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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Topic started by: littlesis 76 on Thursday 25 April 19 18:01 BST (UK)
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Hi ,I was approach by a Manitoba researcher as I had this man in a tree.
His name was Edgar Samuel Leggett ,he was born 1880 in Charsfield Suffolk,he married and had several children and was a "horse doctor.
Sometime in 1921-24 he left for Canada and returned to England where he tried to persuade his wife to move there ,she declined and he return with a number of heavy horses,apart from a postcard to his daughter from Winnipeg he was never heard from again.
His Grandson has been looking since 2009 as his mother and himself always wanted to know ,sadly this man is terminally ill and really would love the mystery solved.
They have contacted the saskatchewan genealogical society who have found no records and have paid a researcher in Manitoba . I know its a long shot but could anybody help or suggest some records that I don't know about.
Thank you
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I can't even find him on UK passenger lists leaving UK, returning UK and leaving again. Most odd.
Annette
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Thank you so much for looking ,they contacted someone about that and were told alot of records for shipping were destroyed in ww2 but that's in the UK there is no record of him in Canada .We running out of time with regards ti his grandson finding out what happened to him
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The only edgar Leggett Ive found in Canada is this one.
Census Year: 1921
Surname: Leggett
Given Name(s): Edgar
Age: 36
Province: British Columbia
I can't read what his job is :(
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This is the email I received from his grandsons friend who has been searching since 2009 .He is not great with computers but has followed many lines via letters
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Sorry re reading that email I got the years slightly out apologises .He since has had a reply from skatchewan to say they could find nothing. The grandson recently took a dna also too see if any matches but there was no one close.
Also we were wondering would there be any tax records if he was going over to start a business ?
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Not any direct help in your search but on 7 November 1908 and on 14 December 1912, "The Chemist and Druggist" reported that Edgar S Leggett had been fined for falsely describing his professional status as a "horse doctor".
Perhaps he " reinvented" himself in Canada?
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I have seen those reports but thank you. Neither is anything big enough to leave and reinvent but the idea of a lady friend is 😁 .I have thought about that but what is throwing me is that he went twice and after the first he wanted his wife to go so would he of used a different name the 1st time ?.
I have tried looking for a Edgar Wright (his MMN) and Edgar Doole his wife MN . Whole thing is very strange it isn't like he would of sneeked aboard he took a fleet of heavy horses ( possibility Suffolk Punch)
Thank you all so much for taking the time to look
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and he return with a number of heavy horses,
Is there proof of this or is it a 'story' passed down in the family?
Interesting that Florence signed the 1911 census with 'for Edgar Leggett' in brackets. Was he actually there in 1911?
In 1901 Edgar is a horse (vet) doctor but in 1911 is a farrier so obviously, on public documents at least there was no misrepresentation of his qualifications.
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His father and Grandfather are horse doctors or veterinary surgeons also his uncles and cousins nearly all are dealing with horses ,either vets,horse doctors or Farriers .
His grandson is extremely well known in Suffolk for his knowledge of the Suffolk punch horse and has travelled all over the world to discuss the breed. So I don't disbelieve that part of the story.
I will ask if there is anything I have missed that could help but I think that is it.
Just wish i could at least find him on a passenger list !
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Has anyone contacted the US Suffolk Punch association?
https://suffolkpunch.com/members?rand=11205&limitstart=0
I see there is a member from Manitoba. If he did take horses and continue working with them It maybe someone might know something.
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There are a decent number of old articles on Leggetts in that area. As you may have already found them in your research, I've just put a few notes referencing what the article is about, as it might help explain Edgar's various occupations:
Evening Star 28 November 1899
Inquest into death of Nathan Leggett death, which was from an accident in which he was thrown from his horse drawn "trap", and the coroner states that two out of three "accidents" requiring an inquest at that same location had fatalities to veterinary doctors. Edgar is mentioned as identifying the body, and his occupation is given as "dealer"
Middlesex County Times 07 February 1903
Death of a highly respected James Leggett, 3rd son of Cornelius, born 1815, both veterinary doctors, university trained, lived Hanwell Suffolk. Well known farriers and vets etc. (Could this be Nathan's father?)
