Some geneological advice needed: my grandmother (deceased many years ago) always maintained she was a second cousin of Cary Grant. Her maiden name was Linda Leech: Grant’s real name was Archibald Leech.
Its a question I pondered as a kid, and in the past few days I decided I should actually find out if its true. Schmoozing Google has turned up a few fan sites for the man, and rare mention of his grandparents’s names and those of his parents and children, and a lonely poster at a Leech geneological site who claimed to be a relative.
Any ideas as to how I might be able to verify my grandmother’ story?
Was your grandmother’s maiden name Leech or Leach?
Cary Grant’s real name was Archibald Leach.
Sorry, they share the same surname, so with an “a”.
First, you need to do your own research and determine your grandmother’s parents and siblings, where they were born and where they lived. Then check Grant’s family and see if they match up.
Grant was born in Bristol in 1904; if you know his parents names, they should be found easily enough on the 1901 UK census, along with their families. There’s over 12,000 Leachs on the 1891 England census, but if you tell me the names of Grant’s grandparents, I bet I could find that specific family. You’re on your own for the 1901 and 1891 censuses, though.
Sorry, make that I can search the 1881 UK census, but not the 1891 or 1901.
Ancestry.com has onlnie all of the censuses of England and Wales from 1851 to 1901, with all-name indexes. You can subscribe to Ancestry, or you can find a library that has a subscription (many do).
Archibald Leach was the son of Elias Leach, a tailor’s presser, born circa 1871-1872 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. Elias’s father was John Leach, a potter, born circa 1841-1842 in Froster, Gloucestershire, England.
So your if your grandmother was second cousin to Archibald Leach, your grandmother’s grandfather would have to be the brother of John Leach.
IANA genealogist, but I’ve dabbled a bit and just to clarify the point and avoid
discouraging others, this needs to be addressed. Different spellings are very common
and your more likely, than not, to run across this in researching any family. A good
site to begin exploring is the free: http://www.rootsweb.com/
John Leach’s birthplace is normally spelled Frocester.
And pronounced " Luxury Yacht".
Good luck with the search.
Where and when was your grandmother Linda Leach born?
Sydney Australia, in or about 1910.