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© Pentrich Historical Society 2000-2006

Updated Tuesday, 25 April, 2006

Web site maintained by Helen Wilson &

<<Home  <<Site Map  <<Pentrich Records  >>The Rev. William Jellicorse Ledward

The Rev. William Jellicorse Ledward

... and related LEDWARD family history.

Rev. Wm. J. Ledward was the Vicar of St. Matthew’s Church from 1874 to 1912

Information kindly supplied by David Townsend who is the

Great Nephew of Rev. William Jellicorse Ledward.

For more information on the Ledward family please E-mail: David Townsend

Also see David’s Pentrich Photograph Album - taken during his visit in 2004

My Uncle William brought additional ‘English History’ with him in 1874; when he arrived in Pentrich, with his family, ready to serve the local community as the Vicar of St. Matthew’s church.

>>> Click to see transcribed letter (Jan 1909) sent from Rev. Wm. J. Ledward to Mrs. Mary Lundie Ledward, his sister-in-law & widow of his brother Ellis

>>> Click to see transcribed letter (Dec 1910) sent from Rev. Wm. J. Ledward to his neice, Linda Ledward, daughter of Ellis Ledward & Mary Lundie Ledward

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William’s wife, Marcella is recorded as giving birth in 1858; later census shows this must have been the birth of their eldest child, Alice ... the entry reads: ’May 20th 1858 - At Redcar Mrs William Jellicorse LEDWARD of a daughter’.

The Ledward family were still living at Redcar, Yorkshire in May 1860 ... when the following newspaper article was published:

Extract copyright of the ’Times Online’ © 2006

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Information such as the above, proves that the LEDWARD family moved around quite a lot prior to William becoming a Curate; after being located at Redcar he is known to have served for a short time at Barrow-in-Furness before moving to settle at Pentrich.

Ordinations - Carlisle

Deacon - William Jellicorse LEDWARD, Literate, licensed to Curacy of St James, Barrow

26th Sept 1871 - Priests: Rev William Jellicorse LEDWARD, Literate, curate of St James, Barrow-in-Furness

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From some previously unknown newspaper extracts & internet resources, and from facts passed down the various generations of the Ledward family - it is easy to see what a thoughtful, caring & intelligent man the Rev. Ledward must have been. Not only did he care about his own parish & congregation but he also cared about the welfare & needs of people overseas.

The following is an article from ‘The Times’ newspaper, dated Saturday Oct 2nd 1880. (Please Note : The entire subscription & donation lists was very long; therefore I have cut the lengthy document down somewhat & highlighted the Reverend’s personal donation)

Extract copyright of the ’Times Online’ © 2004

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Entry from the 1881 Census reads:

Dwelling: Pentrich St. Matthew Church - Ref: RG11/3415 - Folio 124 - Page 4

• Rev. Wm.J. LEDWARD, Head, Mar, 54, Liverpool, Lancashire / Occ: Vicar Of Pentrich
• Marcella C. LEDWARD, Wife, Mar, 44, Northallerton, York / Occ: - - -
• Alice M. LEDWARD, Daur, Un, 23, Redcar, York / Occ: - - - 
• William R. LEDWARD, Son, Un, 21, Coatham, York / Occ: Engineer
• Charles W. LEDWARD, Son, Un, 15, Haughton, Durham / Occ: Scholar
• Maralli M. LEDWARD, Daur, 9, Barrow, Lancashire / Occ: Scholar
• Sarah SMITH, Servant, Un, 19,  Swanwick Alfreton, Derby / Occ: Domestic Servant

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See copy of a marriage certificate dated 29th August 1883 - which is signed by Rev. William J. Ledward - the couple getting married are William Henry BATTY & Hannah BRADLEY

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‘The Times’ newspaper dated Friday Oct 31st 1890; Pg. 1

Listed under ‘Marriages’ heading

Extract copyright of the ’Times Online’ © 2004

The above entry reads - ‘On the 28th inst. at S. Matthias’s Church, Earl’s Court, by the Rev. W. Ledward, Vicar of Pentrich, Derby (father of the bridegroom), Charles Walton Ledward to Georgiana Sophia, daughter of the late James Oliver, of the Inner Temple.’

So by the 1891 census, their daughter Alice & son Charles had left home ... and we can see from the above ‘Times’ newspaper extract, that Charles had in fact found himself a wife.

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Entry from the 1891 Census reads:

Dwelling: Vicarage St. Matthew’s Church, Pentrich - Ref: RG12/2427 - Folio 75 - Page 7

• Wm. J. LEDWARD, Head, Mar, 64, Everton, Lancashire / Occ: Vicar Of Pentrich
• M. C. LEDWARD, Wife, Mar, 54, Nth Allerton, Yorkshire / Occ: - - -
• William R. LEDWARD, Son, Un, 29, Red Car, Yorkshire / Occ: Civil Engineer
• M. M. LEDWARD, Daur, 19, Barrow, Lancashire / Occ: - - -

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Also from ‘The Times’ newspaper, dated Wednesday September 25th 1895, we find mention of a book, written by the Reverend Ledward. Entry listed under heading ‘PUBLICATIONS TO-DAY’, and reads ‘The Trees of the Bible and their Spiritual Lessons’, by the Rev. W. J. Ledward (2s.) Skeffington’.

