Laura Virginia Levering Heath (1874-1938)
FATHER: John Howell Levering
MOTHER: Caroline (McLenaghan) Levering
SPOUSE: Hector MacKenzie Heath, Sr. (1872-1958), married in Camden, NJ on December 6, 1894
BURIAL SITE: Leverington Cemetery, Plot 2 Section 12 Division B
MOTHER: Caroline (McLenaghan) Levering
SPOUSE: Hector MacKenzie Heath, Sr. (1872-1958), married in Camden, NJ on December 6, 1894
BURIAL SITE: Leverington Cemetery, Plot 2 Section 12 Division B
Laura was 23 years old in 1897, when Col. John Levering's Levering Family History was published.
He lists her birth date as July 19, 1874 and "resides with her mother at Manayunk." (199 Green Lane).
According to family lore, and the Cousin Family History Binder, "Speculation is that the Levering family was not happy with this relationship [with Hector Heath] and the young couple eloped. All indications are that the Levering's pretty much disinherited Laura as a result of this marriage."
I am not sure when Col. John Levering gathered his information, or how long it took to publish a book in 1897,
but Laura's marriage in 1894 is not mentioned. Was she really living with her mother after the marriage? It also does seem strange that Laura and Hector married in Camden, NJ (especially if they supposedly met at Manayunk Presbyterian Church).
We do know that by the time of the 1900 census, Laura and Hector were living at 3818 Dexter Street in Manayunk, with Hector's parents Abel and Margaret Euphemia Heath; their children William Clayton, Virginia,
and Effie; and Margaret's uncle Cornelius Wilson. The 1900 census also indicates that 199 Green Lane was already pretty crowded anyway, with Laura's widowed mother Caroline living there with daughter Clara Ellen
and her husband Joshua Streeper and their two sons; as well as Caroline's (widowed?) daughter Retta, and her
son Clifford Shepherd.
Laura and Hector later lived at 435 Krams Avenue (1905 City Directory), and 431 Pensdale Street in Roxborough. After Hector retired they lived with their various children, and eventually moved in with daughter Effie and her husband Russel Born.
He lists her birth date as July 19, 1874 and "resides with her mother at Manayunk." (199 Green Lane).
According to family lore, and the Cousin Family History Binder, "Speculation is that the Levering family was not happy with this relationship [with Hector Heath] and the young couple eloped. All indications are that the Levering's pretty much disinherited Laura as a result of this marriage."
I am not sure when Col. John Levering gathered his information, or how long it took to publish a book in 1897,
but Laura's marriage in 1894 is not mentioned. Was she really living with her mother after the marriage? It also does seem strange that Laura and Hector married in Camden, NJ (especially if they supposedly met at Manayunk Presbyterian Church).
We do know that by the time of the 1900 census, Laura and Hector were living at 3818 Dexter Street in Manayunk, with Hector's parents Abel and Margaret Euphemia Heath; their children William Clayton, Virginia,
and Effie; and Margaret's uncle Cornelius Wilson. The 1900 census also indicates that 199 Green Lane was already pretty crowded anyway, with Laura's widowed mother Caroline living there with daughter Clara Ellen
and her husband Joshua Streeper and their two sons; as well as Caroline's (widowed?) daughter Retta, and her
son Clifford Shepherd.
Laura and Hector later lived at 435 Krams Avenue (1905 City Directory), and 431 Pensdale Street in Roxborough. After Hector retired they lived with their various children, and eventually moved in with daughter Effie and her husband Russel Born.
SEE ALSO: Hector MacKenzie Heath Sr. page
CHILDREN of Laura Levering and Hector MacKenzie Heath Sr:
I. William Clayton: b. Jan. 23, 1895; d. June 27, 1901; b. Lev. Cem.
II. Virginia May: b. Apr. 19, 1897; m. Cyril Smith (no children); d. Sept. 11, 1972; b. Westminster Cem., Bala Cynwyd, Pa
III. Euphemia (Effie) Acher: b. Feb. 23, 1900; m. Russell H. Born (no children); d. July 1, 1979; b. Mt. Peace. Cem., Philadelphia
IV. Mildred: b. Mar. 10, 1902; d. Feb, 26, 1924 (flu epidemic); b. Lev. Cem.
V. Hector MacKenzie Jr.: b. Mar. 16, 1904; m. Emily Stahl (2 daughters); d. Sept. 2, 1978; b. St Marks Church, Frankford, Pa
VI. Wilson Levering: b. May 11, 1906; m. Florence Harvey (1 son); d. Jan. 2, 1978; b. Forest Hills Cem., Somerton, Pa
VII. John William (Bill): b. Oct 13, 1908; m. Alice Maslin, Sept 1 1934, (2 sons); d. Feb. 11, 2001; b. Lev Cem.
VIII. Clara Ellen (Claire): b. Jan. 29, 1911; m. Robert Rounay (1 son); d. Jun. 14, 1997; b. Holy Sepulchre Cem., Cheltenham, Pa
I. William Clayton: b. Jan. 23, 1895; d. June 27, 1901; b. Lev. Cem.
II. Virginia May: b. Apr. 19, 1897; m. Cyril Smith (no children); d. Sept. 11, 1972; b. Westminster Cem., Bala Cynwyd, Pa
III. Euphemia (Effie) Acher: b. Feb. 23, 1900; m. Russell H. Born (no children); d. July 1, 1979; b. Mt. Peace. Cem., Philadelphia
IV. Mildred: b. Mar. 10, 1902; d. Feb, 26, 1924 (flu epidemic); b. Lev. Cem.
V. Hector MacKenzie Jr.: b. Mar. 16, 1904; m. Emily Stahl (2 daughters); d. Sept. 2, 1978; b. St Marks Church, Frankford, Pa
VI. Wilson Levering: b. May 11, 1906; m. Florence Harvey (1 son); d. Jan. 2, 1978; b. Forest Hills Cem., Somerton, Pa
VII. John William (Bill): b. Oct 13, 1908; m. Alice Maslin, Sept 1 1934, (2 sons); d. Feb. 11, 2001; b. Lev Cem.
VIII. Clara Ellen (Claire): b. Jan. 29, 1911; m. Robert Rounay (1 son); d. Jun. 14, 1997; b. Holy Sepulchre Cem., Cheltenham, Pa