William Leiper corresponded with his near name-sake, William Clarke Leeper. That the latter resided in Mellis Rectory - Mellis being the maiden name of Leiper’s mother - is an absolute though remarkable coincidence.

The writing paper bears the embossed letterhead:

MELLIS RECTORY,
        EYE, SUFFOLK.

11 March                                1909. Dear Sir,         Thanks for your letter. We are an Irish family – my father, grandfather &c. came from Dublin. I have the Leeper coat of arms - & crest – motto “Pro rege et patria.” Crest – Leopard’s head. I don’t know what is the origin of the name – I should much like to know.         It is curious too that “Mellis” should be your mother’s name. It is spelled “Melles” in the old church documents here –           Believe me,           Yours truly, Wm. Clarke Leeper. My father was once curate in Derby – I have heard him say there was a Leeper Street in the parish – which he served –     I have heard of   Leapers – in Norfolk.

William Clarke Leeper to William Leiper, mentioning Jane Mellis