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Painted Wall Mural of Matthew (St. Matthew) by Rev. W.J. Ledward.

The mural can still be found inside St. Matthews Church, Pentrich

Photograph taken, and kindly supplied by David Townsend © 2004

According the Kelly’s 1912 Directory, it states “in or about 1895, 1899 and 1904 the church was adorned with three wall paintings of subjects from Holy Scripture.”

MATTHEW (St. Matthew) - He was the son of Alphaeus, and was a publican or tax-gatherer at Capernaum (Rome). On one occasion Jesus, coming up from the side of the lake, passed the custom-house where Matthew was seated, and said to him, "Follow me." Matthew arose and followed him, and became his disciple (Matt. 9:9). Formerly the name by which he was known was Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27); he now changed it, possibly in grateful memory of his call, to Matthew. The same day on which Jesus called him he made a "great feast" (Luke 5:29), a farewell feast, to which he invited Jesus and his disciples, and probably also many of old associates. He was afterwards selected as one of the twelve (6:15). His name does not occur again in the Gospel history except in the lists of the apostles. The last notice of him is in Acts 1:13. The time and manner of his death are unknown.

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Entry from the 1901 Census - Ref: RG13/3231 - Folio 77 - Page 9

Dwelling: Vicarage St. Matthew’s Church, Pentrich -

• Rev. Wm.J. LEDWARD, Head, Mar, 74, Liverpool, Lancashire / Occ: Clergyman, Church of England
• Marcella C. LEDWARD, Wife, Mar, 63, Nth Allerton, Yorkshire / Occ: - - -
• Alice M. LEDWARD, Daur, Un, 40, Redcar, Yorkshire / Occ: - - - 
• William R. LEDWARD, Son, Un, 38, Coalhurn, Yorkshire / Occ: Mechanical Engineer (Worker)
• Elizabeth H. TAYLOR, Servant, Un, 18, Ripley, Derbyshire / Occ:Domestic Servant (worker)

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St. Matthew’s Church, Pentrich ... the postcard was sent in 1908

Also see postcard of St. Matthews Church interior c.1940

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The Rev. Wm. J. Ledward was committed to the citizens of Pentrich in helping them with their daily lives and their spiritual needs and served as the local vicar for 38 years until he retired in April 1912 ... and an entry found in ‘The Times’ newspaper, dated Tuesday April 16th 1912 (Pg 3), reads - ‘ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE, Preferments and Appointments’ ... ‘The Rev. W.J. Ledward, vicar of Pentrich, near Alfreton, Derbyshire, is resigning the benefice at the end of this month.’

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Also in 1912 the Rev. Ledward is found listed as living at Mansfield, as recorded in ‘Kelly’s 1912 Directory of Nottinghamshire’ the entry is found listed in the ‘Private Residents’ section for Mansfield. The entry reads:

LEDWARD, Rev. William J. - 11 Park Avenue, Mansfield

The Rev. William Jellicorse Ledward died just three years later, in 1915. His memorial can be found inside St. Matthew’s churchyard. However the memorial inscriptions index gives two separate entries:

Entry listed for Old Section of the Churchyard - “Rev. William Jellicorse LEDWARD, 87yrs, 8th Feb 1915, 38 years Vicar of Pentrich.”

... and this entry is listed as being in the New Section of the Churchyard - “The Rev WILLIAM JELLICORSE LEDWARD, 38 years vicar of Pentrich. Died Feb 8th 1915, 87 years. (Gray Granite Coping Stone)

Photographs taken, and kindly supplied by David Townsend © 2005

• Further LEDWARD information
• >>> Click to see transcribed letter (Jan 1909) sent from Rev. Wm. J. Ledward to Mrs. Mary Lundie Ledward, his sister-in-law & widow of his brother Ellis
• >>> Click to see transcribed letter (Dec 1910) sent from Rev. Wm. J. Ledward to his neice, Linda Ledward, daughter of Ellis Ledward & Mary Lundie Ledward

If anyone is able to supply further information regarding the Ledward family ... or if anyone is related to the same family, please E-mail: David Townsend

• Many Thanks, David Townsend ... Mission Viejo, Southern California, USA
• 2nd Generation Nephew of Rev. William Jellicorse Ledward
• 4th Generation Nephew of Thomas Denman Ledward
• Thanks also to Jane Campbell for supplying some facts regarding the Liverpool & Merseyside Ledward family, see Jane’s site:
• http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/ (see pages - births1.html & Southportbmds1.html)
• ... and also thanks to Yvonne & Shane, who kindly supplied David with copy of 1883 marriage certificate
• The Times extracts can be read in full, by visiting the ‘Times Online’ web site