Grandparents and parents

Norman’s paternal grandparents were Edward and Jane Kay. Edward was born about 1835 and Jane about 1839. In the 1881 census they lived at 8 Thurley St, Cheetham. There were 4 children with them, Henry aged 21, William Edward, 20, Mary, 16, and Elizabeth, 11. Edward and Henry were both clerks but “out of employ”. William (Norman’s father) was an undersalesman and Mary a stationery assistant.

William was born on 26 November 1860 and baptised on 3 March 1861 at St John’s church, Manchester. The family address at the time was 11 Autumn St, Oldham Rd, and Edward was a clerk. William married Mary Alice Moore on 12 September 1889 at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Raby St, Moss Side. He was 28 and his address was 31 Barton St, Moss Side. Mary was 20 and lived at 89 Prince’s Rd, Moss Side. By this time Edward Kay was described as a retired cashier. Mary’s father, Henry Moore, was an ironmonger.

In 1891 William and Mary lived at 5 Stratford Avenue, Didsbury, with Norman, aged 9 months, and a servant. William was a cashier. By 1901 they had moved to 45 Northen Grove with Norman and his sister Constance Mabel, aged 6. In 1911 they all lived in Northen Grove and William was a cashier and book keeper for a glove importer. Mary was said to be at home with no occupation but below that is written “except management of the home”!

Norman

We have called Henry Norman by his middle name as that is how he appears on the war memorial. He was born in West Didsbury on 2 July 1890 and was baptised on 31 August 1890 at the Moss Side Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Raby St. By the age of 20 he was a bank clerk.

He married Ellen May Thompson on 5 April 1915 at St. Clement’s New Church, Chorlton-cum-Hardy.

Ellen

Ellen’s paternal grandparents were Frederick and Sarah Thompson. Frederick was born in Nottingham about 1833 and was an auctioneer and valuer. Sarah was born in Halifax about 1831. Their oldest son was Lawrence Taylor Thompson, born in Lower Broughton about 1864. In 1881 the family lived at 107 Camp St, Broughton. Lawrence also became an auctioneer and valuer. Between 1895 and 1898 he was a member of the United Grand Lodge of England, West Lancashire Century Lodge, Blackpool. He died on the Fylde in 1900. His wife was called Ellen (daughter of Alderman John Milling of Manchester) and their first child was Ellen May, born in Didsbury about 1890. In 1891 they lived in Catterick Rd.

At the time of Norman and Ellen’s marriage, her address was 26 South Drive, Chorlton.

Military

Norman served as a lieutenant in the 7th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. He served at Gallipoli and in Egypt and died in France on 21 August 1918, aged 28. His wife’s address was given as 2 South Drive, Chorlton-cum-Hardy. Norman is buried at Queens Cemetery, Bucquoy, Pas de Calais, reference II. C. 6.