Leonard Davies

Leonard was the son of George and Emily Davies nee Grocott. Both his parents were born in Dawley, Shropshire, George in about 1860 and Emily in 1862 (registered J/A/S Madeley). They were married in 1886 (J/F/M), marriage registered Madeley, Shropshire, and by the time of the 1911 Census had had nine children of whom only seven had survived. Seven children were named on the census of 1891, 1901 and 1911; Ernest George, probably known as George (b. abt. 1887, Dawley), Leonard (born 25 December 1891, bap. 24 January 1892, Skegby), Jane (bap. 14 May 1893, Skegby), Arthur (bap. 12 May 1895, Skegby), Lillian Maud (b. 24 July 1896, bap 14 August 1896, Skegby), Reginald (b. 30 September 1897, bap. 14 November 1897, Skegby) and Emily (b. 12 July 1903, baptised 3 August 1903, Skegby). Although George and Emily were in Dawley, Shropshire, in 1887 when Ernest was born the three of them were living on Fackley(?) Road, Skegby, by the time of the 1891 Census. Also in the household was a 14 year old general domestic servant, Susan Trant, who also came from Shropshire. By the time of the 1901 Census their home was at Manor View, Skegby. George (41) was a coal miner. He and Emily had six children; Ernest (14) a coal miner hewer, Leonard (9), Jane (7), Arthur (6), Lilian (4) and Reginald (3). By 1911 the family had moved to 120 Stanton Hill, Skegby. George was now working as a school caretaker. He and Emily now had seven children, five of whom were at home on the night of the census; Leonard (19), a coal miner runner, Arthur (15) a miner ganger, Lilian (14), 'at home', Reginald (13) a miner ganger, and Emily (7). The eldest surviving son, Ernest, had married Mary Jane Adamson in 1908 (J/A/S Mansfield). Ernest (24) was a coal miner loader and he and Mary Jane (bap. 15 December 1888, Skegby) and their two sons, Leonard (2) and Ronald (3 months) were living at Ropers Yard, Skegby. The eldest surviving girl, Jane, has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. Leonard's father, George, died at the age of 52 the following year (death registered A/M/J 1912, Mansfield). On Leonard's death in 1914 the Register of Soldiers' Effects shows that payments were made to his widowed mother, Emily, and to his brothers, Arthur, Reginald and George [Ernest George] and sisters Emily, Lilian Maud and Jane. His mother, Emily, died in 1935 aged 72 (registered September, Mansfield). Of Leonard's siblings: Ernest died in 1959 aged 72 (death registered December, Mansfield), a few months after his wife Mary Jane (death registered June 1959, Mansfield). Jane Davies probably married Lewis G Byng in 1913 (registered A/M/J Mansfield) and died aged 85 in 1979 (death registered March, Nottingham). Arthur married Rose H Rhodes in 1916 (marriage registered A/M/J Mansfield) and in 1919 they had a son whom they named Arthur Leonard (b. 27 April 1919, Skegby, d. 1991). Arthur senior died on 12 July 1936 at the age of 41. Probate: 'Davies Arthur of 8 Mansfield-road, Skegby Nottinghamshire died 12 July 1936 at the General Hospital Nottingham Probate Nottingham 8 August to Reginald Davies [brother] cycle dealer and William Marsden Frecklinton [brother in law] butcher. Effects £733 15s. 2d.' Lilian Maud married William M Frecklinton in 1925 (O/N/D Mansfield). She died in 1974 aged 78 (death registered September, Mansfield). William served in the 1st Notts Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry (2014/27538) during the war. He was in Egypt from 27 December 1915 and was not discharged from the army until 16 July 1919 (1915 Star, BWM, VM). Reginald died in 1977 aged 79 (death registered March, Mansfield). Emily has not yet been positively traced although an Emily Weightman, born in 12 July 1903, died aged 79 in 1983 (death registered June, Mansfield).