George Freestone (1847-1932) of Saffron Walden, Suffolk
1847 Born in Saffron Walden the son of John Freestone, a Booking Office Keeper, and his wife Mary
1897 Advertisement. 'Maker and repairer of motors for cycles and carriages. Can supply motor cycles, delivery vans and motor vehicles of every description, in any known make.'[1]
1911 Produced a FWD truck with a 6hp Buda engine.[2]
1911 Living at 1 South Road, Saffron Walden: George Freestone (age 64 born Saffron Waldon),General Engineer - Employer. With his wife Deborah Charlotte Freestone (age 63 born Stock) and their three children; William Ernest Freestone (age 34 born Rochford), general Engineer; Jessie Sarah Freestone (age 28 born Saffron Waldon), Music teacher; and George Stanley Freestone (age 18 born Saffron Waldon), Solicitor's Clerk and Organist.[3]
1932 Died. 'War Tractor Inventor. — The funeral took place at the Borough Cemetery Wednesday of Mr. George Freestone, well-known agricultural and general engineer, who died the age of 85. Mr. Freestone, a native of the town, had been in business on his own account for forty-seven years. His work as an engineer gained him considerable repute. He was the inventor of the four-wheel-drive motor tractor used in the Great War; and also brought out a front-drive three wheel agricultural tractor. At the time of his death he was working upon a patent for the non-skidding of vehicles. His wife predeceased him five months. Two sons and two daughters survive.'[4]