Margery Neale - Littlewood - Bennett (1855-1913)

Margery Neale KFGZ-T9J later Littlewood, later Bennett was born in Formby in 1855 to William Neale and his second wife Mary Dickinson. Mary’s family were well-known in the area as they owned the brewery in Formby and ran many of the local public houses. William and Mary, along with their children lived and worked in the Lifeboat Public House in Formby. 

Inquest of William Neale

When Margery was only 15 years old, her father William took his own life. Looking back at his life and the many tragic events that occurred, it is clear to see how he would have been affected. By the time he was 12 years old, 3 of his siblings had died. In 1849, when he was 21 years old, he married Ann Tyrer and their son Robert was born in the same year. Their second child Mary was born in 1852, however, both his wife Ann and their baby daughter died in April 1852. In 1855 William married Mary Dickinson and they went on to have 7 children together but tragedy struck again when their only son, Thomas passed away, age 7. Just one year later, William had drowned himself in the River Alt, leaving his wife Mary alone with 6 children. Mary remained at the Lifeboat Public House for the rest of her life until she passed away in 1903.

Margery continued to run the Saracen’s Head alone after the death of her first husband, William. In 1911 she got married again, this time to Henry Bennett – a publican from Upholland. Unfortunately their marriage was short-lived as Margery died on 9th January 1913 and was buried at St. Peter’s Church, Formby with her first husband William Littlewood, and her mother, Mary Neale, nee Dickinson.