For the earlier Leadbetters, going back to the 16th century, I am grateful for leads from the late Frank Leadbetter's book, (now long out-of-print), "The Leadbetter Papers."
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Source: The Leadbetter Papers : being certain aspects of West Lancashire history : 14th-19th centuries. F.Leadbetter.
As more records have become available online, I have been able to view images of early documents and verify much of this earlier data for myself.
Although the spelling of the family name has varied through time, and even within one generation, - Ledbeater, Leadbeater. Lethbetter, etc. - I will use the spelling Leadbetter throughout but indicate the version used in particular records.
The earliest member of the Leadbetters to whom I can trace an unbroken lineage, by documentary evidence, is
Hamlet Leadbetter of Bickerstaffe, who was buried on 7th January 1561, (church year 1560), at St Peter and St Paul, Ormskirk.
His widow, Margaret, was buried at Ormskirk on 2nd July 1572. She left a will, which detailed three daughters, and a son, Robert.
Children of Hamlet and Margaret:

Robert Leadbetter.
Children of Peter and Margaret:



Children of Henry and Mary:

Alice Leadbetter (1646 - ),
Children of Christopher:
Children of Peter Leadbetter, (1690), and his first wife, Katherine (Catherine) Abraham.
Children of Peter Leadbetter (1690) and his second wife, Jane.
Children of John and his first wife, Mary Wright:






Children of John and his second wife, Ellen Abram:
Children of Thomas and Ann (aka Nanny):





Children of Peter Leadbetter and first wife Mary Ascroft:
Henry Leadbetter (1844 - ),
Children of Peter Leadbetter and his second wife Jane Bibby:
Mary Ann Leadbetter (1864 - ).
I cannot find birth registration details or baptisms for Elizabeth and Mary Ann. They are both listed on the 1871 census as daughters of Peter and Jane.
Further details of Dave's direct Leadbetter ancestors
Unless otherwise stated, we have transcribed or paraphrased directly from the original document or from a scanned or photographic image of the original document.
Hamlet Leadbetter (died 1561).
Hamlet's Birth.
Hamlet's marriage.
Children of Hamlet Leadbetter and his wife, Margaret.
Jane Leadbetter,
Hamlet's death.
"Hamlet Leadbeater in ecclia"
Robert Leadbetter (~1555 to 1603).
Robert's Birth.
Robert's marriage.
Children of Robert Leadbetter and his wife, Izabell:

Robert Leadbetter.
Robert's death.
Peter Leadbetter (1577 to 1638)
Peter's Birth.
Peter's marriage.
Peter Leadbetter of Ormskirk married Margaret Banastre of Croston at Lathom Chapel on 30th April 1608.
Peter's bondsman was Richard Whitney.
Children of Peter Leadbetter and his wife, Margaret:

Richard Leadbetter (1608 to 1608),


Peter's death.
Henry Leadbetter (1617 to 1658).
Henry's Baptism.
Henry's Marriage.
Children of Henry Leadbetter and Mary:

Alice Leadbetter (1646 - ),
Henry's death.
Christopher Leadbetter (1658 - 1719).
Christopher's Baptism
Christopher's Marriage.
Children of Christopher Leadbetter:
Christopher's death.
Peter Leadbetter (1690 to 1770).
Peter's Baptism.
Peter's first marriage, to Katherine Abraham.
Children of Peter and Katherine:
Katherine's Death.
Peter's second marriage, to Jane.
Children of Peter Leadbetter (1690) and his second wife, Jane:
Peter's Death.
Jane's Death.
John Leadbetter (1741 to 1796).
Baptism.
- Son of Peter Leadbetter of Tarleton, husbandman, and Elizabeth, his wife.
There are possible explanations:
the lady may have been Elizabeth Jane or Jane Elizabeth;
or, worst of all, this may be the 'wrong' John or indeed the correct John but not connected to the earlier ancestors I have described.]
John's first marriage.
Both of the Parish.
Witnesses: Henry Linaker; Peter Rymer

Children of John's first marriage:



Jane Leadbetter (1774 - ),



Widowed.
Abode: Banks; Notes: Poor.

John's second marriage.

Children of John's second marriage.

John's Death.
He was buried on 11th January 1798 at St Cuthbert, North Meols, Lancashire, England.
Abode: Banks. Cause of Death: A Fever.

Thomas Leadbetter.
Baptism.
Thomas Leadbetter, Son of John Leadbetter and Mary. Abode: Crossens.

Marriage.

