To Dovercourt today, with William and Elizabeth Leopard, who settled there in the early 19th century. William was a victualler by trade, and by the 1820s had established himself as landlord of the King’s Arms, a pub which would become one of the longest lived in the borough.
William himself was one of its longest serving landlords, remaining until his death in 1842. Elizabeth took it up for a few years – she is listed there in the Post Office directory for 1847, but by White’s directory of 1848 she had left, with William Osborn of the Royal Oak taking over.
So, Elizabeth had moved away from the King’s Arms. By this point she was in her 70s, widowed, and out of her long-time home and business. A perfect time to retire, surely? Not a bit of it.
In fact, she only moved over the road, to #4 Stour Place – information suggests this was next door to the Queen’s (Head) Hotel, on the east side. She opened a lodging house, and still held a licence to sell alcohol, for we find her in the 1851 census denoted as a “beer shop keeper”.
Ten years later she was still going, with the 1861 census placing her at the grand old age of 85. By this point she was no longer alone, for her sprightly 79yo sister Hannah Young and 19yo grandson William Leopard Nash were also with her.
Once again, the directories of the Post Office and White’s tell the final tale; the former of 1862 still describes her as a beer retailer, but the latter of 1863 omits her entirely. Old age finally got the better of her, and she spent her final days in peace.
The register of All Saints church, Dovercourt, carries the burial of Elizabeth Leopard, on September 7 1864, aged 91, and so she left the world, no will to her name, no glittering eulogy in the papers, just with a humble farewell and the self-satisfaction of a life well lived.
Harwicensis 