Robert Leeming & Margaret Crowley & Alfred James Amass

Hull Minster, King Street, Kingston upon Hull
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Bernard Sharp - geograph.org.uk/p/6532039
Hull Minster, formerly Holy Trinity Church, mainly 1300-1425.

Robert Leeming (b. 1840) Greengrocer of Robinson Row, Hull, son of James Leeming and Jane Irwin, married Margaret Crowley (b. 1850), younger daughter of Thomas Crowley and Elizabeth Molloy, at Hull Holy Trinity, on 15 Jun 1870. 

This was not Robert's first marriage, however, as he had previously married widow, Sarah Brown (née Barber) on 12 Nov 1865, at All Saints Church, Sculcoates. He's described as a widower on his 1870 marriage to Margaret Crowley, but I've not found the record of Sarah's death. His first marriage did not produce children.

On his 1865 marriage, Robert lists his father as Robert Leeming, Soldier. In 1870, he again lists his father as Robert Leeming, but with his father's occupation given as Shoemaker. After much digging, we discover his step-father was Robert, while his biological father, James Leeming, was both a soldier and a shoemaker.

Robert Leeming's birth, in 1840, is listed in the Gro Regimental Birth Indices, Royal Artillery, in Drypool, England. And in 1841, James Leeming (37), Jane Leeming (24), Elizabeth Leeming (4) and Robert Leeming (1) were all listed as living at the Citadel and Barracks Hull, Drypool. "The Citadel" was a moated triangular bastioned artillery fortification built in the 1680s in the south-west corner of Drypool.

James Leeming, born in Lancashire, had enlisted in the Royal Regiment Of Artillery on 11 Nov 1825 - his previous trade being Shoemaker - and was discharged, at Woolwich (Royal Artillery Barracks) - son James was born here in 1845 - on 14 Sep 1846, having served for 20 years and 336 days, 7 years 5 months of that in Gibraltar. He was discharged due to chronic rheumatism, which the army judged impaired him and was as a result of his military service. Upon discharge at the age of 43, he was 5ft 9in, with fair hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. 

Three years later, he was dead and was buried, on 17 Sep 1849, in Drypool.

Jane Leeming (34), widow, Charwoman pauper, born in Eastbourne, Sussex, was, in 1851, living Whytalls Place, Drypool, with her five children: Elizabeth (13) Servant; Robert (10), William (8), James (5) and Margaret (3). Then, on 27 Nov 1851, listed as Jane Lemon, she married Richard Plank, Soldier, at All Saints Church, Sculcoates. On this marriage, she lists her father as James Irwin, Soldier. At this rate she was at risk of being seen as a jinx on the regiment, as Richard Plank (38) died the following year in 1852. Hence, it was Jane Plank who married Robert Wright in 1856. In 1861, Robert Wright (47) from Norfolk, Greengrocer, at 17, Broadley Street, Hull, was living with wife Jane Wright (44) and step-children, Robert Leeming (21) Greengrocer, James Leeming (16) Shoemaker and Margaret Leeming (13).

Jane Wright (formerly Plank, previously Leeming, née Irwin) died, aged 52, in 1870, in Hull. NB: I never did find a record of her first marriage to James Leeming.

After they married in 1870, in 1871, Robert Leeming (34) Shop keeper, and Margaret Leeming (20) were living in Broadley Street, Hull, next door to William Henry Tummon, whose wife, Elizabeth Crowley was Margaret's sister. 

The marriage between Robert Leeming and Margaret Crowley didn't produce any children either and there must have been 'an estrangement', because in 1881, Margaret Crowley (31) Dressmaker, was living as a boarder in the house of Alfred Amass (26) Dock labourer from London, at 8, Empringham Terrace, Hull.

Then Robert Leeming died, aged just 44, in 1884, in Sculcoates.

St Matthew's Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Paul Glazzard 
geograph.org.uk/p/1156490

Unsurprisingly, Margaret Leeming (35) remarried, at St. Matthews Church, Hull, on 15 Jun 1885 to Alfred James Amass (29), reputedly son of Samuel Amass. Reputedly, because there appears to be no such person as Alfred James Amass until 1881: no birth, does not appear on any previous census.

But they had 5 lovely daughters:

1. Emma Leeming Amass b. 1883 (there's no registration nor baptism, presumably to avoid formalising this secret 'premature' birth)
2. Gertrude Amass b. 1886, bap. 14 Dec 1887 at St John the Baptist, Newington, Hull
3. Ada Amass b. 1887, bap. 14 Dec 1887 at St John the Baptist, Newington, Hull
4. Maud Amass b. 1889, bap. 7 Oct 1891 in Newington
5. Eva Amass b. 1891, bap. 7 Oct 1891 in Newington

The family's address on the four baptisms was given as 86 Glasgow Street, Hull. Margaret's father and brother also lived in Glasgow Street at this time.

In 1891, still in Glasgow Street, Newington, were Alfred Amass (34) Fisherman, Margaret Amass (40), Emma (7), Gertrude (5), Ada (3) and Maud (1).

Then in 1901, the family were living at 55, Scarbrough Street, Sculcoates with Alfred James Amass (45) Ships husband, Margaret Amass (50), Emma (17) Office cleaner, Gertrude (15), Ada (13), Maud (11) and Eva (9).

Alfred James Amass died, aged 50, in Sculcoates, in 1905.

In 1911, Margaret Amass (60) was living at 45 Scarborough Street, Hull with Ada (23), Maud (21) Assistant teacher; Eva (19) Housemaid and two boarders, Frederick (16) and Charles (15) Johnson, both from Crewkerne, Somerset.

In 1921, Margaret Amass (71) Mother-in-law, was living with James and Eva Gibbins at 75, Edinburgh Street, Hull.

 Margaret Amass (née Crowley, formerly Leeming) died, aged 77, in 1928.

• Emma Leeming Amass (20) married William Henry Sole (23) Engine Fitter, son of James Sole, both of 91 Bean Street, Hull, on 3 Aug 1903 at St. Matthews Church, Hull. Witnesses were the bride's father, Alfred James Amass, and Elizabeth Sole, William's younger sister.
• Gertrude Amass (21) married Willie Brown (22) Carpenter, son of James Brown, Iron moulder, both of New Cleveland Street, on 16 Sep 1906 at St. Mark's Church, Hull (St Mark In The Groves). St Mark's was built in 1843. It was badly bombed and demolished in the 1950s. The Groves was a slum area in east Hull, a riverside community of mills and cramped terraces along Cleveland Street. Witnesses were James Brown (probably NOT the Godfather of Soul) and Mary Ellen Brown.
• Ada Amass (25) married James Wilson Brown (36) Tailor, also son of James Brown, Iron moulder, of New Cleveland Street, on 22 Mar 1913 at St. Matthews Church, Hull. There were three witnesses: J Brown, E Amass and A Brown. So it appears that the two sisters, Gertrude and Ada, married two brothers, Willie and James.
• Maud Amass (23) married George Arundell (23) Iron moulder, son of James Vickers Arundell, both of 45 Scarborough Street, Hull, on 8 Mar 1913 at St. Mary and St. Peter's Church, Dairycoates (The old church building was taken down in February 1962 to make way for the Hessle Road flyover which replaced the Dairycoates level crossing.) Witnesses were William Henry Sole (Emma's husband) and Eva Amass.
• Eva Amass (25) of 20 Witty Street, Hull, married James Gibbins (22) Boiler maker of 68 Havelock Street, son of William Gibbins, on 16 Jun 1917 at St. Mary and St. Peter's Church, Dairycoates. Witnesses to this marriage were William Henry Sole (again) and Olive Gibbins.