My father, GEORGE HARRY LEEDHAM, was born on Sunday 10th January 1897. He was born in the City of Leicester in the English Midlands. From an early age he was known as ‘HARRY‘ and I will refer to him by that name hereafter.
He was the third child of WILLIAM and LYDIA LEEDHAM; an elder brother WILLIAM was around nine years old, being born, I believe, on 16th May 1887. Harry also had an sister, GERTRUDE, who was seven years old when he was born, her date of birth was 26th May 1889. When Harry was born his father, William was around 30 years old, his mother Lydia was around 31.
At the time of Harry’s birth it is probable the family lived at 147 Curzon Street, Leicester – the family’s address at the first Census, four years after his birth.
BRITAIN IN 1897
Queen Victoria, official Diamond Jubilee portrait – Diamond Jubilee Service at St. Pauls –Lord Salisbury, British PM – Boar War in South Africa – 1st publications of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and H. G. Wells’ The Invisible Man
The family is recorded on the 1901 Census, which took place on the night of 31st March of that year, as living at 147 Curzon Street, Leicester in the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Matthews.
Road /Street | Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Employer/Worker | Working at Home? | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
147 Curzon St | William Leedham | Head | Married | 34 | Shoe Hand Riveter | Worker | Leicester | |
Lydia Leedham | Wife | Married | 35 | Leicester | ||||
Willie Leedham | Son | 13 | Occupation Unclear | Leicester | ||||
Gertrude Leedham | Daughter | 11 | Leicester | |||||
Harry Leedham | Son | 4 | Leicester |
This Census record identifies the parent of George Harry Leedham as William Leedham (born 1866 or 1867) and Lydia Leedham (born 1865 or 1866).
In July 1902 a second daughter was born, her parents named her IDA LYDIA. At the time of Ida’s birth Harry would have been 5 years old, William (Willie) 15 years old and Gertrude 13 years old.
The Leedham Family in 1902
CURZON STREET, LEICESTER
What remains of Curzon Street is now only a short street off Dysart Way (highlighted in Red in at the top of the map on the right). However it was originally much longer (the house numbers in the 1901 Census go up to at least No. 205).
The image below left from 1960, shows house numbers 155 to 173. Therefore 147, Curzon St, where the Leedham family were living in 1901, is only a few doors away from this picture.
There are no longer any residential building at either end of the original street, as all the houses were demolished in the 1960’s as part for a slum clearance initiative when the St. Matthews Estate was totally redeveloped. Consequently Curzon Street was split and almost disappeared by these redevelopments, with the Humberstone Road end of Curzon Street being renamed Madras Street (highlighted in Red) but it is very clear from the modern Google Map where the line of the original Curzon Street lay.
NB. The low house numbers were at the Madras Street end, which allows speculation regarding the location of number 147.
LEICESTER RECORDS OFFICE: Get street map of Curzon Street c. 1901
The second Census on which George Harry Leedham was recorded took place on the evening of Sunday 2nd April 1911.
On this Census he is recorded, with his family, as living at 63 Norman Street Leicester, off the Narborough Road, near the City centre. The house in which they lived at this time was a relatively new house, around 14 years old, having been built in 1897.
Full record of occupants of at 63, Norman Street, Leicester.
Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Employer/Worker | Working at Home? | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
William Leedham | Head | Married | 45 | Commercial Traveller – Stationery | Worker | Leicester | |
Lydia Leedham | Wife | Married | 46 | Housewife | Leicester | ||
Willie Leedham | Son | Single | 23 | Printer | Worker | Leicester | |
Gertrude Leedham | Daughter | Single | 21 | Shoe Trade | Worker | Leicester | |
Harry Leedham | Son | Single | 14 | School | Leicester | ||
Ida Lydia Leedham | Daughter | Single | 8 | School | Leicester |
The record show William and Lydia had been married for 24 years (1886 or 1887) also shows the number of children ‘born alive’ and those ‘Still Living’ – both numbers are ‘4’. This confirms there were no children of William and Lydia who died in infancy.
The record also shows us the William Leedham’s actual handwriting and his signature as, unlike previous Censuses, the 1901 Census requires the Head of the household to enter the information.
