Mary Leister

Mary Ann Leister

Born 1873
Baptised 1st June 1873 at Ringmer, East Sussex.

Parents were Joseph Leister and Eliza (maiden surname not yet known) who were from St. Ives in Huntingdon.

Mary was one of 8 children and the family resided in the Ringmer area -
her father being a farm labourer.

Mary went to work in Seaford as a Cook (Domestic)
and was living at 5 Pelham Place, Seaford
(a lodging house run by her future in-laws)

This picture of 5 Pelham Place, Seaford was
taken in 1993 but it had changed very little from
the time when Mary was living here. The only
noticeable difference from the outside is the lack
of iron railings surrounding the first to third floor
windows and the shape of the roof window.

Take a look at Pelham Place as it would have looked to Mary.

The marriage of Mary Leister with
Charles Green

The marriage took place on the 19th June 1895 at
Eastbourne Register Office, by certificate.
The marriage was witnessed by:
Charles Osbere (? possible Osborne) and Eliza Leister (her sister?)

After their marriage, Mary & Charles lived at 9 The Esplanade, Seaford, where they ran a Lodging House.
They had two young children, Stephen and Annie. Tradgically, Stephen died in a fire at the house in 1899 -
see "boy dies in fire". The family have three more sons and move to 1 Albert Terrace, Denton, East Sussex.

Mary's husband Charles was a soldier during the 1914-18 First World War and when discharged became a Bricklayer.
Mary used to take her sons Frank and Reginald to school each day in a pony and trap!

By 1919 they had moved to Scaynes Hill Cottages, Blackboys in East Sussex and where Charles worked as a Farm Labourer
at New Place Farm. Sadly, Charles took his own life in September 1919.

For more detailed information on this period of Mary's life, refer to the GREEN family pages - Charles Green.

Mary suffered from diabetes and for several years she ate charcoal biscuits!

c 1925 Mary married Frank Walder, a widower with 3 sons and 4 daughters. They lived in Hove, East Sussex, where they had a smallholding. Mary's son Frank Green married Frank Walder's daughter Lillian and they also continued to live in Hove.

Mary died c1935.

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