There is a famous lace making machine called a Leavers machine. I had already heard of it and wondered if there was indeed a connection with the Levers family.
Researching the Internet brought up some interesting facts and stories.
http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/books/mellors1908/lacemachine.htm
John Levers was a frame smith and setter up from Sutton in Ashfield. He moved to Nottingham and would eventually become known as the inventor of the Leavers Lace Machine.
John Levers invented a machine to produce single tiered net lace in 1813. It was able to produce intricate lace patterns similar to those made by hand. This type of lace, patterned with or without a net background, can still be found today. There is a rare Leavers machine made by John Levers, at the museum at Wollaton Hall, Nottingham. On this website is a photograph of the machine made between 1828 and 1840. https://nottinghammuseums.org.uk/leavers-lace-machine/
Many lace manufacturers moved their business to France due to taxation laws. John Levers himself died in Rouen, France in 1848. I am in the process of constructing his family tree.
The website https://www.lacemakersofcalais.com.au/workers-and-work, shows Leavers lace machines and how Leavers lace was made.
It has been said that an extra “a” was added to Levers, in order to help with French pronunciation. At first Levers machines were spelt without the “a”, then when patents were issued it was necessary to have a standardised spelling and the “a” was introduced as a standard.
A plaque was placed on the original home of John Levers/Leavers although the house was demolished in 1959, the plaque is still on the wall near where the house stood on St Helens Street, Canning Circus, Nottingham.
https://openplaques.org/plaques/1880
According to Robert Mellors, In and about Nottinghamshire (1908), someone called Mr. Wm. Felkin, J.P. in 1867, published a History of Machine Wrought Hosiery and Lace Manufactures. In it he recognised John Levers for his work laying down the foundation of the lace trade by the important improvements and inventions of the lace manufacturing machinery. However, he also suggested that John was a “free liver” and could work non stop day and night then have days when he stopped completely and partook of stimulants. John’s family were enraged and issued a rebuttal in The Nottingham Journal of 11 May 1867. His sister gave testimony of his diligence as a husband, brother and employer and said she was in possession of letters from family and friends who could all attest to John Leavers’ worth.
William Felkin had also stated in his book that it was not known when or under what circumstances John Leavers died. However, a report of John’s death from the Nottingham Review dated 6th October 1848 was reprinted showing that he died 24th September 1848 near Rouen in France. “
Over the years there has been some controversy about how the name of Leavers should be spelled. Is it Levers or Leavers?
A newspaper article mentioned this conundrum and stated that someone had met John Leavers’ niece, Clara Seymour, and she had letters in her possession which showed the name had been Leavers with the “a”. However, another person wrote to the newspaper to say he was a relative of John Levers, and the name was spelled without the “a”.
Since spellings were not fixed until relatively recently it’s probable that the family used a variety of spellings throughout their lives.
John Levers has his own entry in The Graces Guide to British Industrial History. It explains how there were actually three John Levers involved in the business. John Levers senior, John Levers junior and a nephew John Levers who eventually went on to become partner in the firm Fisher and Levers. https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/John_Levers
John Levers junior who was the main inventor, was aided by two brothers and his nephew. He took his lacemaking machines to France in 1821.
John Levers senior died in Radford, Nottingham, John Levers junior as stated above died in Rouen.
There is a road named after John Leavers, in Grand Courranne, France, named Rue Jean Leavers.
