needle work, also needle work neatly framed and glazed, in screens and every other manner; also pictures carefully cleaned, lined, repaired, after the best methods.” (Norfolk Chronicle 10 April 1790).
Jeremiah took on several apprentices: Charles Gerrard in 1791, Richard Cook in 1795, and his son William in 1800. In 1792 he was admitted as freeman of Norwich. He moved in 1794-5 to premises at No. 2 London Lane, on its corner with Swan Lane.
Jeremiah also maintained his connections with London – as seen in 1793 when “Mr Knight’s exhibition was honoured with a visit from her Majesty and the Princesses” at New Bond Street “much to the credit of Mr Knight, the whole of this most superb exhibition was completed in Norwich; the overmantel carving and gilding was executed by Mr Jeremiah Freeman”.
In 1794 there was a sale by auction of his father’s freehold estate in St Peter per Mountergate consisting of two large and convenient dwelling houses, with yards, work rooms, and a stable and coach house on the Castle meadow, as well as houses, tenements and gardens in the parish of St Augustine bringing in yearly rent of £18 5s.
In 1802 Jeremiah was occupying a dwelling house and shop with a yearly lease of £26 in the parish of St Andrew in Norwich (Norwich Chronicle) – this is most likely his No 2 London Lane premises[i].
Berry’s Directory of 1810 listed “Freeman & Son, carver and gilders at London Lane” and by 1820 (label) they traded as Jeremiah & William Freeman.
On Tuesday 23 October 1810 his son William Freeman, carver and gilder, married Elizabeth Barnes at All Saints in Norwich.
At St Andrew’s in March 1806 “was married, Mr Nath. Roe, grocer, to Miss Freeman, daughter of Mr Freeman, carver and gilder, both of this city” (Norfolk Chronicle). Maria and Nathaniel had three sons, the eldest of whom died in infancy. Maria died in August 1815 and was buried at St Andrew’s.
Maria’s second son William Freeman Roe, “a most amiable young man” died aged 17 in a tragic drowning accident when sailing with friends at Thorpe in June 1826 (Norwich Mercury).
Her third son, Jeremiah Freeman Roe, took over the Bracondale Horticultural Establishment (J F Roe Trading card shown left) following the sudden death of his father, Nathaniel (aged 51), in 1831. They also traded from London Street in Norwich, and provided exotic fruit.
Jeremiah Freeman Roe (Jeremiah Freeman’s grandson) married twice, firstly in 1831 to Louisa Cotman who died in 1833 and then in 1835 to Eliza Cotman who died in 1836. Louisa and Eliza were sisters of the Norwich painter John Sell Cotman, who was one of the Norwich Society of Artists.
The artistic community which flourished in Norwich from the late C18th and then throughout the C19th was centred around the Norwich Society of Artists which was established in 1803 by John Crome, who was its first president, “as an encouragement and stimulus to Art and an educator of the public”. Many of the artists, like Jeremiah Freeman who was actively involved with the Society, were from relatively humble backgrounds and were closely connected through friendship and marriage.
The Norwich Society became the first provincial arts body in Britain to hold regular exhibitions, which took place at “Sir Benjamin Wrenche’s Court”, Cockey Lane, in Norwich. Those who wished to exhibit paintings and drawings were “requested to send them to Mr Freeman’s, carver and gilder, London Lane”; Freeman’s also sold tickets for the exhibition and prints of the items exhibited.
At the first exhibition “J. Freeman, of London Street, Picture Frame Maker and Artists’ Colour-man” contributed four subjects; his brother also contributed. Jeremiah was president of the Society in 1818.
In 1819 (when Jeremiah’s son William was vice-president and William’s brother-in-law, Philip Barnes, was secretary) the annual exhibition was visited visit by the Duke of Sussex who “expressed himself exceedingly gratified on finding the Fine Arts so rapidly advancing in a provincial city supported solely by the exertions of native talent” (Norfolk Chronicle).
Sarah died on 16 March 1821 “Yesterday week, aged 64, Mrs Sarah Freeman, wife of Mr J Freeman, carver and gilder, of London-lane, Norwich” (Suffolk Chronicle 24 March 1821). She was buried at St Peter Parmentergate.
Jeremiah died on 13 March 1823 having been ill for some time. “On Thursday, at his house on the Castle Meadow, Mr Jeremiah Freeman, late a Carver and Gilder at London-lane. Mr F was a man of great taste, and a very sedulous promoter of the fine arts in Norwich. He died much respected after enduring a long and painful illness, arising out of a paralytic affection, which took place whilst he was on a tour on the continent in pursuit of art” (Norwich Mercury 15 March 1823). He was buried at St Peter Parmentergate on 20 March 1823.
The Norfolk Chronicle described “The funeral of the late Mr Freeman took place on Thursday last. A large body of gentlemen members of the Society of Artists attended the deceased to the place of interment, thus paying his memory the same degree of respect which was shewn to that of his venerated friend, the late Mr Crome, whom he closely resembled in his liberal and constant endeavour to promote the advancement of Art. In private life, Mr Freeman’s good qualities were equally valuable. In him, it was clearly seen that gentleness and suavity of temper and disposition are perfectly compatible with ardent feeling and strong attachment; and we may truly add, that the deceased was a happy illustration of the delightful character given to one of our Poets, ‘In wit, a man; simplicity, a child’. It was this rare temperament which enabled him to bear an affliction of no common severity, with a cheerfulness and serenity, truly enviable.”
“The household furniture and other effects of Mr Jeremiah Freeman, deceased, of Castle Meadow, Norwich” were advertised for auction; “comprising handsome mahogany four-post and tent bedsteads, with chintz and other furnitures, featherbeds and bedding, sets of mahogany chairs, hair seats and brass nailed, mahogany dining, card, and loo tables, excellent sofa, nearly new, mahogany secretary and bookcase, eight-day time piece, mahogany bureau, chests with drawers, wash-hand stands, handsome chimney, pier, and dressing glasses, chintz window curtains, fenders and fire irons, tea and coffee urns, kitchen requisites, and numerous other articles. And…at the Great Room, Sir Benjamin Wrenche’s Court, the valuable collection of paintings and prints of the late Mr Freeman.” (Norfolk Chronicle April 1823)
Footnotes
[i] No. 2 London Lane was on the junction with Swan Lane (1) in the parish of St Andrew’s – church (2). London Lane originally started from the Swan Lane junction and ran westwards, and Cockey Lane ran to the market place (3). London Lane and Cockey Street were jointly designated London Street in 1829.The Norwich Society of Artists exhibited at Sir Benjamin Wrenche’s Court (4), which was off Little Cockey Lane and was demolished and replaced by the new Norwich Exchange in 1838.The Norwich Society of Artists exhibited at Sir Benjamin Wrenche’s Court (4), which was off Little Cockey Lane and was demolished and replaced by the new Norwich Exchange in 1838.
