Portrait of girl with doll by E. Freeman of Grimsby c1910.

An original portrait photo by Ernest Freeman of 456 Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby.

Ernest Walter Freeman was born in Torquay, Devon on 8th February 1879. His parents were George John Freeman, a carver and gilder living in Cockington, and Mary Elizabeth Freeman (née Codnor, daughter of a master mariner). George John Freeman was a cider merchant in Kingskerswell, Newton Abbot in 1881 and an artist in Paignton, Devon in 1891 and 1911. George and Mary are buried in Torquay.

Ernest Walter Freeman married Martha Monether in Leicester in 1903. The couple had two boys, Ernest George (born Mapperley, Notts. 1905) and Percy (born Cleethorpes 1907). In 1911, Ernest Walter Freeman was living at 456 Cleethorpe Road, where this portrait was taken. Ernest served in the Army, RFC and RAF for the duration on WW1 until he was discharged in 1920. In 1921, he was back working as a photographer at 456 Cleethorpes Road but the business collapsed in 1923. The family were living in Barcroft Street, Cleethorpes in 1923 and ‘The Croft’, Carr Lane, Clee in 1927. Ernest and Martha were living in Clee Crescent in 1939. Ernest was a journeyman photographic printer, aged 60. Ernest died in Cleethorpes, aged 63. Martha died in Cleethorpes in 1962, aged 80. The couple are buried in Cleethorpes Cemetery.

In 1939, Ernest George Freeman, son of Ernest Walter Freeman, was a cycle repairer for Sanderson Cycle Repairer of 428 Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby. He later became an electrician. He married Gladys E. Barnett in Grimsby in 1939. They had two daughters. Ernest George Freeman died in Cleethorpes in 1967. Percy Freeman worked as an engineer in Hull and died in Beverley in 1978.

Research by Grimsby & Cleethorpes Museum.