Notes A birth registration was found for Leonard Spread: Year of Registration: 1883; Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar; District: West Derby; County: Lancashire; Volume: 8b; Page: 696.
In 1891, Leonard Spread, 8 years of age was residing at 16 Brookfield Cottages, Garston, Lancashire, England. Other family members included: Elizabeth Spread, 32; Harold Spread, 1; James Spread, 9; Samuel Spread, 38, coachman; Thomas Spread, 6; and William Spread, 4. (Source: 1891 Census of England; Class: RG12; Piece: 3005; Folio 141; Page 22; GSU roll: 6098115.)
[EDITORS NOTE: The name "Samuel Spread" is deceiving. His true name was Leonard Spread (though his first or middle name could have been Samuel, which he preferred) and he married Elizabeth Phythian in 1880 in Prescot, Lanacashire, England.)
A death registration was found for Leonard Spread: Estimated Birth Year: abt 1853; Year of Registration: 1891; Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec; Age at Death: 38; District: Liverpool (1837-1934); County: Lancashire; Volume: 8b; Page: 73.
A death registration was found for Elizabeth Spread: Estimated Birth Year: abt 1859; Year of Registration: 1895; Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec; Age at Death: 36; District: Prescot; County: Lancashire; Volume: 8b; Page: 483.
In 1898, Leonard Speard, 14, arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, along with a group of 161 children en route to Toronto, Ontario, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Russell, Manitoba, Canada.
In 1901, Lynord Spred, 18, was shown as a servant for Philip B. Tyler and family in Darlington, Durham, Ontario, Canada. His date of birth is shown as February 5, 1883, and his immigration year as 1897.
On December 18, 1903, Leonard Spread, 20 years of age, died of suicide by shooting.
Toronto Star, Saturday Dec 19, 1903
FARM BOY TOOK HIS OWN LIFE:
Despondent over brother's departure,Leonard Spread committed suicide
To make death certain, Leonard Spread, employed by Alex Stirling, a Kennedy Road farmer of Ellesmere, York County swallowed paris green and then blew his head off.His body was found yesterday in a vacant building on the farm.He was last seen on Thursday. The gun with which he shot himself had hung in the barn for sparrow shooting.Spread must have put the muzzle in his mouth and pulled the trigger.The poison was drunk from a cup procured from the farm pump. Coroner Britton of East Toronto made enquiries and decided that an inquest was not necessary.
Spread who was 21 came to Canada six years ago as a Barnardo Boy. He worked near Bowmanville until last summer, when he and his brother hired with Stirling. The brother went to New Ontario two weeks ago and the deceased is supposed to have become quite despondent in consequence. The interment took place in Norway Cemetery this afternoon and was conducted by the Barnardo Home authority.