Client:
Date:May 13, 2011

My Leedham Antecedents

HARRY’S FATHER – WILLIAM LEEDHAM

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

1881 - Leedham - 1 Chester Street

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.

Chester 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.

1871 - Leedham - 7 Woodboy Street

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….

Next Page:  Harry’s Mother – Lydia Harriet Curtis