James Leonard1

#11506, (circa 1783-23 November 1857)
FatherThomas Leonard2 (c 1760-)
MotherElizabeth Baxter (c 1762-)
ChartsLeonard Family - descendants
Wayte Family - descendants
Mike Hill - ancestors
Last Edited30 Mar 2022
WikiTree ID:https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Leonard-12731.

Short Biography

     James was born circa 1783 in Staffordshire and baptised 1784 in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.

James Leonard married Mary Wayte, daughter of Thomas and Mary Wayte in St. Modwen's oin 1815. James and Mary Wayte likley became parents for the first time when Mary was bron a year later 1816 in Rugeley. Rugeley in the early 1800's was a small market town in the Hundred of Cuttlestone East. The town "has a remarkably neat, cleanly apperance; the houses are well built". The main item manufactured here were hats and sheet iron.The population was 2,677 in 1821.

James was printer, bookseller, stationer, and bookbinder, dealer in music and musical instruments, perfumery, and fancy stationary, vendor of patent medicines, agent to the Commercial Hall Wine Company - Lottery tickets and shares - circulating library. Their house was a "commodious dwelling-house, situated near the Market PLace, with a good shop to the front" and came with a good pew in the church.

However, James went bankrupt and was forced to vacate the house and work premises, and the family moved to Manchester by 1841. He was working as a bookseller's shopman, but worked his way up to printer again.

James likely died on 23 November 1857 in Greenheys, Manchester, of apoplexy and was likely interred in Rusholme Road Cemetery.
     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.
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James was born circa 1783 at Staffordshire.2 He was the son of Thomas Leonard and Elizabeth Baxter.2 James Leonard was baptised on Thursday, 1 January 1784 at Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.2,3 He and Mary Wayte moved to Rugeley, Staffordshire. This was a journey of 17 and a half miles.

James Leonard married Mary Wayte, daughter of Thomas Wayte and Mary (?), at St. Modwen's on Tuesday, 14 February 1815 at Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.4,5

James and Mary Wayte became the parents of Mary Leonard circa 1816 at Rugeley, Staffordshire.6,7 Rugeley in the early 1800's was a small market town in the Hundred of Cuttlestone East. The town "has a remarkably neat, cleanly apperance; the houses are well built". The main item manufactured here were hats and sheet iron.The population was 2,677 in 1821.



James had an entry in the Parson and Bradshaw Directory: in 1818:
Leonard James, printer, bookseller, stationer, and bookbinder, dealer in music and musical instruments, perfumery, and fancy stationary, vendor of patent medicines, agent to the Commercial Hall Wine Company - Lottery tickets and shares - circulating library, &c. Market Place.8

James leonard's entry in the 1818 Parson and Bradshaw Directory
On 5 January 1821 James Leonard took on Reverend Edward Knight Baker as an apprentice. Edward was aged 16 years by his father for the sum of £40 at Rugeley, Staffordshire.9

James Leonard was a 'bookseller, printer, bookbinder &c. in 1822 at Rugeley, Staffordshire.10 James (and presumably his spouse Mary) lived in May 1822 at Rugeley, Staffordshire.11 James Leonard was a stationer in May 1822.11

James (and presumably his spouse Mary) lived in March 1827 at Rugeley, Staffordshire. The house, which the Leonard's needed to vacate, was described as a "commodious dwelling-house, situated near the Market PLace, with a good shop to the front" and came with a good pew in the church.12 James and Mary lived in October 1827 at Rugeley, Staffordshire.13

James and Mary Wayte became the parents of Ruth Anna Leonard circa 1832 at Rugeley, Staffordshire.7,13 James Leonard was a bookseller and stationer in April 1835 at Rugeley, Staffordshire.14,15 He was declared bankrupt on 4 April 1835.14

