MayWorthington (Born 6th May 1908)

[MaryA]

I'm thinking that I suggested trying the current UK Electoral Registers which can be checked up to 2014 on Findmypast. These you could have found for free use on the computers at the Liverpool Record Office. They may be completely different people from the couple at Ivernia Road.

[billh35]

Our local library I think offers Findmypast so going to go and have a look this morning.

[Katie]

The George Bell who died July 14th 1960 who resided at Irvinian Road is not the George Bell who married May Smith (nee Worthington) He had 2 sons named Leslie and Kenneth Bell.

[billh35]

So we're back on the hunt of May Worthington again having now got access to findmypast and she has disappeared again - doesn't appear on The 1939 Register anywhere.

The facts we know are:
1. May Worthington was born 4th August 1911 and lived at 14 Lance Street, Everton
2. On 3rd August 1930 she married Charles Smith at St Saviours Church, Everton
3. On 6th December 1930 she gave birth to Charles A. Smith.
4. On 30th June 1934 as "the divorced wife of Charles Smith" of 2 Railton Road, West Derby she married George Bell of 22 Wycliffe Road at West Derby Registry Office.
5. On 5th May 1935 she gave birth to a son George Bell Jnr (who we believe is the George Bell who died on 28th December 2011).
6. In March 1942 she gave birth to a son Arthur W. Bell.
7. On 28th August 1986 her son Charles A. Smith died.

The 1939 Register doesn't show May or George Bell nor their son George anywhere in Liverpool. We can find no trace of her death under any of her names.

Charles Smith remarried on 23rd June 1935 at Everton Parish Church to his second wife Winifred (Barrett) who died in 1937. Charles appears on The 1939 Register as living with his parents and brother at 54 Hunt Street which would remain a family home until the 1980's.

I cannot believe this woman is so elusive!

[Katie]

I would suggest you apply for the birth certificate for Arthur W Bell 1942 in order to get an address.

[Alison C]

On 5th May 1935 she gave birth to a son George Bell Jnr (who we believe is the George Bell who died on 28th December 2011).

According to this death notice, the George Bell who died on 28 December 2011 had a brother called Henry.
http://www.bmdsonline.co.uk/liverpool-e ... l/30524445

So it looks like that may not be "our" George Bell after all!

[Alison C]

Thought.....if May died after 1991 then her record in the 1939 register would be officially closed and wouldn't show up in a search of the register.

[billh35]

Can't find her death anywhere...so is she still alive at 106? Or did she remarry once again?

Alison, you could be right about "our" George? But everything else seems to fit? If you look closely at the Death & Memorial Notices, he may also have had a sister called Margaret. When she married in 1935, May was still only 24 so it would be plausible for her to have children as late as 1950/1 when she would only have been 40?

Today is George's anniversary. Just hoped there may have been a memorial notice!

I should add that George's mother, father and sister are shown still living at 22 Wycliffe Road on The 1939 Register.

[Katie]

The George Bell who passed away 28th December 2011 married Evelyn Merryweather 1956.

If I am correct this is the above George Bell's birth registration.

Births Jun 1935 (>99%)
Bell George Kelly Liverpool N. 8b

He had a sister Margaret born 1944 and a brother Henry born 1945.

The best way forward on this is my suggestion of obtaining the birth ceritificate for Arthur W Bell.

[billh35]

His actual date of birth was 05 May 1935 as his family show a Birthday Memorial in the Liverpool Echo on 5th May 2012 for what would have been his 77th birthday - posted by "Karen, Val & Dave plus grandchildren & great grandchildren".

His funeral took place at Anfield Crematorium on 5th January 2012. He was survived by his widow Evelyn.

[Katie]

I have checked the birth registrations there are no more births after 1942 of children called Bell whose mothers maiden name is Worthington.

[billh35]

There is one I saw where the mother's maiden name is shown as "Bell" even though her married name is also Bell!

[Katie]

There is no sign of them on the 1939 Register. I have searched passenger lists no record. I still think the only way you can get through this brick wall is the birth of Arthur W Bell to get an address of where they are residing in 1942.

[billh35]

The saga continues...... I have finally managed to obtain the birth certificate for George Bell who we now know was born at the Royal Infirmary on 11th January 1935 and who was indeed the son of May Bell.

His parents are shown as George Bell (bricklayer) and May Bell "late Smith formerly Worthington" (this is what is shown on the certificate) and it says they are resident at "The Willows" Breck Road.

Ha ha! I thought and headed off to The 1939 Register only to discover no address at Breck Road. Nor can I find any of them on the Register at all!

Are these Liverpool's most elusive family?

[Bertieone]

Bill,

The Willows is off Breck Rd and is recorded as The Willows, Liverpool, in the event you thought it was a single property.

[billh35]

Bertie, that's exactly what I thought! This is why this group is so good! Off to do more searching......and lo & behold, they have gone from No.11 The Willows which was the address shown on George's birth certificate.

[Bertieone]

Bill,

Annie Worthington
11 The Willows,
1934/35 Electoral Register

[MaryA]

No Annie Worthingtons listed in 1938 Kellys.

[billh35]

Annie Worthington (Nee Powell) was May Worthington's mother. She died in June 1941 in Manchester. I wonder if somewhere between 1935 and 1941 they all moved to Manchester?

[Bertieone]

Another itch I had to scratch, though you may have to dismiss it, if she died in Manchester with a different name.

If Annie Powell was born to William Powell/Mary Austin, registered, September Qtr, 1890, possible birth date, July.

Annie Worthington married Leonard Skinley, 1934, West Derby, 8b 1301

Leonard Skinley's full name was Robert Leonard Skinley.

1939 Reg

Annie Skinley, birth, 28 July, 1890
Robert Skinley,
28 Abbey Street