Levi LEIGHS Bankrupt 1827

[Vicwinann]

Hello,
I have found in an online copy of The London Gazette of (I think 1828) a notice of Bankruptsy of Levi Leighs. Without going into too much complicated detail, the relevant points are that he was:-
" late of the City of
Canterbury, in the County of Kent, and of the Town and
Port of Dover, within the Liberty of the Cihque Ports, Tea-
Dealer and Glassman, Dealer and Chapman, "
and he had to report to
" Court of Commissioners of Bankrupts,
in Basinghall-Street, in the City of London"
and creditors and others to contact
"Mr. CharlesBatsford, Solicitor, No. 3, Horslydown-
Lane, Southwark."
Levi was a son of my 3rd great grandfather, my second great grandfather's brother.  In 1827 Levi was disowned by the Quaker community in Guildford and Godalming. So all begins to make sense.

My question is, where might I find out anything more about the above notice and its consequences. This is the first sighting I have had of him and then he disappears again.
Can anyone help with suggestions??
Vicwinann

[ShaunJ]

There are a couple more mentions in the Gazette, the final one in 1831. You can search the Gazette online:  http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/search


Is this the same Levi Leighs, china dealer, who married Mary Anne Blishen in Sutton in 1826 and had a child John Henry Levi Leighs born 1829, baptised in Sutton in 1832?

[ShaunJ]

Henry Leighs aged 11 is in Sutton in the 1841 census, residing with Mary Blishen 60 and Martha Blishen 55.

[Vicwinann]

Hello Shaun,
Now, you are telling me something that I don't know, but yes, it probably is the same Levi Leighs. There can't be that many in that area.  His father and brother were also china dealers in Surrey.

How do you know this?  This is the first real sighting I have had of him. Anything that you can tell me,  or guide me to, would be helpful. Thank you for what you have said already.
Yours
Vicwinann

[ShaunJ]

The marriage and baptism register images from LMA are viewable on Ancestry.

There is also a Levi Harold Leighs, a widower, who married Emma Collins at St Mary Islington in 1835.

[Vicwinann]

Hi ShaunJ,
The Levi Harold is nothing to do with my Levi, I don't think.  I am not a member of Ancestry (can't afford it) so obviously did not have this information. However, the marriage and child John Henry  is on the IGI but  the thing that clinches is was your mention of father Levi being a china dealer.

Several ways one could interpret the 1841 without having a recorded death or burial of either parent. The Mary Blishen that you mention sounds to be his grandmother, perhaps. Either one or both parents were dead, or the child had been abandoned in the care of relatives.  Levi was born about 1800 -1810 in Staffordshire, son of John and Mary.

One more little peice of the puzzle. Thank you.

Yours
Vicwinann

[Valda]

Hi

1851 census HO107 1592 folio 154
Sutton Surrey
Mary Blishen 70 Head Unmarried Fruit Gardener Cuddington Surrey
Martha Blishen 68 Widow Cuddington Surrey
Jno Hy Leigh 21 Nephew Ag lab Sutton Surrey



Regards

Valda

[Vicwinann]

Thank you Valda,
At 21 years old in 1851, John Henry Leigh/s was obviously not abandoned. It does, however, sound as if this is the son of the Levi Leighs I have been looking for. John and Henry are family names, and although common, often help to identify family connections.
Levi's bro, Henry 1809 was my 2nd great grandfather. There was also another brother, John 1806 who came with their parents, John and Mary from Staffordshire to Guildford, so any sightings anyone has of him in Surrey would be gobbled up by me.  From the Witham Friends Monthly Meeting it would seem he went to Heybridge, Essex in 1822 but after 1827 I lose him again after his return to Godalming.
Yours
Vicwinann

[Deeoz]

My connection to Levi Leighs is via Mary Ann Blishen.
Mary Ann Blishen was the daughter of William Blishen & Martha Blishen ( distant cousins)

Levi & Mary Ann married on 30 June 1826 at Sutton Surrey (by License) Minister Charles Gardiner. Present at marriage William Blishen (Mary Ann’s Father) and John White.

Son John Henry Levi Leigh was born on 24 Sep 1829 at Sutton and baptised on 9 Sep 1832 at Sutton Surrey. Levi was listed as a China Dealer.

John Henry Levi also went by the name Henry Leigh(s). In 1841 Henry was living with his grandmother Martha Blishen and Great Aunt Mary Blishen at Chream Road Sutton. The Blishens at Sutton were market gardeners.

After this time Levi went by the name Harold. This may have something to do with the excommunication from the Quakers or the insolvency.

According to Census Levi was born in Stanley Staffordshire in about 1804.

William Blishen became bankrupt in 1806 in London. Somewhere between 1806-1813 William & Martha separated and Martha with daughter Mary Ann returned to Sutton.  William joined the Royal Marines in 1813 and somewhere around 1822 William Blishen began a new relationship with Caroline Glover but never married her. William obviously kept contact with his daughter as he was witness to her marriage to Levi.

Mary Ann Leigh nee Blishen was present at her mother Marthas Death in 1856 as Mary Ann Leigh.
In 1862 Mary Ann was the executor of her aunt Mary Blishen’s estate. Noted as Mary Ann Leigh (wife of Levi Harold Leighs a house agent) niece and sole executor of 80 Waterloo Bridge Road Southwark.

There is a news article in 1852 regarding Martha Malster who claimed she once lived with Levi Leigh and he fathered a child with her. This Levi was a tradesman living at Epsom. The article was about not having made payments to her although the payments were registered. This may relate to son John Henry Levi Leigh but there is an odd gap between the births of John Henry Levi Leigh 1829 and John Bryan or Byron Leigh 1837. Levi and Mary Ann may have been separated and the above news article may relate to Levi. If so Mary Ann & son John Henry Levi may have returned to live at Sutton and John Henry Levi (Henry) had remained with his grandmother Martha & Great Aunt Mary after any reconciliation.

The family were in Liverpool Lancashire in around 1839 when daughter Emma Elizabeth was born and may have been there in 1841.

In 1851 Levi/ Harold was a gas engineer and fitter living at 10 Penton St Finsbury with Mary Ann, children John Bryan, Elizabeth (married as Emma Elizabeth), Ralph Stafford, Mary Jane (married as Amy Amelia Jane).

In 1861 Levi/ Harold was a house & commercial agent living at Waterloo Rd Lambeth with Mary Ann, children John Bryan, Elizabeth, Ralph Stafford, Mary Jane.

I have supporting documents, BDM, including the marriage of Levi and Mary Ann and the marriages of their children. Census, Newspaper, Probate.

Levi appears to have died in 1865 death registered in 1st Qtr and Mary Ann 1867. Although I haven’t obtained the deaths records yet to confirm. On the marriages of 2 chidren in 1868 he is listed as deceased.

Hope this helps.

GG Grandaughter-in-law of William Blishen & Caroline Glover