James was forced to vacate the house and work premises the family occupied on 9 May 1835:
"HOUSE AND BOOKSELLER'S SHOP, RUGELEY, STAFFORDSHIRE. TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION By Mr. ADIE, At the Talhot Arms Inn, Rugeley, on Tuesday, the 26th day of May instant, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, subject to such conditions as will be then produced ; ALL that capital FREEHOLD MESSUAGE, fronting the Market-place, in the town of Rugeley, and containing a spacious Bookseller's Shop, with Library Room adjoining; also, Printing Office, Binding Room, and every convenience for carrying on the Printing and Bookselling Businesses in all their branches. The Dwelling-house also contains entrance hall, handsome staircase, sitting-room, kitchen,back-kitchen, cellar, numerous bed-chambers, and attics, with good walled garden lying behind the house, and opening into Albion-street.
The Premises have for several years past been occupied by Mr. James Leonard, Printer and Bookseller, now a bankrupt. Possession may be had on payment of the purchase money. Further particulars may be known at Mr. BIRCH'S Office, Armitage, near Rugeley."16



He paid a dividend on his bankrupt estate September 1835.17

A James Leonard was mentioned as a trustee of the Independent Chapel at Armitage, Staffordshire, as "the Deacon is lately deceased". James had had two of his children baptized here, so it may be the same person.18

He was recorded as head of household in the 1841 census with Mary Wayte (which other records indicate is his spouse) at 1 Boundary Street, Hulme, Manchester. The 1841 census only recorded adult ages rounded down to the nearest 5 years; his approximate age was recorded as 55 years old. Also in the household were five of their five children and three other young children. Their 15 year old son lived three doors down at number 7 with another 15 year old boy.19 James Leonard was a bookseller's shopman on 7 June 1841.7 James (and presumably his spouse Mary) lived in July 1848 at Burlington Street, Greenheys, Manchester.20 James Leonard was a printer and stationer.21 James (and presumably his spouse Mary) lived in November 1857 at Greenheys, Manchester.21

James likely died on 23 November 1857 at Greenheys, Manchester, of apoplexy.21,22 His body was likely interred at Rusholme Road Cemetery on 28 November 1857 at Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester.22 He was a 'copperplate printer' on his widow's death certificate.23

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
1783BirthStaffordshire2
2
1784BaptismBurton upon Trent, Staffordshire2,3
Move-newRugeley, Staffordshire
1815MarriageSt. Modwen's, in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire4,5
1818Quotation type 1Market Place, Rugeley, Staffordshire8
1821ApprenticedRugeley, Staffordshire9
1822OccupationRugeley, Staffordshire10
1822ResidenceRugeley, Staffordshire11
1822Occupation11
1827Occupation-hide13
1827Occupation-hide12
1827ResidenceRugeley, Staffordshire12
1827ResidenceRugeley, Staffordshire13
1828Occupation-hideRugeley, Staffordshire24
1832Occupation-hideRugeley, Staffordshire13,25
1832Residence-hideRugeley, Staffordshire13
1835OccupationRugeley, Staffordshire14,15
1835Note14
1835Quotation type 1Rugeley, Staffordshire16
1835Note memo only CR CR17
1837Note memo only CR CRArmitage, Staffordshire18
1841Census (Eng) 18411 Boundary Street, Hulme, Manchester19
1841Occupation7
1848ResidenceBurlington Street, Greenheys, Manchester20
Occupation21
1857ResidenceGreenheys, Manchester21
1857Death-LikelyGreenheys, Manchester21,22
1857Burial-likelyRusholme Road Cemetery, in Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester22
Occupation23

