EDGOOSE:
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LEEDER, Richard
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Name LEEDER, Richard Birth 29 Aug 1820 Bungay, Suffolk, England
Gender Male Death 5 Mar 1893 Acle, Norfolk, England
Person ID I714 Edgoose Last Modified 29 Jan 2026
Father LEEDER, Richard, b. Between 1785 and 1786 d. 1850, Reedham, Norfolk, England
(Age 65 years) Mother THROWER, Ann, b. 1782, Redenhall, Norfolk, England
d. 26 Dec 1858, Acle, Norfolk, England
(Age 76 years) Marriage 30 Sep 1817 Trinity, Bungay, Suffolk
Family ID F528 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family BROWNING, Elizabeth, b. 1811, Ramsden, Essex, England
d. 2 Jan 1902, Acle, Norfolk, England
(Age 91 years) Marriage 13 Oct 1840 Limpenhoe, Norfolk, England
Children 1. LEEDER, Richard, b. 2 Sep 1841, Acle, Norfolk, England
d. 9 Jun 1883, Acle, Norfolk, England
(Age 41 years)2. LEEDER, Walter, b. 1843, Acle, Norfolk, England
d. 9 Oct 1843, Acle, Norfolk, England
(Age 0 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]3. LEEDER, Elizabeth Ann, b. 5 Jan 1845, Acle, Norfolk, England
d. 1846, Acle, Norfolk, England
(Age 0 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]4. LEEDER, Ellen, b. 15 Jan 1847, Acle, Norfolk, England
d. 6 Nov 1921, Blofield Registration District, Norfolk
(Age 74 years)5. LEEDER, Julia Hannah, b. 24 Aug 1850, Acle, Norfolk, England
d. 30 May 1946, Aldershot, Hampshire, England
(Age 95 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]6. LEEDER, Jessie Elmer, b. 1853, Acle, Norfolk, England
d. 1947, Ipswich Registration District, Suffolk
(Age 94 years)7. LEEDER, Fred, b. 1857, Acle, Norfolk, England
d. 1914, Hillston, New South Wales, Australia
(Age 57 years)Family ID F244 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Notes
RICHARD LEEDER 1820-1893
Richard LEEDER was born at Bungay in Suffolk on 29 August 1820, son of Richard LEEDER, butcher, and his wife Ann nee THROWER. He was baptised there on 4 September 1820.
He married Elizabeth BROWNING, a Limpenhoe spinster and daughter of farmer Benjamin BROWNING, on 13 October 1840 at Limpenhoe Parish Church in Norfolk. Witnesses were James LEEDER and Elizabeth MURRELL. Richard LEEDER was described as a 20 year old bachelor and hairdresser from Acle, son of Richard LEEDER, butcher.
(GRO December Q 1840 Blofield 13 67)
From the 1841 census of Acle, Norfolk:
*Richard LEEDER, aged 20, hairdresser, not born in Norfolk;
Elizabeth LEEDER, aged 30, not born in Norfolk.
(HO107/785/1/6/7)
He is listed in White's Directory of Norfolk 1845 as a hairdresser at Acle, and in 1864 as postmaster, grocer and draper of the same place. "Post Office at Richard LEEDER's. Letters are despatched to Norwich at 4.50 p.m., and to Yarmouth at 8.20 a.m. Letter Carriers to Reedham daily, and to Upton every alternate day. This is also a Money Order Office and a Post Office Savings' Bank."
The 1851 census of The Street, Acle, Norfolk;
*Richard LEEDER, head, aged 31, hairdresser, born at Bungay, Suffolk;
Elizabeth LEEDER, wife, aged 29, shoe binder, born at Ramsden, Essex;
Richard LEEDER, son, aged 9, scholar, born at Acle;
Ellen LEEDER, daughter, aged 4, scholar, born at Acle;
Julia LEEDER, daughter, aged 7 months, born at Acle.
(HO 107/1819/276/4)
The 1861 census of Acle, Norfolk:
*Richard LEEDER, head, aged 40, shopkeeper and hairdresser, born at Bungay, Suffolk;
Elizabeth LEEDER, wife, aged 50, hairdresser's wife, born at (illegible);
Ellen LEEDER, daughter, aged 14, shop maid, born at Acle;
Julia H. LEEDER, daughter, aged 10, scholar, born at Acle;
Jessie LEEDER, daughter, aged 7, scholar, born at Acle;
Fred LEEDER, son, aged 3, born at Acle;
Emily M. HASTINGS, boarder, pupil teacher to (illegible), born at Mundsley, Norfolk.
(RG9/1227/92/9)
The 1871 census of The Street, Acle, Norfolk:
*Richard LEEDER, head, aged 50, postmaster and shopkeeper, born at Bungay, Suffolk;
Elizth LEEDER, wife, aged 60, born at Ramsden, Essex;
Jessie LEEDER, daughter, aged 17, telegraph clerk, born at Acle;
Fred LEEDER, son, aged 13, born at Acle, Norfolk.
(RG10/1829/104/40)
From the 1881 census of Acle, Norfolk:
*Richard LEEDER, head, aged 61, postmaster and shopkeeper, born at Bungay, Suffolk;
Elizabeth LEEDER, wife, aged 70, postmaster and shopkeeper's wife, born at Ramsdon, Essex;
Ellen E. LAIGHT, granddaughter, aged 14, born at Sprowston, Norfolk.