NORMAN STREET, LEICESTER
LEICESTER RECORDS OFFICE: Get street map of Norman Street c. 1911
The Census records of 1901 and 1911 show the parent’s of Harry Leedham were William and Lydia, consequently I’m now going back in time to provide details of their roots.
The first Census in which they should be recorded is the one taken in 1871 but I prefer to work slowly back in time so I will start with the Census of 1891, ten years prior to the Census of 1901, when the family were recorded as living at 147 Curzon Street, Leicester.
1891 – CENSUS
In this Census, which was taken on night of Sunday 5th April 1891, the family; father William, mother Lydia and their infant children, William and Gertrude, are living at 150 Curzon Street, which must have been almost opposite number 147 where they were living, ten years later in 1901. Curzon Street is in the Parish of St. Margarets.
Road /Street | Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Employer/Worker | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
150 Curzon St | William Leedham | Head | Married | 25 | Shoehand | Employed | Leicestershire Leicester |
Lydia Leedham | Wife | Married | 26 | Leicestershire Leicester | |||
Willie Leedham | Son | Single | 3 | Leicestershire Leicester | |||
Gertrude Leedham | Daughter | Single | 1 | Leicestershire Leicester |
As their first child, William was born in May 1887, a date for a marriage of William and Lydia would likely be either 1885 or 1886, when the couple would both be around 20 years old.
There is a record, in the 3rd Quarter (July – August – September) of 1886, of a marriage in Leicester of a ‘WILLIAM SMITH LEEDHAM’ and ‘LYDIA HARRIET CURTIS’. The ‘SMITH’ element in the name is interesting. I have sent for the actual birth certificate to confirm details.
At this juncture, I will initially follow the records for the father, William Leedham, as obviously, ten years prior to the Census 1881, the couple would not be married.
In the 1881 Census, recorded on the night of Sunday 3rd April 1881, we find the 15 year old William living with his parents, WILLIAM and EMMA LEEDHAM (my great-grandparents) at 1 Chester Street, Leicester in the Parish of St. Margarets
This record is not very clear, however the details, as far as I can decipher, are below..
Road /Street | Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Chester Street | William Leedham | Head | Married | 37 | Shoehand | Leicester |
Emma Leedham | Wife | Married | 34 | Machinist Shoes | Leicester | |
William Leedham | Son | Single | 15 | Shoehand | Leicester | |
John H Leedham | Son | Single | 7 | Scholar | Leicester | |
Mary A Leedham | Daughter | Single | 5 | Scholar | Leicester | |
Henry Leedham | Son | Single | 3 | Leicester | ||
Thomas C Leedham | Son | Single | Infant | Leicester |
William’s parents and Harry’s grandparents are identified as William (born 1843 or 1844) and Emma (born 1846 or 1847). In 1881 William, George Harry’s father is 15 years old, is working in the shoe trade and has 4 siblings ( 3 brothers and one sister).
Chester Street in Leicester no longer exists but it was in the St Matthews area of Leicester. Photographs of pubs in Chester Street are below, giving an indication of the actual street.
LEICESTER RECORDS OFFICE: Get street map of Chester Street c. 1881
Back in time another 10 years to the 1871 Census, recorded on the night of Sunday 2nd April 1871. There we find George Harry Leedham’s father, William Leedham, age 5 years old and living with his own parents and an infant brother. The family are living at 7 Woodboy Street, Leicester, which is a street in St Matthews, adjoins the Belgrave Road and is in the Parish of St. Margarets. There are also two lodgers in the house.
Road /Street | Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 Woodboy Street | William S Leedham | Head | Married | 27 | Shoe finisher | Leicestershire Leicester |
Emma Leedham | Wife | Married | 23 | Machinist | Leicestershire Leicester | |
William Leedham | Son | 5 | Scholar | Leicestershire Leicester | ||
John H Leedham | Son | 2 months | Leicestershire Leicester | |||
Charlotte Coleman | Lodger | Widow | 50 | Workerwoman | Leicestershire Leicester | |
James Coleman | Lodger | Unmarried | 19 | Shoe Riveter | Leicestershire Leicester |
Interestingly William’s name is recorded a ‘William S. Leedham’ on the Census, which likely is the ‘SMITH‘ in the 1886 marriage records.
