Client:
Date:May 13, 2011

My Leedham Antecedents

The Parents of William Smith Leedham – John & Elizabeth 

HIS FATHER – JOHN LEEDHAM

This is likely the marriage of JOHN LEEDHAM to ELIZABETH and this record reveals her maiden name as POLE. The wedding took place at All Saints Church, High Cross Street, Leicester on 4th May 1800. One of the witnesses was a ‘Thomas Pole‘ possibly Elizabeth’s father.

 

I am confident this is the correct marriage. I cannot locate any other marriages of a ‘John Leedham’ to an ‘Elizabeth‘ in Leicestershire or adjoining counties that fits with his birth year of 1777 and the birth of their first child, William in 1802.

A SUMMARY

John Leedham’s life based on records found to date, some of which I need to validate:

  • 1777 – Born in 1777 and baptised on 11th February 1777 in the Leicestershire village of Dadlington
  • 1778 – His brother EDWARD is born the following year.
  • 1779 – His mother, ANN EATHERLEY dies age 30 years.
  • 1800 – Married 12th October 1800 to Elizabeth Pole in All Saints Church Leicester. John was around 23 at the time of his wedding.
  • 1802 – A son, WILLIAM LEEDHAM, is born on 14th August 1802
  • 1807 – A daughter, SARAH is born on 8th March 1807
  • 1809 – A second daughter, MARY, is born on 17th March 1809
  • 1815 – A third daughter, HANNAH, is born around 1815
  • 1817 – His wife ELIZABETH dies at the age of around 38 years and was buried on 1st August 1817. John Leedham is now a widower with four young children of who’s ages would be around 15 years, 10 years, 8 years and 2 years
  • 1827 – 23rd September. His daughter, SARAH marries William Fosberry in a church in Leicester.
  • 1830 – 12th October. His son, WILLIAM LEEDHAM, marries Mary M. Smith of the village of Flore, Northamptonshire at St. Nicholas, Leicester, Leicester, England
  • 1846 – His son, WILLIAM LEEDHAM, dies on 1st June 1846 at the age of 43 years.
  • 1851 – Census 30th March 1851 . I am confident the record below is the John Leedham I seek. John Leedham is listed as ‘Father-in-law’ to the Head of the household William Fosberry and is recorded as a Widower. Sarah Fosberry is John’s daughter. The family live in Black Friars Leicestershire. His age in 1851 is 74 years old, which puts his year of birth around 1777. He was born in the Leicestershire village of Dadlington. Dadlington is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Dadlington and Sutton Cheney, in the Hinckley and Bosworth district, in Leicestershire. It is located between Hinckley, Market Bosworth and Nuneaton.
  • 1856 – His death is recorded in April of this year. His residence is Charlotte Street Leicester. He had reached the age of 79 years, of which he was married for around 17 years and a widower for 39 of his life.

 

 

Road /Street Name Relationship Marriage Status Age Occupation Where Born
Charlotte Street William Fosberry Head Married 44 Frame Work  Knitter Leicester
Sarah Fosberry Wife Married 44 Leicester
Emma Fosberry Daughter 20 Leicester
Mary Ann Fosberry Daughter 16 Leicester
Sarah Fosberry Daughter 7 Leicester
JOHN LEEDHAM Father-in-law Widower 74 Leicestershire Dadlington

 

HIS MOTHER – ELIZABETH POLE

As mentioned above, Elizabeth died in 1817 and was buried on 1st August 1817. Consequently she does not appear in any Census record, the ‘modern version’ of which, with useful information to family historians, did not start until 1841.

What do the official records tells us about Elizabeth Pole? There are seven records in which she is recorded….

 

  • 1780 – Baptism. There is as record of an ‘Elizabeth Pole’ being baptised on 17th Dec 1780 in the village of Thurmaston, Leicester, possibly at St. Michael & All Angels church. The parents are recorded as Robert and Dorothy Pole. This date works totally with her ages of 36 years as recorded on the record of her burial in August 1817. As she was buried in August 1817 which would have been three months before her 37th birthday   (Source: Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. FHL Film Number 594972 and also FHL Film Number 952301 V.2 ).

NB. Thurmaston St Michael is an Ecclesiastical Parish which was formed in 1794 from a chapelry in Belgrave, Leicestershire Genealogy Ancient Parish combined with South Thurmaston chapelry.

This is the only record of an ‘Elizabeth Pole’, born in Leicestershire in 1780 or 1781

 

  • 1800 – Marriage to John Leedham. This took place on the 4th May 1800 at All Saints Church in Leicester. (This is now a redundant church in Highcross Street). One of the witness was a ‘Thomas Pole’ (possibly her father, uncle or brother). The second witness was an ‘Elizabeth Sharples’.