Burial.
Thomas leadbetter of Banks was buried, age 68, on 15th February 1831, at St Cuthbert, North Meols, Lancashire.
The Cheshire probate index for 1831 shows:
Thomas' widow, Ann, continued to live in Banks until her death in 1855:
1841 census.
Banks.
HO107 514/5.
1851 census.
Banks.
Ann's Death.
Age: 91 years. Abode: Banks.

Peter Leadbetter (1809 to 1897).

In Brief:
First marriage: To Mary Ashcroft (Ascroft) on 4th March 1828 at St Cuthbert, North Meols. Second Marriage: To Jane Bibby on 4th August 1846 at St John, Preston.
1841 census: Banks, North Meols.
1851 census: 28 Walmesley Street, Fleetwood.
1861 census: Victoria Street, Fleetwood.
1871 census: 14 Victoria Street, Fleetwood.
1881 census: 14 Victoria Street, Fleetwood.
1891 census: 50 Dock Street, Fleetwood.
Death: 13th May 1897, Fleetwood.
In detail:
Peter's First Marriage.
1841 Census.
Banks, North Meols.
Mary Leadbetter, age 25.
Ann Leadbetter, age 12.
Thomas Leadbetter, age 7.
Betty Leadbetter, age 5.
Richard Leadbetter, age 2.
Peter Leadbetter, age 2 months.
William Aspinall, age 20.
Widowed.
Peter's Second Marriage
(by licence, obtained on 3rd August 1846, giving Peter's age as 37 and Jane's age as 35.}
Peter married Jane on 4th August 1846 at St John, Preston - only 3 months after Mary's death.
The first child of this new marriage, Mary, was born in 1847.
1851 Census
28 Walmesley Street, Fleetwood.
Jane Leadbetter, Age 38, born Tarleton.
Thomas Leadbetter, Age 17, Fisherman, born Meols.
Elizabeth Leadbetter, age 14, born Meols.
Richard Leadbetter, age 12, Fisherman, born Meols.
Peter Leadbetter, age 9, scholar, born Meols.
Henry Leadbetter, age 7, scholar, born Fleetwood.
Mary Leadbetter, age 3, born Fleetwood.
Nancy Leadbetter, age 2, born Fleetwood.
Mary Bibby, visitor, age 63, Fisherman's widow, born Tarleton.
1861 Census
Victoria Street, Fleetwood
Jane Leadbetter, Age 43, born Tarlton.
Henry Leadbetter, age 17, Fisherman, born Fleetwood.
Mary Leadbetter, age 13, born Fleetwood.
Nancy Leadbetter, age 12, born Fleetwood.
1871 Census.
14 Victoria Street, Fleetwood.
Jane Leadbetter, Age 57, born Tarlton.
Mary Leadbetter, Age 23, Dressmaker, born Fleetwood.
Martha Leadbetter, Age 16, born Fleetwood.
Elizabeth Leadbetter, Age 9, born Fleetwood.
Mary Ann Leadbetter, Age 7, born Fleetwood.
1881 Census
14 Victoria Street, Fleetwood
Jane Leadbetter, Age 68, born Tarleton.
Nanny Leadbetter, Age 32, domestic, born North Meols.
Jane's death.
As reported in the Preston Chronicle, 14th May 1881.
1891 Census.
58 Dock Street, Fleetwood.
Henry Walsh, age 48, Gardener, born Thornton.
Peter Leadbetter, Age 82, visitor, retired fisherman, born Lytham.
Apart from the given birthplace, I am certain this is Peter. No earlier census shows a Peter Leadbetter of this age born in Lytham.
Death.
He shared a grave with his wife, Jane.
From the headstone of their grave:
JANE,
the beloved wife of
PETER LEADBETTER, of Fleetwood,
who died May 5th 1881, aged 69 years.
Thy Rod and Thy Staff they
Comfort Me.
also, the above PETER LEADBETTER,
who died May 13th 1897,
aged 88 years.
Elizabeth Ann (Betsey) Leadbetter
In Brief:
In detail:
Born 1834 in Banks, near Southport, Lancashire.
1841 Census
Banks, North Meols
Mary Leadbetter age 25
Ann Leadbetter age 12
Thomas Leadbetter age 7
Betty Leadbetter age 5
Richard Leadbetter age 2
Peter Leadbetter age 2 months
William Aspinall age 20
1851 Census
28 Walmesley Street, Fleetwood
Jane Leadbetter Age 38, born Tarleton
Thomas Leadbetter Age 17, Fisherman, born Meols
Elizabeth Leadbetter age 14, born Meols
Richard Leadbetter age 12, Fisherman, born Meols
Peter Leadbetter age 9, scholar, born Meols
Henry Leadbetter age 7, scholar, born Fleetwood
Mary Leadbetter age 3, born Fleetwood
Nancy Leadbetter age 2, born Fleetwood
Mary Bibby, visitor, age 63, Fisherman's widow, born Tarleton
Marriage
