James Leonard

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James Leonard was born on 11 April 1826 at Rugeley, Staffordshire.^2,1 He was the son of James Leonard and Mary Wayte.¹ James Leonard was baptised at Independent chapel on Sunday, 14 October 1827 at Armitage, Staffordshire.³

It is likely that James, despite being about 15 years old, was living three doors down from his parents and family in the 1841 census at 7 Boundary Street, Hulme, Manchester. He was living with a 'John White', anther boy of the same age. Perhaps John's surname was a corruption of 'Wayte' conceivably making him a member of James' mother's family.⁴ He was a merchant's clerk at Hulme, Manchester.⁴ He presumably lived with his parents at Burlington Street, Greenheys, Manchester, in July 1848.⁵

No records have been found for this person for a twenty year period from 1841 to 1861. There is some speculation that the family may have emmigrated to the colony of South Australia, but returned. Certainly Mary Leonard went to South Australia (probably in 1845), married and had two children but returned in 1857 with them on the death of her husband.

He was recorded as head of household in the 1861 census at 37 Burlington Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester. He was 34 years old. He was recorded as being 35 years old, but was not actually recorded as being 'head' of the house but rather 'son' (despite his father having died in the same house 4 years prteviously). He shared the house with his sister, two young nephews returned from South Australia, two boarders and servant.⁶ His occupation was recorded as being a solicitor's clerk in the census.¹