Jonathan Leese and his family are the subject of at least 2 removal orders during his life which are found in the Poor Law Vouchers in Stafford Record Office for Sandon, Staffordshire.
D22/A/PO/1-2 item 43
Removal order for Jonathan Leese (Lees) wife Ann and 5 children (William 10, Mary 8, Sarah 5, Jonathan 3 and Hannah 18 months) From Stoke on Trent to Sandon. Dated 10 Jan 1810
D22/A/PO/1-2item 51
Removal Order for Jonathan Leese/ Lees wife Ann and children (Jonathan 8, Hannah 6, Mariah 4, and Ann 2) From Stoke on Trent to Sandon. Dated 5 June 1817.
The name is spelt variously as Leese or Lees even on the same document
Jonathan Leese (Senior) of Sandon married Mary Parker in St. Michael’s, Stone on 20 Jan 1761 and they had 2 children baptised in All Saints, Sandon
1. Ann 18 July 1762 where the place of residence is given as Hardywicke Heath
1. 13 Sept 1778 Jonathan
2. 13 Aug 1780 Hannah
Jonathan Leese (junior) married Anne Hazlehurst in St. Michael’s, Stone on 8 May 1797 (both signed X)
They then had either 10 or 11 Children. It is not clear if they had 1 or 2 Hannahs as the removal orders indicate one born circa 1808 and the second born circa 1811. Only a baptism for the 1808 Hannah is found but as the second one appears to date from around the time of the first removal order it could have been that she was not baptised.
Children
1. William Bapt. Stone St. Michael’s 29 May 1798 born 27th Mar s/o Jonathan and Anne Leese of Sandon.
2. Mary Bapt. Stone St. Michael’s 16 Nov 1800. born 12 Nov. d/o Jonathan and Anne Leese of Stone.
3. Richard Bapt. Sandon, All Saints 14 Mar 1803 s/o Jonathan and Hannah Leese. (This cannot have been Jonathan senior as his wife is buried in 1817 aged 80 making her DOB as 1737)
4. Sarah Bapt Stoke St. Peter’s 18 Mar 1804 d/o Jonathan and Anne Lees of Shelton
5. Jonathan Bapt Stoke St. Peter’s 16 Nov 1806 born 3 Oct. s/o Jonathan and Anne Lees of Black —-.
6. Hannah Bapt Stoke St. Peter’s 27 Nov 1808 born 6 Nov d/o Jonathan and Anne Lees of Black Lion. (Possibly buried as Ann Lees in Stoke 29 May 1810.)
7 Hannah dob abt 1811 NOT FOUND
8. Maria Bapt Stoke St. Peter’s 19 July 1812 d/o Jonathan and Ann Lees
9. Ann Bapt Stoke St. Peter’s 15 Apr 1815 d/o Jonathan and Ann Leese of High Croft
10.Jonathan Bapt Sandon, All Saints, 17 Aug 1817 s/o Jonathan and Ann Leese of Sandon, Labourer.
11. Harriot Bapt Stone St. Michael’s 14 Dec 1817 d/o Jonathan and Anne Lees of Stone, Labourer
After repeated attempts it looks as if the family finally made it out of Sandon as the last child is baptised in Stone and Jonathan and Ann are still there in 1841 and 1851.
1841 Census HO107/2000 folio 96
Address – Church Street, Stone, Staffordshire
Jonathan Lees aged 60 occupation Ag. Lab born Staffordshire
Ann Lees aged 60 born Staffordshire
Henry Lees aged 4 born Staffordshire
In the 1851 Census Henry is stated to be a grandson and Henry was baptised in St. Michael’s, Stone the son of Jane Leese Spinster but I cannot find a baptism for a Jane Lees / Leese to Jonathan and Ann. However in the 1841 Census there is a William Leese born 1797-1801 and a Jane Leese also born 1797 -1801 living with the family of Benjamin Till in Weaver Street, Stoke upon Trent, Staffordshire. So Henry could be the son of Jonathan’s son William.
1851 Census HO107/2000 folio 96
Address – Church Street, Stone, Staffordshire
Jonathan Leese Head age 73 occupation Pauper Labourer born Sandon, Staffordshire
Ann Leese wife 73 born Stone, Staffordshire
James Lydall lodger unmarried age 71 Pensioner E I C Service born Leicestershire
Henry Leese Grandson age 13 Pauper Child born Stone, Staffordshire
Mary Rowley Granddaughter age 9 Pauper Child born Stone, Staffordshire
Ann Leese was buried at St. Michael, Stone 3 Sept 1855. age 76 (dob 1779)
Jonathan Leese was buried at St. Michael, Stone 6 Jan 1857 age 79 (dob 1778)