 

  • 1802 – Baptism of Son. Elizabeth is recorded as ‘Mother‘ on the baptism record of her son, William Leedham. This baptism took place on 29th August 1802 at All Saints Church in Leicester. William’s birth date is recorded as 14th August 1802 and his father is recorded as ‘John Leedham‘. (Source: Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. FHL Film Number 596713)

 

  • 1809 – Baptism of Daughter. Elizabeth is recorded as ‘Mother‘ on the baptism record of her daughter, Sarah Leedham. This baptism took place on 12th March 1807 at All Saints Church in Leicester.  Mary’s birth date is recorded as 8th March 1807 and her father is recorded as ‘John Ladham‘. (Surname incorrectly transcribed) (Source: Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. FHL Film Number 596713)

 

  • 1809 – Baptism of Daughter. Elizabeth is recorded as ‘Mother‘ on the baptism record of her daughter, Mary Leedham. This baptism took place on 27th March 1809 at All Saints Church in Leicester.  Mary’s birth date is recorded as 17th March 1809 and her father is recorded as ‘John Leedham‘.(Source: Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. FHL Film Number 596713)

 

  • 1815 – Baptism of Daughter. Elizabeth is recorded as ‘Mother‘ on the baptism record of her daughter, Hannah Leedham. This baptism took place on 21st April 1815 at St Margarets Church in Leicester.  Hannah’s birth date is not recorded. Her father is recorded as ‘John Leedham‘. (Source: Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. FHL Film Number 165179 Reference ID item 6 p117)

 

  • 1817 – Her Burial. Elizabeth Leedham (incorrectly transcribed as ‘Ludham‘) is recorded a being buried on 1st August 1817. Her age is recorded as 36 years old. This places her birth year abt 1781. She is recorded as ‘married‘ with her spouse being recorded a ‘John Ludham‘. (Source: Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991. FHL Film Number 592557. Reference ID p141 #1121)

 

The Story so far…

 

 

 

Back another generation…

The Parents of Elizabeth Pole – Robert Pole and Dorothy

(George Harry Leedham’s Great-great-great-grandparents)

 

But firstly…

 

Who is Thomas Pole? He was one of the witnesses to the wedding of Elizabeth Pole to John Leedham on 4th May 1800 at All Saints Church in Leicester

 

Ancestry.com only show two records for a Thomas Pole born in Leicestershire (although the Thomas I seek may well have been born in a different county)

  • Thomas Pole, Baptism: 10th August 1770. Belgrave Leicester. Father: Charles Pole. Mother: Ann (Source: Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. FHL Film Number 585277). If he was the witness he would have been 30 years old at the time of the wedding. Not a brother of Elizabeth as parent’s names do not match,

 

  • ‘Thomas Pole, Birth: Birth: 25th April 1784. Baptism 2nd May 1784. All Saints church. Leicester. Father: Thomas Pole. Mother: Ann (Source: Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. FHL Film Number 596713). If he was the witness he would have pnly been 16 years old at the time of the wedding, probably too young to be a witness but also as parent’s names do not match.

 

The Parents of Elizabeth Pole – Robert Pole and Dorothy

 

  • Marriage of Robert Pole and Dorothy Dale 2nd April 1774. Thurmaston, Leicestershire. (Source: Marriages, 1538-1973. FHL Film Number 594972)

 

  • A Son, William. (Source: Births and Christenings, 1538-1975)
  • The daughter who married John Leedham, Elizabeth. (Source: Births and Christenings, 1538-1975)
  • A Son, Edward. (Source: Births and Christenings, 1538-1975)
  • A Son, Robert. (Source: Births and Christenings, 1538-1975)

 

  • Death of Dorothy.

 

ROBERT POLE – Information TBC

  • Father: CHARLES POLE. Birth: 2nd Dec 1713. Thurmaston, Leicestershire – (No source specified) – Tree: jwardle53
  • Mother: SARAH BREWARD (Pole). Birth: 21st Dec 1712. Newtown Linford, Leicestershire – (No source specified) – Tree: jwardle53
  • Birth of Robert Pole, Son of Charles and Sarah Pole:  5th Nov 1744 – (No source specified) – Tree: jwardle53
  • Death of Robert Pole, Son of Charles and Sarah Pole: 1825  Thurmaston North, Leicestershire. (No source specified) – Tree: jwardle53

 

Parents of Charles Pole (Robert Pole’s Grandfather)

  • Father: JOHN POLE
  • Birth of John Pole: Birstall, Leicestershire. Parents unknown:  12th Feb 1656 – (No source specified) – Tree: jwardle53
  • Death of John Pole: 19th Sept 1734 Belgrave, Leicestershire. (No source specified) – Tree: jwardle53

 

  • Mother: REBECCA SCARBOROUGH
  • Birth of Rebecca Scarborough: Lowsby, Cold Newton, Leicestershire. Parents unknown:  1678 – (No source specified) – Tree: jwardle53
  • Death of Rebecca Scarborough: 15th January 1748 Belgrave, Leicestershire. (No source specified) – Tree: jwardle53

 

 

 

Next Page:  The Parents of John Leedham