Leah Williams

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Leah Williams

b	9th September 1872	9 Williams Street, Toxteth, Liverpool
m.	16th September 1900	7 Rhiwlas Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool
d

1872-

siblings	Samuel Jabez Williams	Leah Williams	Elizabeth Ann Williams	Peter Williams

Father

Jabez Williams

Mother

Jane Roberts

Spouse(s)

John William McGrath

Children

unknown

1872 Leah was born in Williams Street, Toxteth Park on 9th September 1872. It may be noted that a suspected sibling of Jabez (recorded in the IGI for the same area of Wales as Jabez's birth and for the same parents' names) is also called Leah and the proximity of this unusual name to that of a possible sister of Jabez may merit investigation.

1881 Leah, aged 8 (consistent with a September birthday) is recorded with the family at 2 Rectory Street, Toxteth Park.

1891 Jabez has died and Leah's mother, Jane, is now living with Elizabeth and Leah at 30 Malta Street, Toxteth. Leah is aged 16 (could be 14 as census is unclear) she is an apprentice dressmaker.

1900 on 16th July 1900 Leah married William John McGrath at Our Lady of Mount Carmel church, High Park Street, Toxteth Park. The marriage is unusual in that he was previously married to Sarah McGrevy. Leah is the sister of Samuel Jabez Williams (who in turn was married to Sarah McGrevy’s sister Elizabeth. Thus William McGrath has married (in turn) Elizabeth’s sister and then, later, Samuel’s sister. This has now been traced with certificates which confirm that Sarah died at the age of 33 from acute Pneumonia following an operation for breast cancer. She died at 63 King Street, Liscard. William McGrath (the widower) was present at the death. William remarried, to Leah Williams, in the following year.

1901 Leah McGrath (27) and William J McGrath (32) are at 157 Seabank Road, Liscard (this is simply a continuation of King Street, Liscard). (n.b. Leah's sister Elizabeth and their mother Jane nee Roberts are now at 63 King Street). William is a Fruit and Greengrocer, them are William's brother Thomas, 21, sister Christina, 18, and brother Joseph, 16. They are all born Birkenhead, Cheshire and all appear to work for William. (n.b. there is a birth for Christina McGrath, Birkenhead, 8a, 487, March qtr. 1882, a birth for Christina McGrath March 1885, Birkenhead 8a, 541, Louisa Agnes McGrath 1900 Birkenhead BIR/204/31 [cheshire bmd] and one marriage for a Christina McGrath Sept 1904, Birkenhead, 8a, 1063).

1911 Gore's directory gives W. John McGrath, fruiterer, 157 Sea Bank Road, Liscard.

1926 William John McGrath, fruiterer, is still at 157 Sea Bank Road, Liscard in the Kellys directory for that year. (William would now be aged about 57, Leah would be about 52.

1936, 1946 and 1955
Gore's directories show Mrs Leah McGrath at 225 Sea Bank Road, a fruiterer - she would be 82/83 by 1955. This number is between Cambridge Street and Sandfield Road and is a re-numbering of 157 (157 and nearby numbers are all missing in these Gores) as it is between the same streets and in the same place as the old 157, it is also adjacent to the Baptist church which is itself re-numbered.

1962 225 Seabank Road is now occupied by Miss V McGrath, fruiterer who is assumed to be a daughter of Leah.

1966 225 Seabank Road is still occupied by Miss V McGrath, fruiterer who is assumed to be a daughter of Leah.

No further data has been looked for yet although my father recalls visiting relatives in New Brighton in the 1930s with his Aunt (Susan McGrevy) and this may well have been Leah and William.

year	Address	stated age	source	proof	calc birth
1872	9 Williams Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. 9th September 1872	0	birth of Leah		1872
1881	2 Rectory Street, Toxteth, Scholar	8	census		1872
1891	30 Malta Street, Toxteth Park with mother Jane and sister Elizabeth	16	census		1870
1900	7 Rhiwlas Street, Toxteth Park, 16th July 1900	26	marriage cert		1874
1901	157 Seabank Road, Liscard	27	census		1874
1936	Mrs Leah McGrath at 225 Sea Bank Road, a fruiterer (a renumbering of 157)	abt 64	Kellys directory
1946	Mrs Leah McGrath at 225 Sea Bank Road, a fruiterer	abt 74	Kellys directory
1955	Mrs Leah McGrath at 225 Sea Bank Road, a fruiterer	abt 83	Kellys directory