Percy Edward Morley

Percy Edward (Ted) was the youngest son of Thomas Lowe Morley and Mary Kate (Kate) Morley (nee Burgess). His father was born in Radcliffe on Trent, Nottinghamshire, in 1854 (O/N/D Bingham) and his mother in Middlesex in 1855 (A/M/J Lewisham London). They were married in 1876 (marriage registered O/N/D Derby) and had seven children: George Marriott birth registered 1877 (J/F/M Derby), Thomas Lowe b. 1879 (A/M/J Derby), Lilian Maud (Lily) b. 1882 (O/N/D Nottingham), Henry Arnold b. 30 December 1883, Nottingham (RN record), Robert Burgass b. 28 April 1890 (A/M/J Nottingham), Beatrice Ellen b. 5 November 1892 (O/N/D Nottingham) and Percy Edward (Edward/Ted) b. 1895 (A/M/J Nottingham). Given that Thomas and Kate were married in Derby and their two eldest children were born there it is to be presumed that they were living there until at least mid-1879 when the second child was born. However by 1881 they had moved to Nottingham and were living at 21 Snow Hill, Nottingham, with their two sons George (4) and Thomas (1). Thomas was a lace maker. By 1891 Thomas and Kate were at 13 Lime Terrace, Sneinton. They now had five children, George (14) who was working as a newsboy-hawker, Thomas (11), Maud (8), Henry (7) and Robert (11 months). Their two youngest children, Beatrice and Percy, were born in 1892 and 1895 respectively. Kate died aged 41 in 1897 (A/M/J Nottingham) just two years after the birth of her youngest child. She was buried in Nottingham on 5 June 1897. The widowed Thomas was living at 26 Ilkeston Road by 1901; he was still working as a Leivers lace maker. Only five of his children were still living at home: Lily (18), a lace mender, Henry (17), a lace carriage straightener, Robert (10), Beatrice (8) and Percy (6). Thomas's two eldest sons had each married some years before the 1901 Census. George married Henrietta Wells in 1895 (O/N/D Nottingham) and in 1901 was living with his wife and two children, Mabel Kate (3) and Cyril George (1) at 44 Bloomsgrove Street, Radford. George was working as a cycle fitter for a cycle maker. Thomas junior had married Elizabeth Shephard on 6 October 1900 and in 1901 they were living at 2 Elm Tree Terrace, Lenton, with their daughter Ada (2). Thomas was working as a lace pattern maker. Thomas senior was living at 44 Moorgate Street, Nottingham, by the time of the 1911 Census. Only Robert (20), a labourer, Beatrice (18), a lace mender, and Edward (16) a hosiery folder, were still living at home. Robert was described as married on the census form, which had been completed by his father, but no trace has yet been found of a marriage. Beatrice Ellen married Alphaeus Jordan in 1911 (A/M/J Nottingham) shortly after the census. Henry had joined the Royal Navy in April 1902 and was still serving in 1911. Percy's eldest sister, Lilian, had married Joseph Hancock in 1904 (O/N/D Nottingham) and she and Joseph (27 b. Eckington, Derbyshire), a French polisher (furniture), were living at 11 MacFarlane Terrace, Lombard Street, Lenton, with their two children, Walter (5) and Joseph (4); another child had died in infancy. George and Henrietta were now living at 80 Mitchell Street, Radford, with their three children; Mabel (13) a lace curtain mender, Cyril George (11) and Thomas Henry (4). Thomas and Elizabeth had moved to 1 Commercial Street, Spring Close, Nottingham. They now had three children; Ada (12), Samuel Thomas (9) and May Emma (4), another child had died in infancy. It is possible that Ada died young as when Thomas attested in November 1915 only the names of three children were given on his service record: Samuel Thomas (19 April 1901), May Emily (30 March 1906) and Alice Elizabeth (date illegible but birth index Alice E Morley, 1911 A/M/J Nottingham). Percy joined the Army in September 1911, naming his father, brother George and sister Beatrice Jordan as his next of kin. His father had already moved to 24 Hucknall Road, Carrington, and this was also given as George's address. Beatrice's address was given as Little John Terrace, Little John Street, Nottingham. Two of Percy's brothers also served in the war. Henry Arnold, who had joined the Royal Navy in 1902 was killed while serving as a Petty Officer Stoker in HMS Turbulent at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, presumed date of death 1 June (Chatham Naval Memorial). Thomas Lowe attested in December 1915 the South Staffordshire Regiment and was mobilized in 1917, serving in France with the 1/6th Battalion South Staffordshires from May 1917. He survived the war and was demobilized in January 1919. Percy's nephew, Cyril George Morley, the son of his brother George Marriott, also served; he attested in June 1917, was posted on 5 March 1918 and demobilized in November 1919. In April 1919 Beatrice completed a form for the Army listing Percy's surviving blood relatives: Father: Thomas Lowe Morley, 24 Hucknall Road Carrington Brothers: George Morley (42) Wyville Street, Nottingham; Thomas Morley (39) 4 Harold Road off Hartley Road, Nottingham; Robert Morley (29) 8 Beaconsfield Terrace, Salisbury Street, Nottingham Sisters: Lilian Hancock (36) 13 Heighington Grove, Wallis Street, Old Basford; Beatrice Jordan (26), 9 Littlejohn Terrace, Peas Hill Road, Nottingham. Beatrice was widowed in 1922 when her husband Alphaeus died at the age of 33 (buried 3 March 1922). They had had at least one child, Edward Alphaeus (b. 4 January 1911, d. 10 December 1982). Beatrice married secondly Philip Flewitt in 1934 (J/F/M Nottingham). Beatrice died at the age of 90 in 1983 (March Nottingham) a few months after her son; the address on both their Probate records was 19 Glentworth Road, Nottingham. Thomas Lowe junior died on 30 April 1934 at the age of 58; Elizabeth survived him. They were living at 3 Harold Road, Radford, at the time of his death. Thomas Lowe senior died at the age of 84 in 1938 (December Nottingham) and was buried in Nottingham on 12 December. George Marriott died on 2 January 1951 aged 73. Lilian Maud died at the age of 85 in 1967 (December Nottingham) and was buried on 22 December. Robert died in 1971 (September Nottingham) aged 81. He may have married Gladys E Blake in 1928 (A/M/J Nottingham.