Civilian William Leyland

Census details:
1871 - 10 months old William is living at 44, St Thomas Street, St Helens with parents William (41) Eliza (40) and eight siblings: Johanna (26) Mary E (15) Thomas R (13) Alice (11) Elizabeth (9) Harriet (7) Henry (5) Frederick (3) 1881 - 11 year old schoolboy William is living at 2, Morley Street, St Helens with parents William (51) Eliza (51) and seven siblings: Thomas R. (24) Harriett (18) Henry (16) Frederick (14) James R. (8) Louisa (3) Also at the address is married sister Johanna Houlse (27) with husband Joseph Houlse (24) and their daughter Agnes Housle (2) 1891 - 20 year old 'Apprentice Joiner' William is living at Haresfich View, St Helens with parents William (59) Eliza (59) and three siblings: Frederick (23) James R (18) Louisa (12) 1901 - Sees 30 year old 'Joiner' William living at 91, Grafton St, St Helens with sister Louisa (22) 1910 census - 22 April 1910 - San Francisco Assemble District 39 San Francisco California, Page 5, District 222, Image 507. - William Leyland aged 39 u/m, Lodger, - Last in USA 1907.

Notes:
Not found on CWGC.

An inscription on a headstone within the grounds of Windleshaw Abbey has led to a St.Helens connection to one of the most famous and controversial incidents of World War One - the sinking of the Lusitania. William Leyland was born in St.Helens around 1871. The 1891 census shows him living at 85 Haresfinch View with his father William and his mother Eliza. His siblings Frederick (27), James (18) and Louisa (12) also resided at the address. The 1901 census shows William living with his sister Louisa at 91 Grafton Street. According to the passenger Manifest for the RMS Lusitania, William was travelling as a 3rd class passenger with his final destination listed as Liverpool. He had initially travelled from San Francisco, California were he had booked his passage. Unfortunately due to tragic events he would never make it. During the First World War, as Germany waged submarine warfare against Britain, Lusitania was identified and torpedoed by the German U-boat U-20 on 7 May 1915 and sank in 18 minutes. The vessel went down 11 miles (18 km) off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland, killing 1,198 of the 1,959 people aboard, leaving 761 survivors. The sinking turned public opinion in many countries against Germany, contributed to the American entry into World War I and became an iconic symbol in military recruiting campaigns of why the war was being fought. Of the 373 passengers travelling in 3rd class, 239 died and 134 survived. Williams's body was never recovered and is more than likely still entombed within the wreck. William Leyland was in San Francisco to work as a joiner in the re-building of the city following the 1906 earthquake. Apparently he spent about three years there working. [i](Research and pictures courtesy of Jeff Keenan)[/i] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Leylandwilliam_Lusitania.jpg[/pic][caption]A memorial to William Leyland at Windleshaw Abbey[/caption] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/LusitaniaNPC.jpg[/pic]