Abraham Leake (buried 1879)

Abraham was born in Spalding, Lincolnshire, the son of Thomas and Sarah. He was baptised in Spalding on 3rd December 1829. Abraham was apprenticed to a timber merchant in Birmingham. During the 1850's he was in partnership with Henry Avins and together they ran a timber merchants in Erdington. This partnership was dissolved in 1854 and Abraham moved to Bristol. Here he ran a timber importers with James Howell and Charles Gibson. The company had a contract with The Admiralty. Abraham became a Freemason and was initiated into the Sussex Lodge of Hospitality in Bristol on 12th October 1859. Later that same year Abraham travelled to New York. On 7th February 1860, he was presented by Lord Lyons to the US President James Buchanan at a levee held at the Executive Mansion. The following year, Abraham was back in England as his partner James Howell had died. On 27th January 1863, Abraham married Sarah Emma Bartley at St George's Church, Hanover Square. Their son Charles George was born in 1863 followed by Albert Pierce Leslie in 1867. By 1871, the family were living in Brighton. Abraham died at 6 Victoria Terrace, South Road (Marine Parade) Heene on 16th September 1879. The building, now part of The Cavendish was on the corner of Queen's Road. He had been suffering from consumption (TB) for the past five years. No probate.

Sarah returned to Hove and died in 1910.