| Notes |
- PRIVATE
- George Best was only a 5-month old baby when the «b»1851 England Census «/b»was taken. He was living with his parents and brother Francis William (2) in Kirkham, Lancashire, England. George's father was an Independent minister of the Zion Chapel in Kirkham, Lancashire.
(Kirkham is a small market town located in the Fylde coast area of West Lancashire lying between Blackpool to the West and Preston to the East.
The early 1900's saw Kirkham established as a typical Lancashire cotton mill town and this was the main industry until the 1960's.«sup»1 «/sup»Pop. in 1851, 10,926; in 1861, 11,445. Houses, 2,191.«sup»2«/sup»
The Independent churches were ones in which each congregation was autonomous, upholding the principles of independence. In the 19th century they became known as Congregational. In 1972 the Congregational church joined with the English Presbyterian church to become the United Reformed Church. The Zion Chapel in Kirkham was founded in 1793. It is now closed and has been demolished)«sup»3«/sup»
The «b»1861 England Census«/b» records 12 year old George and his 14 year old brother, Frank, pupils at Silcoates School in Alverthorpe, Yorkshire. Silcoates School, was founded in 1820 as a school for the children of non-conformist clergy. It was a single-sex boarding school until 1995 and had about 50 pupils in 1861. The school still operates as a private school.«sup»4,5«/sup»
The «b»1871 England Census«/b» shows a 20-year old George Best living with his parents in Bolton and working as a banker's clerk. His brother, Frances William Best, had died four years earlier, in 1867, at home in Bolton, at the age of 18. in 1871 both his sisters were at the Marlborough House Ladies Boarding School in Devon; Rebecca (19) was a "governess" and Mary (17) still a scholar.
Three years later in «b»1874«/b», George «b»emigrated«/b» to the United States of America where he is next found in 1877 to be living in Batavia, Illinois, with his wife. [Memoir of Rev. Robert Best. p 72] Elizabeth is recorded as arriving in the USA in 1874 so it is likely that they married in the UK (no record yet found).
«b»In 1880 «/b»George ( 30 yr old) and Elizabeth 929 yrs old) were living in «b»Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA«/b» whre his job was as an accountant
In the «b»1910 United States Federal Census«/b», aged 59, and living in Denver Ward 8, «b»Denver, Colorado«/b». He was married to Elisabeth A Best (58). His occupation is listed as Secretary to an Electric company.
However there is one other possible record, that may be our George Best: a marriage record of a George Best and Evilda Martin on 7«sup»th«/sup» April, 1884 in the county of Arapahoe, Colorado. A second marriage?
The «b»1920 United States Federal Census«/b» shows a 69 year old George Best and his wife Elizabeth A Best (64) owning their own home, and still living in Denver, Colorado.
«b»The 1930 United States Federal Census «/b»records 79 year old George as an accountant.
George Best died in Denver, Colorado, USA on «b»2nd Jan 1932«/b» at age 81. The record says he is widowed and living on Niagara St. in 2020 this is an idustrial site.
None of the resources found so far give any indication if he had any children.
«sup»1«/sup»Kirkham, Lancashire England. http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~raltec/Kirkham.html«b»
«/b» «sup»2«/sup»http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LAN/Kirkham/
«sup»3«/sup» Zion, Kirkham, Independent. http://www.genuki.org.uk/cgibin/churches?CCC=LAN,GR=2195,FT=Kirkham%20Zion%20Back%20Lane%20Independent
«sup»4«/sup»Wikipedia. Silcoates School. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silcoates_School
«sup»5«/sup» Silcoates School foundation. http://www.silcoates.co.uk/
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1851 - 1932 (81 years)