LEICESTER RECORDS OFFICE: Get street map of Woodboy Street c. 1871
The Leedham Family – from 1881 to 1902
Now to follow the back the line of Lydia Harriet Curtis….
In the 1881 Census, recorded on the night of Sunday 3rd April 1881, we find the 17 year old Lydia Harriet Curtis living with his parents, JOHN SAMUEL CURTIS and MARY ANN LEEDHAM (my great-grandparents) at 15 Thornton Lane, Leicester in the Parish of St Martins.
Lydia Harriet Curtis is recorded as a Shoe Fitter and is living with four sisters and two brothers, all of whom except the youngest two children, like their father, worked in the Shoe trade. Interestingly this record reveals our first non-Leicestershire born ancestors as the father, John Samuel Curtis was born in Norwich in Norfolk, his wife Mary Ann was born in London.
Road /Street | Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 Thornton Lane | John Samuel Curtis | Head | Married | 53 | Last & Model Maker | Norwich |
Mary Ann Curtis | Wife | Married | 48 | London | ||
Matilda Elizabeth Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 21 | Shoe Machinist | Norwich | |
Catherine Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 20 | Shoe Machinist | Leicester | |
Elizabeth M.A. Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 19 | Shoe Fitter | Leicester | |
Lydia Harriet Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 17 | Shoe Fitter | Leicester | |
John Samuel Curtis | Son | Unmarried | 14 | Apprentice Last Maker | Leicester | |
Mary Ann Curtis | Daughter | 13 | Scholar | Leicester | ||
Joseph D. Curtis | Son | 9 | Scholar | Leicester |
Now back another 10 years to the Census of 1871…..
AS in 1881 the family are living in Thornton Lane but it appears they are in the house next to the one in which they lived in 1881 as the record states their residence as No 13 Thornton Lane in the Parish of St Martins.
Road /Street | Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13 Thornton Lane | John Samuel Curtis | Head | Married | 42 | Last Maker | Norwich |
Mary Ann Curtis | Wife | Married | 38 | London | ||
James Curtis | Son | Unmarried | 13 | Scholar | Norwich | |
Matilda Elizabeth Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 11 | Scholar | Norwich | |
Catherine Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 10 | Scholar | Leicester | |
Elizabeth M.A. Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 9 | Scholar | Leicester | |
Lydia Harriet Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 7 | Scholar | Leicester | |
John Samuel Curtis | Son | Unmarried | 5 | Scholar | Leicester | |
Mary Ann Curtis | Daughter | 3 | Scholar | Leicester |
Two things to note from this record; a James Curtis, aged 13, is shown on this Census but is not with the family ten years later in 1881, possibly he is married by that time, also Joseph, who is nine years old in 1881 has not yet been born in 1871 and so is obvisuly not recorded.
THORNTON LANE, LEICESTER
Thornton Lane was part in the heart of Leicester of the ancient borough of St Nicholas. This Medieval Street, along with many others; Redcross Street, Applegate Street, Harvey Steet and St. Nicolas Street, were completely destroyed an underpass cut through the heart of the Roman town and is now mostly covered by the horrendously ugly Holiday Inn complex.
Before we joureny future back in time, I will provide what little information I have on Harry Leedham’s siblings and parents……
His Brother William Leedham: Born in Leicester 16th May 1887
I cannot validate the accuracy of the information above.
His Sister – Gertrude Leedham: Born in Leicester 26 May 1889
I knew ‘Aunty Gert’, as she preferred to be called. She always said ‘just call me Gert and leave out the ‘rude’ bit!”
His Sister – Ida Lydia Leedham: Born in Leicester Q3 1902
No further information. I do not know if she married. I seem to recall it was said she emigrated to South Africa.
His father William Leedham: Born in Leicester 20th November 1865
His mother Lydia Harriet Curtis: Born in Leicester 20th July 1864
The story so far – a summary of the family
Click on the image to enlarge..
I will commence by repeating Census records previoulsy shown but now the focus will be on the William and Emma, Harry’s paternal Grandparents
In the 1881 Census, recorded on the night of Sunday 3rd April 1881, we find the 37 year old WILLIAM LEEDHAM living with his wife EMMA LEEDHAM (my great-grandparents) at 1 Chester Street, Leicester in the Parish of St. Margarets with their five children.
