Leeds' England?

[MillieBug]

I was told that my great grandfather after leaving Russia, went to Leeds, England before finally coming to Chicago USA. I can't find anything that talks about Leeds. Can somebody please tell me if it's a town, a county, a district or maybe if the name has been changed since the mid 1800's? Thanks for any help.
                                  MillieBug

[Little Nell]

MillieBug

The most famous Leeds is a large city in Yorkshire.  It has two universities, a football club.  Also home of the Leeds Piano Competition, I think. It was a fairly industrial city during the 19th century.  Go to:
http://www.leeds-uk.com/history.htm

You could also try:
http://www.leeds.gov.uk
They have a photographic archive. Choose "Information about", then "Visitng Leeds", then "Arts & Culture", then "Historic Leeds".  The URL looks horrendous in the address box so I won't copy it here.


Enjoy

Nell

[PaulineJ]

There's also at least one other Leeds, a village in Kent.

Pauline

[MillieBug]

Nell and Pauline, I hope you see this thank you, I wasn't sure how to send it though this site. Thanks to you both I now have somewhere to start. Thanks again for your help.
                                  MillieBug/Kim, Cincinnati, Ohio

[JeannieR]

Hi MillieBug.

If your ancestors were Jewish, it is very probable that Leeds,
Yorkshire is the place to look.

In  the 1880's there was a very large Jewish community here,who had escaped the pogrom's in Russia. Most settled in
an area called The Leylands.

Most immigrants, but not all, were tailors, There were a lot of
"sweat shops" at that time.

Leeds  still has a large Jewish community , and Kaufman is still
a well known name

If you have any addresses for that period ,I may be able to help
you at least confirm  their residency here, and then perhaps get you the name of the nearest Synagogue, where they may still
hold records,

Kind Regards

JeannieR

[JeannieR]

 Milliebug .
 
 I am so pleased I was able to be of some help to you, in your
 research. I was born and brought up in Leeds, and know that
 particular area quite well-----But not in the 1880's I hasten to
 add.
 
 I live about 15 miles away now, but hope to be going through   
 shortly, if you do have a bit more info on your folks, post a
 message, and I will try to help----Must admit I am only just
 learning all this computer stuff, my grand children are absolutely
 bewildered with me, specially when I tell THEM not to go into
 chatrooms
 
 Hope  I can help
 JeannieR

 

[Matty]

 Leeds is a large City in Yorkshire.  May be you could search the 1881 British Census www.familysearch.org also the 1901 British Census www.census.pro.gov.uk   

 Good luck with the search

[Matty]

Hi Milliebug,

Glad that you found some info on your Great Grandfather, try Yorkshire County Births Marriage & Deaths on www.yorkshirebmd.org.uk you may find more info also they update frequently. From a Lancashire lass Matty

[JeannieR]

Hello Milliebug

Isn't it great when you find something out? I am usually on a
high all day.

I didn't realise that you did not know about Familysearch.org.

Another one is Ancestry.com  On this they have the 1891 census
of England. It isn't free, but I found it worth while paying the
subscription. You will also be able to track their movements on
arrival in The States.

Another site is www.leodis.net. on this  they have hundreds of
photographs of Leeds which you can down load. I went on it
10 mins ago,  and there are photo's of Cross Templar Street.

To gain entry, on the search engine ,just put Cross Templar,
and then go into guided tours and it's the second one down
and enter, well that's how I found it!! it is not always easy to navigate, but it's a fantastic site if you have Leeds ancestors
I have managed to get pictures of the places where my folks
were married, and the actual houses they lived in.
Give it whirl

Best wishes

JeannieR