My Leverton

John Brown of Leverton (1761-1836) was the son of John and Jane. John married Susanna Hunt at St Helena’s in 1781 and together they had seven children: William (1782), John (1784), Joseph (1785), Mary (1789), George (1790), Thomas (1794) and Robert (1800).  Times were hard and when his third son, Joseph, was baptised in 1785, and John was a pauper and remained so for several years, he was very involved with the church and became parish clerk. During this time he was a second witness at the majority of weddings that took place at St Helena’s, and was parish clerk for well over 50 years. The last marriage he witnessed was on 19 May 1836. He was buried on 1 June 1836.

John’s son, Thomas (1794-1863) married Susannah Robins, in Leverton, in 1819. They had 6 children: Ann, Solomon, Sarah, Napoleon, John and Thomas.  Thomas was an innkeeper and farmer living at Church End. In fact, this was The Bell Inn, later to become know as The Old Bell, and was situated on the piece of ground between the café and the war memorial. It was demolished in the 1950s.

The Old Bell Leverton demolished in the 1950s. It was the private home of the Brown family when this photo was taken and called 'Ivy House'

One of the two bakeries then in the village is seen to the left, now a popular cafe.

My Maternal Ancestors

My Maternal Grandmother was born in Friskney, Lincolnshire, on the 8th February 1854. Her name was Mary Ann Parker.

On the 5th March 1876 she married a Joseph Thompson in Saint Botolph's (Boston Stump), Boston, Lincolnshire, England. Joseph is described as being a fisherman, no doubt plying his trade out of the port of Boston. He was 34 years of age and a widower.

They had three children: Martha Ellen born 1877, Joseph and Mary Ann. I have it that Joseph senior 'died at sea' but have no documented proof to hand in fact, at the time of the birth of young Joseph they were living in Skegness and he was employed as a 'road builder'.

Some time after the death of her husband Joseph, and between 1882 and 1886 she was bringing up her family with one Samuel George Ashby, my Grandfather. They, too, had a family of their own; Samuel George born 1884; Annie Elizabeth born 2 December 1885; Beatrice born in Sheffield 1886; Edith (my Mother) born Wrangle 6th November 1895; Frank Leonard born Wrangle 1899. I believe my Grandfather came from Milton, Northamptonshire and was born circa 1855.

As can be seen above, at some time during their marriage they took off to Sheffield where Grandfather worked in the iron works there. That, no doubt was where the 'bigger' money was to be earned. While they were there my Aunty Beatrice was born. They moved back to Wrangle where they brought up the later additions to their family, my Mother,  Edith being the fourth Ashby child.

My Great Grandfather and Grandmother were Samuel Parker and Eleanor Wright. Samuel was born  in Friskney, Lincolnshire on the 20th August 1820 and died there on the 1st March 1894. Eleanor was born in the village of Heckington, Lincolnshire in 1828 and died on the 11th November 1904 in Friskney. They married in the Parish Church of Sleaford, Lincolnshire on the 26th June 1848. They had at least 7 children and were living in Field Lane in Friskney in 1871.

Samuel's father and mother (my Great Great Grandparents) were Thomas Parker and Ann Bycroft. Thomas was born on the 16th February 1794 I believe, in Friskney. Ann, too was born in Friskney although I have no date for her birth as yet.

They married on the 30th december 1818 in Friskney and had four children before Ann died on the 23rd July 1825. It would seem Ann could have died as the results of childbirth, as she gave birth to a Mary Ann on the 22nd May 1825. Just two months later Ann was dead. The four children were: Thomas: Samuel: Joseph and Mary Ann.

Thomas married again four years later to one, Mary Brackenbury. Elizabeth was born on the 16th April 1802. They had two children; Eliza and Henry.

Thonmas's father and mother (my Great, Great, Great Grandparents) were another Thomas, and his wife, Ann Cheffens, and this is the point at which I have much  more research to do.

I am not sure when Thomas was born (I have a Thomas born in 1715?) but I think he died around 1770. I don't know when Ann was born but I have it she died on the 6th December 1810. If so she could have been an exceptionally elderly lady for the time; unless she was a much younger lady when she met and married Thomas.

It is with these two that I have struggled a little. I think there is an Alford or Louth, Lincolnshire, link in there somewhere, possibly with both the Parker and the Cheffens' families so I have lots more 'digging' to do.

Lastly, if there is anyone out there who can shed some light on Thomas and Ann and/or their ancestors I would be very grateful if they would get in touch via the website (contact us).

It looks, though as my Maternal side of the family has been carving out an existence for themselves along this eastern coast area of Lincolnshire for getting on for 300 years and maybe research will tell us it is even longer than that. One thing is certain; I have many realtives around, most of whom I don't even know yet

The Later Parker Family

My Mother was born Edith Ashby (see above) in Wrangle on the 6th November 1895 to Samuel George Ashby and Mary Ann Parker.

She met and married one, Philip Parker (different Parker's) on the 9th June 1914 in the Parish Church of Wrangle. Edith was Wrangle born and Philip was born in Stickford, Lincs on the 28th July 1893 (Army records). His Parents were George and Charlotte Parker.

Soon after their marriage Philip decided to join up to fight the foe during the First World War 1914 - 1918 and was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme on 16th November 1916. They had two children: Edith Mary born 12th June 1915 and Philip George born 11th May 1916. They were both born in Leverton Outgate.

After the death of her husband Edith moved in with her Parents in Wrangle, for a time. Later they would move back to Leverton where the children attended Leverton School.

The Tosney Family

My Grandfather, Bernard Tosney was born in Hull, Yorkshire in 1861/2. In 1881 he could be found in Richmond, North Yorkshire living in a boarding house. He is described as being 20 years of age and a boarder in a house belonging to one Michael Mullen in Bargate, Richmond.

Mr Mullen was also the "Town Drainer as well as being a boarding house keeper. Most of the boarders were Irish as was, no doubt, Mr Mullen.

Bernard met and married Mary Ann Robinson, widow. Mary was born in Brompton - on - Swale, Yorks circa 1861/2. On the marriage certificate her Father was William Robinson a machine maker, deceased. They married in the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Joseph and Saint Francis Xavier, Richmond on the 24th December 1891.

In 1901 they are living in Earls Yard, Richmond. The family consisted of: Bernard; Mary Ann along with their children: John James aged 10 years: Herbert aged 8: Thomas aged 6;  Wilfrid aged 3 and Vincent. There could have been one more child, Basil who died as a child.

I believe the this branch of the Tosney family came over from Ireland possibly with my Great Grandfather or earlier,  settling in or around Hull, Yorkshire. There is much more to do on this side if our family although I am told it gets difficult once the research takes the you over the water to Ireland.