This record is not very clear, however the details, as far as I can decipher, are below..
Road /Street | Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Chester Street | WILLIAM LEEDHAM | Head | Married | 37 | Shoehand | Leicester |
EMMA LEEDHAM | Wife | Married | 34 | Machinist Shoes | Leicester | |
William Leedham | Son | Single | 15 | Shoehand | Leicester | |
John H Leedham | Son | Single | 7 | Scholar | Leicester | |
Mary A Leedham | Daughter | Single | 5 | Scholar | Leicester | |
Henry Leedham | Son | Single | 3 | Leicester | ||
Thomas C Leedham | Son | Single | Infant | Leicester |
Back in time another 10 years to the 1871 Census, recorded on the night of Sunday 2nd April 1871. There we find George Harry Leedham’s grandfather, WILLIAM S LEEDHAM, age 27 years old and living with his wife EMMA LEEDHAM and their 2 sons. The family are living at 7 Woodboy Street, Leicester. This street is in the in the Parish of St. Margarets. There are also two lodgers in the house.
Road /Street | Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 Woodboy Street | WILLIAM S LEEDHAM | Head | Married | 27 | Shoe finisher | Leicestershire Leicester |
EMMA LEEDHAM | Wife | Married | 23 | Machinist | Leicestershire Leicester | |
William Leedham | Son | 5 | Scholar | Leicestershire Leicester | ||
John H Leedham | Son | 2 months | Leicestershire Leicester | |||
Charlotte Coleman | Lodger | Widow | 50 | Workerwoman | Leicestershire Leicester | |
James Coleman | Lodger | Unmarried | 19 | Shoe Riveter | Leicestershire Leicester |
There is a record of a marriage of a William Smith Leedham in Q4 (October – November – December) of 1865 to a EMMA COLEMAN of Leicester. This is very likely the record I seek as in the 1871 detailed above the occupants include two but I may send for the actual certificate or research the parish records for Leicester St Margaret in the Record office.
Back in time another 10 years to the 1861 Census, at this time William and Emma would not be married, therefore I will initially follow the records for William S Leedham, although I believe the ‘Smith’ element of this name may have been as a result of his marriage….
This Census, recorded on the night of Sunday 7th April 1861, finds 17 year old William Leedham living at 9 Upper Brown Street, Leicester in the Parish of St. Marys with his 56 year old widowed mother, Mary and his four siblings. Upper Brown Street now runs alongside the former Phoenix Theatre from Newarke Street to York Road.
His mother Mary is recorded as being born in Northamptonshire.
Road /Street | Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 Upper Brown Street | Mary Leedham | Head | Widow | 54 | Shoe Binder | Northamptonshire |
Elizabeth Leedham | Daughter | Unmarried | 28 | Warehousehand | Leicester | |
Thomas Leedham | Son | Unmarried | 23 | Engine Feeder | Leicester | |
Alice J Leedham | Daughter | Unmarried | 19 | Warehousehand | Leicester | |
WILLIAM LEEDHAM | Son | Unmarried | 17 | Shoe Maker | Leicester | |
Jebez Leedham | Son | Unmarried | 14 | Painter | Leicester | |
Frederick J Sharman | Lodger | Widower | 26 | Paper Hanger | Leicester |
LEICESTER RECORDS OFFICE: Get street map of Upper Brown Street c. 1861
Back in time another 10 years to the 1851 Census taken on the night of 30th March of that year. William Leedham is 7 years old and is living with his Widowed mother Mary and his seven siblings at 50 Duke Street in the parish of St, Marys. His mother Mary’s birthplace is recorded as ‘Fleur’, Northamptonshire. This is the actually the village fo Flore located 7 miles west of Northampton. There is also a tick against her name in the column which indicates a disability (Blind, Deaf or Dumb).
Two of his sister who are recorded in this 1851 Census are not recorded as living with the family ten years later in 1861; Mary Ann Leedham and Sarah Leedham, who in 1851 are 17 and 15 respectively, would be 27 and 25 in 1861 and possibly married by that time.
Duke Street, which is relatively close to Upper Brown Street, and is located across the Welford Road and lies between Marlborough Street and Regent Street.
