Worsley

Had thirteen children (5 mis-carriages)

She maintained that we can all wear the Hunting Stuart tartan.

Church of the Good Shepherd Sunday School 1938, Infants Mrs Worsley sup, teacher E Powell

Letter of thanks from The Liverpool Eye, Ear and Throat Infirmary, Myrtle Street, Matron's Office, for gifts from the Sunday School children, and to her for making the arrangements. October 9th , 1939 (see scrapbook)

In 1888 (aged 12) she recieved a prize and reference letter from the school. see scrapbook

Molly was a deeply religious woman who celebrated Sundays in a strict manner. Mavis recalls that when she visited on these days (every Sunday morning for many years), the radio was prohibited and games forbidden. She was a Sunday school teacher, and there exists the register folder for one of the classes that she took at the Church of the Good Shepherd. In the early days, she was involved with the Salvation Army, where she taught on Sundays. At the close of her life, she mellowed, and Jean Mac's recollection gained from several lengthy summer visits is that the Sunday taboos had wained. The black note book (see Edward, her husband) containing lists of contributions for their services shows that she and Edward were regular and generous contributers as well as their children from time to time.

She must have been an exceptional pupil, as there is a strong letter of praise from her school teacher. There is also a small book that had been presented to her with a dedication in the front fly leaf.

I vividly recall meeting her for the first time (David, William's son). Very young, we walked up to the front door, with mum on the left and dad on the right holding my hands; I knew we were going to meet my grandmother. Dad knocked on the door and it was opened by a small tight woman - both her dress and hair were tight and severe. She looked intently at dad and said "Hello William, and this must be Margaret", turning to my mum. I knew something was up, because I had never heard anyone call dad "William" nor mum "Margaret", and they were both standing to attention and had closed up with me just behind their legs. Then she inclined her head and looked me in the face and almost barked "And whats that?" My parents parted, mumbled something, and I was pushed forward by a hand in my back. She leant forward - and smacked round the face! "Remember what I've told you William, when you see a boy - hit him! If he has done nothing wrong then he is thinking of doing something wrong". Then, with a kindly look on her face, she welcomed me into her house - but by that time I was scowling - and the movie in my head ends.

There is some doubt about her religious affiliation. It seems that she was first an Anglican, then became a Salvationist, and then returned to being an Anglican again after the death of her husband. She had a ceremony Churching of Women after the birth of her children, which implies that she was an Anglican.

As the fathers of both Edward and Molly were regulars at St Peters, it seems likely that this is where the two met.

The story goes that Mollie's parents (one or the other or both) did not agree with her match with Edward. They kept the marriage secret until he had found a home for them to move to. Mollie's mother followed home and cursed them, kneeling outside on the step.

Mollie was around 19 at the time, and if indeed her mother was so against the match, then Mollie must have had permission from her father - else the wedding could not have taken place.

Yet, the census of 1901 gives them living together, with Mollie's mother as the head of the family. So, whatever the earlier argument, circumstances had changed.

We guess that after Edward's return to work, the family may have moved out again, perhaps to Clyde Road. Later, the older woman may have joined them close to her death. Mollie was very sad that she was unable to cope with the last days of her mother's illness, and the mother died in a workhouse.

JM