Leonard Key

Leonard was the son of George Key and his wife Hannah Elizabeth nee Lane. George was born in Winthorpe, Newark, birth registered 1849 (J/F/M Newark) and Hannah Lane was born in Nottingham in about 1854. They were married in 1875 (O/N/D Basford) and had at least six children: John b. 1878 (O/N/D Basford), Mary Elizabeth b. 1 June 1879 (A/M/J Basford), Harriett/Harriet b. 1881 (A/M/J Basford), Charles birth registered 1884 (J/F/M Basford), George William b. 1886 (A/M/J Basford) and Leonard b. 1890 (J/A/S Basford). All the children were born in Bulwell (also descibred as Cinderhill on some census returns). In 1881 George (32) a gardener, and his wife Hannah (27) were living at Cliff Cottages, Cinderhill, with their two children John (3) and Mary (1). George and Hannah were still living at 5 Cliff Cottages in 1891. George (42) and Hannah (37) now had six children, John (13), Mary Elizabeth (11), Harriett (9), Charles (7), George (4) and Leonard (9 months). The family continued to live at 5 Cliff Cottages and in 1901 all six children were still living at home: John (23) a grocer's assistant, Mary (21) a lace mender, Harriett (19) an upholstery worker, Charles (17) a colliery joiner, George (14) a clerk at the colliery, and Leonard (10) was still at school. Hannah Elizabeth died on 3 April 1907 aged 53 (buried Nottingham Northern Cemetery). George married Alice Darmon in 1910 (J/A/S Nottingham). They continued to live in the family home at 5 Cliff Cottages although by 1911 only John (23) and Leonard (20), both joiners at a colliery, were still living at home. Leonard (22) emigrated to Canada in 1913, sailing from Liverpool on 26 April onboard SS Laurentic (White Star Dominion Line) bound for Quebec, Canada. At the time the CWGC record was compiled George and Alice Key were living at 2 Babbington Cottages, Cinderhill, Nottingham. George died on 16 December 1928 aged 79. George's widow, Alice, probably moved from Nottingham after his death as on the 1939 England & Wales Register an Alice Key (b. 19 May 1865) is recorded living at 97 Eastfield Road, Louth, Lincolnshire, with Emma Darmon (single) b. 14 February 1872. Of Leonard's siblings: John married in about 1905 and in 1911 was living at 85 Bulwell Lane, Old Basford, with his wife Sarah Annie (33) and their sons John (5) and Thomas George (4). John was a shop assistant (grocery). Mary Elizabeth married Robert Frederick Easom in 1903 (O/N/D Nottingham). In 1911 Robert (35) an invoice clerk at a lace warehouse, and Mary (31) were living with their son George Frederick (b. 17 October 1904, d. 1989/Apr Nottingham) were living at 221 Vernon Road, Old Basford. Robert died in 1944 (Sep Nottingham) aged 69 and Mary Elizabeth died in 1954 (Dec Nottingham) age 75. Harriett and George William have not yet been traced after the 1901 Census. Charles died in 1961 (Mar Nottingham) aged 77; he was then living at 4 Broxtowe Rise, Nuthall Road, Cinderhill. He left a widow, Ethel.