Road /Street | Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 Upper Brown Street | Mary Leedham | Head | Widow | 45 | Shoe Binder | Northamptonshire Fleur* |
Elizabeth Leedham | Daughter | Unmarried | 18 | Fancy Hosiery Lock | Leicestershire Leicester | |
Mary Ann Leedham | Daughter | Unmarried | 17 | Fancy Hosiery Lock | Leicestershire Leicester | |
Sarah Leedham | Daughter | Unmarried | 15 | Fancy Hosiery Lock | Leicestershire Leicester | |
Thomas Leedham | Son | Unmarried | 13 | Winder | Leicestershire Leicester | |
Emma Leedham | Daughter | Unmarried | 11 | Leicestershire Leicester | ||
Jane Leedham | Daughter | Unmarried | 9 | Leicestershire Leicester | ||
WILLIAM LEEDHAM | Son | Unmarried | 7 | Leicestershire Leicester | ||
Jebez Leedham | Son | Unmarried | 4 | Leicestershire Leicester |
LEICESTER RECORDS OFFICE: Get street map of Duke Street c. 1851
William would not be recorded in the 1841 Census as he was not born until around 1844 so now I switch my attention to his wife Emma…
There is only one record for an ‘Emma Coleman‘ who was born in Leicester in 1847. (There are others close to that year, e.g. 1849, who live in one of the Leicestershire villages but this in the only record for an Emma Coleman who was born c.1847 and lives in the the centre of Leicester)
On Ancestry.com the surname is recorded as ‘Calman’ but on reviewing the actual record it appears to be ‘Colman’. This person is living in the Parish of St. Margarets ,a neighbouring parish to St. Marys and a mere 20 minutes walk from where her future husband was living in that same year.
Emma, who is 14 year old and has an occupation of a ‘Shoe Binder‘, is living with her 40 year old widowed mother, Charlotte, who was born around 1821. Her occupation appears to be ‘Chairwoman’ but that needs clarification.
Within the house are also Emma’s two brothers and two lodgers, widow with her 6 year old son. I have not yet identified the location of their house. It appears to be ‘7 Yard No 1’, which, based on other entries on the Census is near Woodboy Street, this is in area bounded by Belgrave Gate to the west, Humberstone Gate to the south and the line of the old Midland Railway to the east.
Road /Street | Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 Yard No 1 | Charlotte Coleman | Head | Widow | 40 | Chairwoman? | Leicester |
Henry Coleman | Son | Unmarried | 16 | Shoe Maker | Leicester | |
EMMA COLEMAN | Daughter | Unmarried | 14 | Shoe Binder | Leicester | |
James Coleman | Son | Unmarried | 9 | Scholar | Leicester | |
Sarah Saxton | Lodger | Widow | 30 | Seamstress | Huntingdonshire Sawtry | |
William Saxton | Son | 4 | Scholar | Leicester Normanton |
LEICESTER RECORDS OFFICE: Get street map of Woodboy Street c. 1851/61 to locate the ‘yard’
Within the 1851 Census, which was taken on the night of 30th March of that year, Emma is recorded, age 4, together with JOHN COLEMAN and mother CHARLOTTE and Emma’s six siblings. Their home is at 47 Woodboy Street, Leicester in the Parish of St Martins.
However, in this Census, Emma and her brother, Henry both have the surname of WRIGHT but are recorded as ‘Daughter’ and ‘Son’ respectively in the column that marks the relationship to the head of the household, John Coleman. Not sure what this is telling me at present as in the Census 10 years later in 1861 they are both recorded with the surname of Coleman. Details of their marriage is below but that only adds to the confusion!
Road /Street | Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
47 Woodboy Street | John Coleman | Head | Married | 38 | Frame Knitter | Leicestershire Hinckley |
Charlotte Coleman | Wife | Married | 31 | Cannot decipher | Leicester | |
George Coleman | Son | Unmarried | 20 | Frame Knitter | Leicester | |
Mary Coleman | Daughter | Unmarried | 14 | Cannot decipher | Leicester | |
James Coleman | Son | 9 | Scholar | Leicester | ||
Henry Wright | Son | 6 | Scholar | Leicester | ||
EMMA WRIGHT | Daughter | 4 | Scholar | Leicester |
A MARRIAGE
Below is a record of a marriage of JOHN COLEMAN and CHARLOTTE WRIGHT on the 17th June 1850 at St Margarets Church in Leicester. The bridegroom is 38, is a Widower and residence is Woodboy Street, Leicester. The bride 30 years old, a ‘Spinster’ and lived in Gower Street at the time of the marriage.
