George Urmson was born in 1881, the youngest of seven children of Henry Urmson and his wife Sarah Ann Styles who married on Boxing Day 1864 at St. Matthew, Campfields, Manchester. It was the second marriage for both of them, their previous partners having died. Both had lost one child in its infancy but Henry also had a surviving 8 year old daughter, Amelia.
Sadly, Henry and Sarah's first three children also died in infancy: George Styles (1865-1867), Richard (1868-1868) and Henry Junior (1869-1873). They were all baptised at St. Matthew and buried at Weaste Cemetery, Salford. Henry was a waterman on the Manchester Ship Canal and the family lived in or near Bridgewater Street. When the 1871 Census was taken, the Urmson family were recorded at White Lion Street. A fourth child, named Harry, was baptised at St. Matthew on 8 March 1874 but their three youngest children were born after the family moved to Runcorn. They were baptised at All Saints Parish Church: Emma Styles on 16 February 1876, Hannah on 15 September 1878, and George on 10 April 1881.
In the 1881 Census, Henry and Sarah were recorded at Manchester House, a beerhouse at 18 Bridge Street, Runcorn, living with their four surviving children: Harry, Emma, Hannah and George, aged just 1 month. As well as running a beerhouse, Henry was also the owner of the flat (barge) Emma Styles which transported freight between Runcorn and Frodsham. It was whilst Henry was the licensee at the Watermans Arms in Queen Street, that the Emma Styles sank in Widnes Dock during the night of 5-6 May 1884. A verdict of accidental death was recorded on its captain, James Pickstock, who drowned. The vessel had been overloaded with coal and had sunk under its weight whilst the captain was asleep in bed. The flat was refloated the next day.
Henry Urmson died on 12 November 1890 and Sarah took over the licence for the pub which, according to the 1891 Census, she ran with the assistance of Harry and Emma. Before the next Census, all three of George's siblings had married: Harry to Bertha Wright Bazley in 1893, Emma to Richard Atherton in 1898 and Hannah to Reuben Garvie also in 1898. The 1901 Census recorded Sarah and George at 36 Bold Street, Runcorn. George, then aged 20, had become a fitter's labourer.
When George married Bridget Brannen at the Stowell Memorial Church, Salford on 7 December 1901, both the bride and groom gave their address as 3 Newell Street. That was the home of Richard and Emma Atherton who were the two witnesses.Bridget, usually known as Bessie, was born in Runcorn on 3 August 1878, the third of nine children of Irishman Francis Brannen and his wife Mary Ann Rowley, who married in Runcorn in 1873.
George and Bessie were still living in Salford when their first child, Harry, was baptised at Stowell Memorial Parish Church on 21 May 1902. After twins George and Emma Styles were born on 13 May 1904, the Urmson family moved to Thornton. Daughter Nora was born on 3 November 1907 and son Frank on 11 March 1910. In the Census taken on 2 April 1911, George, Bessie and their five children were recorded at 17 Ormerod Street. Living with them was Bessie's youngest brother, John Brannen. The two men were employed as labourers at United Alkali. Shortly before the outbreak of war, Bessie gave birth to a sixth child, John Wallace, on 22 March 1914.
George's war service record has not survived. We know that he was sent to France on 24 September 1915 with the 9th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. George was presumed to have been killed in action on 7 June 1917. He was aged 35. Sergeant George Urmson, 19137, "B" Company, 9th Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment is remembered on Panel 41 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Bessie's brother, John Brannen, had been killed the previous month. She returned to Runcorn where she died in 1921.
© www.riverwyre.com 2024