Malcolm Smith's Family History Archive

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Biography of

Joseph  William  LEAVEY

[Ref. Q.705]

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Ancestors

Profile

Index for LEAVEY

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Joseph William Leavey was the seventh of the nine children of Joseph and Mary Ann Leavey. He was born around 1869 in Brimpton, Hampshire. The 1871 census shows Joseph at home at his father's smithy with his parents, sisters Laura and Mary Ann and his aunt Elizabeth Bennets. By 1881 Joseph was living with his sister Mary Ann and her husband in Village Street, Woolhampton near Newbury in Berkshire and was presumably attending school there.

When the census of 1891 was taken, Joseph was working as a drapers assistant for W Whiteley, universal providers, in their large premises in Queens Road, Paddington, Middlesex. Joseph married Bessie Bennetts, daughter of William and Elizabeth Bennets, in 1894 in the Readung area. Son Reginald William was born about 1896 in Baughurst, Hampshire and Leslie Douglas in 1896. Daughter Elizabeth was also born there about 1896 after which Olive Muriel was born in Charter Alley, Hampshire around 1900.

The 1901 census shows the family living in Charter Alley village near Monk Sherborne in Hampshire. Also present is Joseph A Cottrell, Joseph's nephew, son of aunt Mary Ann who married Henry Cottrell. The 1905 electoral register shows Joseph living in Woolhampton near Aldermaston. That same year daughter Olive sadly died. Son Kenneth Gordon D was born about 1907 in Mortimer, Berkshire. The electoral register of 1910 shows the address as Windmill Road in Mortimer.

The census of 1911 shows that Joseph had his own business as a draper, men's outfitter and boot dealer and was assisted by his wife and possibly sons Reginald and Leslie. The family were living above the shop and also employed a servant.

By 1916, Joseph had moved to High Street in Theale according to the army service papers of his son Leslie whom had stated his father as next of kin. The 1920 electoral register confirms that as the family address as does the register of 1925.

In 1926, Joseph was living at Sunnyside House in Theale but it was at 20 Wellington Road in Camborne, Cornwall that he passed away on 1 July that year. Administration of his estate was granted to sons Reginald and Leslie.