This wedding took place AFTER the birth of all their children, who were born in a ten year period between 1837 and 1847.
Obviously as John Coleman is recorded as a widower he was previously married. There is a record of a wedding between a John Coleman and Mary Wright on 25th December 1830 at St. Nicholas Church, Leicester when the bridegroom would have been 18 years old. The bride was ‘Mary Wright‘ – the same surname as his second wife??
I have also found a record of the death of Mary Coleman (née WRIGHT), wife of John Coleman, in 1845, so the dates are beginning to make more sense.
ADD COLEMAM ONLY FT AND EXPLAIN
LEICESTER RECORDS OFFICE: Check Parish Records for St. Nicholas parish
The story so far – a summary of the family
Click on the image to enlarge..
17/05 – REPLACE THIS – UPDATED ….
I will commence by repeating Census records previoulsy shown but now the focus will be on John Curtis and Emma, Harry’s maternal Grandparents.
In the 1881 Census, recorded on the night of Sunday 3rd April 1881, JOHN SAMUEL CURTIS and MARY ANN CURTIS (my great-grandparents) at 15 Thornton Lane, Leicester in the Parish of St Martins.
This record reveals John Samuel Curtis was born in Norwich in Norfolk, his wife Mary Ann was born in London.
Road /Street | Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 Thornton Lane | JOHN SAMUEL CURTIS | Head | Married | 53 | Last & Model Maker | Norwich |
MARY ANN CURTIS | Wife | Married | 48 | London | ||
Matilda Elizabeth Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 21 | Shoe Machinist | Norwich | |
Catherine Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 20 | Shoe Machinist | Leicester | |
Elizabeth M.A. Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 19 | Shoe Fitter | Leicester | |
Lydia Harriet Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 17 | Shoe Fitter | Leicester | |
John Samuel Curtis | Son | Unmarried | 14 | Apprentice Last Maker | Leicester | |
Mary Ann Curtis | Daughter | 13 | Scholar | Leicester | ||
Joseph D. Curtis | Son | 9 | Scholar | Leicester |
Now back another 10 years to the Census of 1871…..
AS in 1881 the family are living in Thornton Lane but it appears they are in the house next to the one in which they lived in 1881 as the record states their residence as No 13 Thornton Lane in the Parish of St Martins.
Road /Street | Name | Relationship | Marriage Status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13 Thornton Lane | JOHN SAMUEL CURTIS | Head | Married | 42 | Last Maker | Norwich |
MARY ANN CURTIS | Wife | Married | 38 | London | ||
James Curtis | Son | Unmarried | 13 | Scholar | Norwich | |
Matilda Elizabeth Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 11 | Scholar | Norwich | |
Catherine Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 10 | Scholar | Leicester | |
Elizabeth M.A. Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 9 | Scholar | Leicester | |
Lydia Harriet Curtis | Daughter | Unmarried | 7 | Scholar | Leicester | |
John Samuel Curtis | Son | Unmarried | 5 | Scholar | Leicester | |
Mary Ann Curtis | Daughter | 3 | Scholar | Leicester |
This I believe is the marriage I seek. The date of the wedding is 9th August 1857 which is the year prior to the birth of their first child, James, who was born in Norwich in 1858. Their second child, Matilda was born in 1859 also in Norwich. Unfortunately the ages of the couple are not shown which would enable to confirm this is the correct wedding however the occupation of John Samuel Curtis is the same as appears on subsequent Census records.
The bride name is MARY ANN ELIZABETH COPE. The father of couple are recorded as JAMES CURTIS (deceased) and WILLIAM COPE
Back in time another 10 years to the 1861 Census, at this time William and Emma would not be married, therefore I will initially follow the records for William S Leedham, although I believe the ‘Smith’ element of this name may have been as a result of his marriage….
This Census, recorded on the night of Sunday 7th April 186