A YORKSHIRE man is appealing to Remember When readers to help him solve a family mystery.

Michael Marshall, from Bradford, is appealing for information about his grandmother, Alice Sumner, or Harrison, and why she moved from Northwich to Bradford between 1901 and 1909.

"Following 1901 our family has no knowledge of her whereabouts until she turns up in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 1909 when she was married in he Bradford Register Office to James Scott Marshall," he said.

"The mystery we need help to solve is why she moved to Bradford, which at that time would have been a long distance from Northwich and also because of her age – approximately 12 years old – what was she doing between 1901 and 1909? Where was she living and who with?"

Alice was born on October 20 1889 in Northwich.

Her mother was Maggie Evelyn Harrison and when she was born they lived in Leicester Street.

There was no father listed on the birth certificate.

Michael believes Maggie's family, who lived in Hartford Road, included father James Harrison, mother Mary Buckley and siblings Annie, Mary, Lizzie, John James, Minnie, Arthur and Willie.

Maggie is believed to have married Thomas William Sumner on December 20 1890 at the Parish Church of St Clements, in Greenheys, and their marriage certificate shows them living in Pinder Street.

They went on to have children Maggie, Edward and Minnie, siblings to Alice.

Thomas Sumner's family included father Edward, mother Harriet Boden and siblings Arthur, Sarah, Jane, Edward, Gertrude, Ann, Harriet and Mary.

The 1891 census shows Alice living with her family in London Road.

In 1901 the census shows her living in Comberbach.

Alice's marriage certificate shows her maiden name was Sumner.

She and James Marshall had four children, then she met Henry McGarry and had three further children.

The Marshall family has unearthed a number of theories as to why Alice moved to Bradford.

Michael said: "There is a rumour that she was put in service in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and another rumour she was put in service to one of the Lord Mayors of Bradford during this period and we have also been told that she was trained for service by the Girls Society which is claimed was based in Bell Vue Barracks, Manningham Lane, Bradford.

"Another rumour was that she went to live with a relation of her mother but this hasn't been confirmed.

"Why would she have left her family?

"However we do know that her mother visited her in Bradford many times up to her death in 1964."

Anyone with any information should ring Michael on 01274 823101 or email BRUNO400@SKY.COM.