Evening Star 19 June 1908
Edgar Samuel Leggett, horse-breaker, Ipswich, charged with cruelty to a horse at Trimley. The owners of the horse thought that he was "a real horse doctor" and called him to tend to their animal. Edgar said he had succeeded his father in his business nine years earlier. and had never had a problem. However he made a very serious error, and the RSPCA and a "real veterinarian" was called in, and the horse had to be put down.
This article also discusses how anyone can practice animal medicine, as long as they don't refer to themselves as veterinary surgeons. The common term used for the untrained ones was "horse doctors".
East Anglian Daily Times 30 October 1908
PUBLIC NOTICE
EDGAR SAMUEL LEGGETT, S. JOHN'S
IPSWICH
Beg to inform his Clients that he still car-
ries his Practice on as usual, thanking
them for past favours, hoping to continue the
same.
Framlingham Weekly News 30 August 1913
Edgar Samuel Leggett of Saxmundham, pig dealer, getting fined (again) for no licence on his sulky. He also breaks colts and tends sick cows.
Edited to add missing words and the PUBLIC NOTICE article.
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Not any direct help in your search but on 7 November 1908 and on 14 December 1912, "The Chemist and Druggist" reported that Edgar S Leggett had been fined for falsely describing his professional status as a "horse doctor".
Perhaps he " reinvented" himself in Canada?
I just found the article of the court case to which Brentnor was referring to, and it was held in October 1908, so I am assuming that is what the "PUBLIC NOTICE" article was about in my previous post, from East Anglian Daily Times 30 October 1908.
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Ugh. If you have access to the series England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935 look him up.
I highly doubt this is something his grandson wants to know.
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Thank you for all your replies .Edgars Grandfather was James Leggett who was a veterinary surgeon ,i believe all his sons were horse doctors or vets and his daughter married a vet.His son is Nathan who died in the accident that is Edgars father.
I will find out if they have contacted the punch society but when i asked the friend if they were punch he said most likely a mix and not true pedigree.
I am trying to branch out to see if any of the cousins who also dealt with horses left for Canada ,maybe Edgar joined them there ,just clutching at anything really.
This is Edgar s grandson with one of his Suffolk Punch Horses
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Was there a return address on that postcard (was thinking we might find the address in a directory, as he probably changed his name)?
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Ugh. If you have access to the series England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935 look him up.
I highly doubt this is something his grandson wants to know.
I have check the records are on FindMyPast I only have Anc .Would it be the reason he left ?
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Was there a return address on that postcard (was thinking we might find the address in a directory, as he probably changed his name)?
I will check with the friend who is helping as far I know it was Winnipeg but the Manitoba society has said he may of been passing through. Hopefully he know this as access to his grandson is hard as he is now so poorly
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Middlesex County Times 07 February 1903
Death of a highly respected James Leggett, 3rd son of Cornelius, born 1815, both veterinary doctors, university trained, lived Hanwell Suffolk. Well known farriers and vets etc. (Could this be Nathan's father?)
Sorry yes Nathan is his father and James his grandfather
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I've sent a pm.
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Might he have had a relative (cousin, perhaps?) named George Leggett born Suffolk about 1879? This man was a farmer returning to Alberta Canada from England early March 1923. Had first arrived in Canada in 1904, had been in England approx 3 months but doesn't say where.
If they were related, perhaps Edgar joined him there?
PB
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Hi again....
The outbound passenger list for George indicates he was at Stowlangtoft Bury St Edmonds Suffolk.
He also has a brother William with him in Alberta censuses, also a farmer.
PB
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Hi I can't see any Georges around that age the closest one is a cousin and it's 10yr difference.
I have looked at the family getting back to around 1750's there are loads of them
The Leggetts all go back to a tiny village called Charsfield ,Nathan Leggett moved from there to Ipswich Town.
I have now spoken to Will today (grandsons friend) and we think in light of the newspaper articles and jail sentence Edgar was rùnning away and possibly used another name.
I need to go to local RO as the local papers only go to 1910s online and see if Edgar is mentioned in any.Will keep on looking at cousins etc for anyone who emigrated incase Edgar is with them