James is described on the marriage certificate as a sailor. His father was Matthew Wilson, sailor, and Betsey's father was Peter Leadbetter, sailor.
Witnesses at the wedding were James Cowell and Sarah Wilson.
1861 census
3 West Street, Fleetwood
Betty Wilson age 24, born Southport
Mary Wilson age 7 born Fleetwood
Alice Wilson age 4, born Fleetwood
Ann J. Wilson age 1, born Fleetwood
1971 census
38 Upper Dock Street, Fleetwood
Elizabeth Wilson age 35 born Banks
Alice Wilson age 14, born Banks
Ann Wilson age 11, born Fleetwood
Peter Wilson age 9, born Fleetwood
Jane Wilson age 8, born Fleetwood
Martha Wilson age 4, born Fleetwood
James Wilson age 1, born Fleetwood
1881 census
Betsey and James were expected to be in Preston Street area.
However, I have eventually found them in the Scottish census for Ayr, visiting the Struthers family, in Meuse Lane:
Mary Struthers, wife, age 40, born Ayr, Scotland.
James Strthers, son, age 19, Cabinet Maker, born Ayr, Scotland.
Mary Struthers, daughter, age 16, Dressmaker, born Ayr, Scotland.
Marion Struthers, daughter, age 10, born Ayr, Scotland.
Catherine Struthers, daughter, age 8, born Ayr, Scotland.
Margaret Struthers, daughter, age 6, born Ayr, Scotland.
James Wilson, visitor, age 47, Fisherman, born Northmiles, Lanarkshire. Taken from a transcript. This should read "North Meols, Lancashire", but is incredibly hard to read on the original.
Elizabeth Wilson, visitor, age 47, born Northmiles, Lanarkshire. Taken from a transcript. This should read "North Meols, Lancashire" but is incredibly hard to read on the original.
Matthew Wilson, visitor, age 4, born Blithwood, Lanarkshire. Taken from a transcript. This should read "Fleetwood, Lancashire" but is incredibly hard to read on the original.
Henry Wilson, visitor, age 2, born Blithwood, Lanarkshire. Taken from a transcript. This should read "Fleetwood, Lancashire" but is incredibly hard to read on the original.
I cannot yet find a good reason for James and Betsey to have brought their two youngest children to Ayr at this time. There seems to be no relationship with the Struthers family.
Perhaps they were just enjoying a holiday; Ayr had become a popular holiday resort by this time.
Maybe James was combining busuness with pleasure; Ayr hosted an important fishing industry.
Alice Whiteside age 24, born Fleetwood
Elizabeth Whiteside age 6 born Fleetwood
Zachariah Whiteside age 4, born Fleetwood
George Whiteside age 2, born Fleetwood
James Whiteside age 8 months, born Fleetwood
Jane Wilson, Boarder, age 17, India Rubber Works, born Fleetwood
Martha Wilson age 13, General Servant, born Fleetwood
Rachel Wilson age 9, born Fleetwood
1891 census
52 Upper Preston Street, Fleetwood
Elizabeth Wilson age 56, born Banks
Matthew L. Wilson age 14, Fisher boy, born Fleetwood
Henry L. Wilson age 12, born Fleetwood
Bessie Wilson, granddaughter, age 3, born Fleetwood
James Wilson age 21, Fisherman, born Fleetwood
Annie (wife of 'young' James Wilson) age 19, born Askham?
1901 census
52 Preston Street, Fleetwood
Elizabeth Wilson age 67, born Banks
Bessie Wilson age 10, Granddaughter, born Fleetwood
John Peter Olsson, age 46, Son in Law, Shipping Clerk (chemicals) born Sweden
Elizabeth Ann Olsson Daughter (of James) age 41 born Fleetwood
1911 census
James and Elizabeth living at the home of their daughter, Elizabeth Ann, at "Landskrona", Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood.
Also visiting from Garston, was their daughter, Alice, my great grandmother.
Elizabeth Ann, age 51, married 30 years with no children, born Fleetwood
James Wilson, (Elizabeth's father) age 75, Retired Fisherman, Born Banks,
Elizabeth Wilson, age 74, Married 57 years, with 13 children from that marriage, 10 of whom still alive, born Banks
Alice Whiteside, Elizabeth Ann's sister, age 54, married 37 years, with 5 children from her marriage, all still alive, born Fleetwood
Death