(RG11/1961/102/35)
According to the 1891 Census Returns for Acle he was a hairdresser whose address was the King's Head, Acle Street:
*Richard LEEDER, head, aged 70, hairdresser, born at Bungay, Suffolk;
Elizabeth LEEDER, wife, aged 80, born at Ramsdon, Essex.
(RG12/1539/83/29)
He committed suicide on 5 March 1893, and a report of the inquest appeared on page 5 of the Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette dated 11 March 1893 as follows:
"ACLE
SAD DEATH OF AN OLD INHABITANT -
A very sad case of suicide occurred in this parish on Sunday morning last. Mr. Richard LEEDER, an old and respected parishioner, who had resided in Acle for more than fifty years, and who only a few years ago retired from the office of postmaster, was found drowned in the water-course known as the landspring-dyke. The old gentleman was seen to leave his home just before eleven and walk in the direction of the New-road. About half-an-hour afterwards one of the allotment holders named Glasspoole noticed a coat and walking stick hanging on the gate alongside the bridge, and suspecting something to be wrong, examined the dyke and found the body lying in about three feet of water only a few yards from the road. He immediately obtained the help of Mr. SMITHDALE, who happened to be near, but on their removing the body, life was found to be extinct. The greatest sorrow and sympathy is felt for the relatives of the deceased, who was universally liked and respected. He had a most genial and happy temperament and the act cannot be explained except on the result of some sudden mental failure. The inquest was held by Mr. CULLY, county coroner, on Monday morning. Nothing transpired which threw any light on the deceaased's motive, and a verdict of temporary insanity was returned. The remains were interred in the parish churchyard at half-past three oclock on Wednesday afternoon. The scene at the graveside was impressive and pathetic. All the blinds along the road leading to to the churchyard were drawn down, and there were many other tokens of esteem for the deceased's long and blameless life, and sorrow for its untimely end.
The Rev. C.G. WYNCHE read the burial service. The coffin was covered with wreaths and crosses, many of them the offering of the poorer villagers, who held the deceased in affectionate regard, and of whom there was a large gathering in the Churchyard. Many influential persons residing in the neighbourhood also attended as a mark of respect".
Will of Richard LEEDER:
"This is the last Will and Testament of me Richard LEEDER of Acle in the County of Norfolk retired Post Master. I appoint my son in law William LAIGHT Executor and Trustee of this my will (hereinafter referring to him as my trustee) and I bequeath to the said William LAIGHT the sum of ten pounds as a slight acknowledgement of the trouble he may have in the carrying out of those offices I give and devise to my daughter Ellen LAIGHT Wife of the said William LAIGHT the dwellinghouse and shop in Acle now occupied by them for her own separate use and I bequeath to the said Ellen LAIGHT two pairs of my best silver table spoons I bequeath to my daughter Julia Hannah EDGOOSE the sum of one hundred pounds I bequeath to my daughter Jessie Elmer GOLDSMITH the sum of one hundred pounds and my pair of china vases and chandeliers five of my silver tea spoons marked R.A.L. and one pair of silver sugar bows I bequeath to my son Fred LEEDER the sum of one hundred poundnds I bequeath to my granddaughter Ellen Elizabeth Kate LAIGHT my dining table my mahogany stand with drawer and my white and blue china tea service I bequeath to my grandson Walter Leeder EDGOOSE my gold watch and chain with the appendages and my two books entitled "The Land of the Pharaohs" and "Those Holy Fields" I bequeath to my dear wife Elizabeth LEEDER during her life all my household furniture and effects and I direct that after her death the same shall be sold and cononverted into money by my trustee and that my trustee shall stand possessed of the proceeds of such sale upon like trusts to those hereinafter declared concerning my residuary real estate after the death of my said dear wife I bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my personal estate unto my trustee upon trust to sell and convert the same into money and after payment thereout of my funeral and testamentary expenses and debts and the legacies hereinbefore bequeathed upon trusust to pay the same to my said dear wife Elizabeth LEEDER for her own sole absolute use I devise my double cottage and land situate at Repps in the County of Norfolk and all the residue of my real estate unto my trustee upon trust to permit my said wife to receive and take the rents and profits thereof during her life and after her decease upon trust to sell the same by public auction and to stand possessed of the proceeds of such sale upon trust to divide the same equally between my children hereinbefore mentioned share and share alike Provided always that if any of my said children shall die during my lifetime (but in the case of my daughter Ellen LAIGHT subject to the declaration hereinafter contained) leaving a child or children who shall survive me and being a son or sons shall attain the age of twenty one years or being a daughter or daughters shall attain that age or marry under that age then and in every such case (subject as aforesaid) the last mentioned child or children shall take (and if more than one equally between them) the share which his her or their parent would have taken in my residuary trust funds if such parent had survived me And I declare that in the event of my said daughthter Ellen LAIGHT dying during my lifetime that the said William LAIGHT if he survive me shall take the share of his said wife for his own absolute use And I revoke all wills heretofore made by me In witness whereof I have thereunto set my hand to this and the preceding sheet of paper this ninth day of December One thousand eight hundred and ninety one" - Richard LEEDER - Signed declared and acknowledged by the said Richard LEEDER the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us both present together at the same time and who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses attesting the same - John E. J. POLLARD Solicitor Norwich - Charles BOUGHTON his Clerk
Richard LEEDER of Acle, Norfolk, retired postmaster, died on 5 March 1893. Probate was granted in London on 10 April 1893 to William LAIGHT, postmaster. Effects £741 11s. 4d..
(National Probate Calendar 1893)
(revised 07.01.2011)

