My Leedham Antecedents

1897 – MY FATHER’S BIRTH 

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

• Before Harry Leedham had reached six months old, the nation celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria on 22nd June 1897. Victorian was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and since 1876, the title of ‘Empress of India’ was conferred upon her by Parliament. The celebrations centred on London but beacons were lit across the country.
• The Prime Minister in 1897 was the Conservative Lord Salisbury who later led Britain to victory in a bitter, controversial war against the Boers in in South Africa (11 October 1899 – 31 May 1902).
• In May the Blackwall Tunnel, at this time the longest underwater road tunnel in the world, is opened for traffic beneath the River Thames
• In September the first conviction for drink driving was given to London taxi driver George Smith.
• Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula and H. G. Wells’ novel The Invisible Man were first published in this year
• In addition to George Harry Leedham, others who were born in 1897 included the writer Dennis Wheatley, Anthony Eden future Prime Minister, Enid Blyton, children’s author and Aneurin Bevan, the Labour politician who later led the campaign for a National Health Service to provide medical care free at point-of-need across the UK, regardless of wealth.

 

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

1901 – CENSUS

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.

This Census record identifies the parent of George Harry Leedham as William Leedham (born 1866 or 1867) and Lydia Leedham (born 1865 or 1866).

1902 – A BIRTH

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

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1911 – CENSUS

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.

 

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

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THE PARENTS OF GEORGE HARRY LEEDHAM

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.

 

A SEARCH FOR A MARRIAGE

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.

 

1881 – CENSUS – WILLIAM LEEDHAM

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..

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

 

1871 – CENSUS – WILLIAM LEEDHAM

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.

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….

 

1881 – CENSUS – 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.

 

Now back another 10 years to the Census of 1871…..

 

1871 – CENSUS – LYDIA HARRIET CURTIS

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.

 

 

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.

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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

• Died October 1971 at the age of 84 years.
• On Ancestry.com there is a record of a William J. Leedham marrying a Alice R Rouse in the Q4 (October – November-December 1914). If he did marry, this lady or another, I am not aware of any resulting children (who would be my first cousins).
• Although a middle name for William is not recorded in the Census records, there is a record of a birth in Leicester in the Q2 (May – June – July) 1887 of a William J. Leedham.
• There is also a record of a William John Leedham receiving Victory Medal while serving in the Royal Army Medical Corp 1914 – 1920.
• A further military record, a Pension Record Ledger, has a Private William John Leedham, born in 1887, receiving a Disability pension.
• Additional information on Ancestry.com has a record, in a 1906 Trade Directory, of a William Leedham living at 1, Mere Road within a list of those with an occupation of ‘Cycle Manufacturers, Repairers and Agents’.

 

I cannot validate the accuracy of the information above.

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His Sister – Gertrude Leedham: Born in Leicester 26 May 1889

• Married Horace H Smith in Q3 1919
• Lived in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire
• Died in Q1 1977 at the age of 89 years

 

I knew ‘Aunty Gert’, as she preferred to be called. She always said ‘just call me Gert and leave out the ‘rude’ bit!”

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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.

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His father William Leedham: Born in Leicester 20th November 1865

• Married Lydia Harriet Curtis Q3 1886
• Died Q4 1950 at the age of around 85 years

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His mother Lydia Harriet Curtis: Born in Leicester 20th July 1864

• Married William Leedham Q3 1886
• Died 18th June 1957 at he age of 92 years
• Lydia, my paternal grandmother, would have known me, as I was around 9 months old when she died and also my sister who has around 2 and a half years at the time of her death.

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The story so far – a summary of the family 

Click on the image to enlarge..

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HARRY’S PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS – WILLAM S. LEEDHAM and his wife EMMA

I will commence by repeating Census records previoulsy shown but now the focus will be on the William and Emma, Harry’s paternal Grandparents

1881 – CENSUS – WILLIAM S. & EMMA LEEDHAM

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..

 

1871 – CENSUS – WILLIAM S. & EMMA LEEDHAM

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.

 

THE MARRIAGE OF WILLIAM ‘S’ LEEDHAM and EMMA

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.

 

1861 – CENSUS – WILLIAM S. LEEDHAM

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.

 

 

LEICESTER RECORDS OFFICE: Get street map of Upper Brown Street c. 1861

 

1851 – CENSUS – WILLIAM ‘S’ LEEDHAM

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.

 

 

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…

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1861 – CENSUS – EMMA COLEMAN

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.

 

LEICESTER RECORDS OFFICE: Get street map of Woodboy Street c. 1851/61 to locate the ‘yard’

 

1851 – CENSUS – EMMA COLEMAN

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!

 

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 ….

 

 

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HARRY’S MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS – JOHN SAMUEL CURTIS and his wife MARY ANN

I will commence by repeating Census records previoulsy shown but now the focus will be on John Curtis and Emma, Harry’s maternal Grandparents.

 

1881 – CENSUS – JOHN SAMUEL and MARY ANN CURTIS

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.

Now back another 10 years to the Census of 1871…..

1871 – CENSUS – JOHN SAMUEL and MARY ANN CURTIS

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.

 

1857 – THE MARRIAGE OF JOHN SAMUEL and MARY ANN CURTIS

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

 

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1861 – CENSUS – JOHN SAMUEL CURTIS

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