Family

Mary Wayte (c 1794-5 Oct 1885)
Children

Citations

  1. [S239] The Adelaide Times, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 27 Nov. 1848 p.2.
  2. [S410] International Genealogical Index (IGI) Burton Upon Trent, Stafford, England: Indexing project (batch) number:C16621-2, system origin: England-EASy, source film number: 1278995.
  3. [S410] International Genealogical Index (IGI) Burton Upon Trent, Stafford, England: Indexing project (batch) number:C03333-3, system origin: England-ODM, source film number: 417178.
  4. [S410] International Genealogical Index (IGI) St. Modwen's Burton Upon Trent, Stafford, England: Indexing project (batch) number: M03333-1, system origin: England-ODM, source film number: 426510.
  5. [S412] National Census for England, 1871 (online image) Registration district: Stockport, Sub-registration district: Marple, Piece: 3650, Folio:125,
    Page Number: 10.
  6. [S410] International Genealogical Index (IGI) Rugley, Stafford, England: Indexing project (batch) number: C01021-2, system origin: England-ODM, source film number: 435832.
  7. [S397] National Census for England, 1841 (online image) Registration district: Chorlton, Sub-registration district: Hulme, Piece: 583, Book: 17, Folio: 11, Page Number: 14.
  8. [S598] Parson and Bradshaw Directories,England (various dates), Staffordshire 1818 Vol 2 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/Browse/View.aspx).
  9. [S865] Gwyn Campbell David Griffiths and the Missionary “History of Madagascar” p.690.
  10. [S599] Pigots Directory,Staffordshire, England (various dates), 1822 p.480 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/Browse/View.aspx).
  11. [S542] The Staffordshire Advertiser, Stafford, Staffordshire, England, Saturday Saturday 04 May 1822 p.1.
  12. [S542] The Staffordshire Advertiser, Stafford, Staffordshire, England, Saturday 03 March 1827 p.1.
  13. [S659] Parish Registers for Armitage Independent, Piece 3291: Armitage (Independent), 1821-1837.
  14. [S542] The Staffordshire Advertiser, Stafford, Staffordshire, England, 04 April 1835 p.4.
  15. [S599] Pigots Directory,Staffordshire, England (various dates), 1835 p.439 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/Browse/View.aspx).
  16. [S542] The Staffordshire Advertiser, Stafford, Staffordshire, England, 09 May 1835 p.2.
  17. [S542] The Staffordshire Advertiser, Stafford, Staffordshire, England, Saturday Saturday 12 September 1835 p.4.
  18. [S659] Parish Registers for Armitage Independent, Piece 3291: Armitage (Independent), 1821-1837 (introduction, page 5).
  19. [S397] National Census for England, 1841 (online image) Registration district: Chorlton, Sub-registration district: Hulme, Piece: 583, Book: 17, Folio: 11, Page Number: 14 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/Browse/view.aspx).
  20. [S830] The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, Manchester, Lancashire, England, 15 July 1848 p.6.
  21. [S527] The Manchester Times, Manchester, Lancashire, England, Saturday 28 November 1857 p.5.
  22. [S834] Lancashire, Rusholme Road Cemetery burial registers 1821-1933 findmypast.com, First name(s): James; Last name: Leonard; Birth year: 1783; Death year: 1857; Burial date: 28 Nov 1857; Age at death: 74; Residence: Chorlton On Medlock; Place: Chorlton-upon-Medlock, Manchester; Grave number: 1503; Running number: 56772; County: Lancashire; Source: Rusholme Road Cemetery Burial Registers; Date range: 1821-1933; Film: 2355265, 2355266; Record set: Lancashire, Rusholme Road Cemetery, Chorlton Upon Medlock burial registers 1821-1933.
  23. [S400] General Register Office, England - Death Certificate, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Deaths, Stockport Dec Qtr Vol 8a p.1.
  24. [S599] Pigots Directory,Staffordshire, England (various dates), 1828 p.730 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/Browse/View.aspx).
  25. [S1192] City and County Directories UK,UK (1766-1946), 1828 Pigot's Directory, Rugeley p.730.
  26. [S410] International Genealogical Index (IGI) Rugley, Stafford, England: Indexing project (batch) number: C01021-5, system origin: England-EASy, source film number: 1040785.
  27. [S398] National Census for England, 1861 (online image) Registration district: Chorlton, Sub-registration district: Chorlton upon Medlock, Household schedule number: 52, Piece: 2884, Folio: 28, Page Number: 9.