Bill,

Many thanks for the extra info.

First the Mary E Ward you have found certainly does seem to be a good fit although I dont know of a sister Mrs Smith. Mary did have a sister and brother living in Birkenhead and known to the family after her return when she and George came to settle in Birkenhead. Sisters name was Margaret (maggie) and brother was John. She or they could also have been and returned to/from America we dont know. As far as we in the family know Mary had never been to Rotherham which is the town where George came from prior to her journey to America. My Grandfather G, GG, and GGG Grandfathers all came from Rotherham, Yorkshire where they were chemists (until my grandfather who was apprenticed to a butcher).
I know that George sailed on the SS Southwark from Liverpool to Philadelphia on 5th April arriving 25April. (I have a copy of the ships passenger list with his signature ). Mary's mother was said to be a seamstress which is the occupation given of the Mary Ward arriving on 1 May on the Furnessia.This was why I was so certain that I had the right one. Now I can no longer be certain.
Do you know how to get a copy of the original passenger lists for both the Furnessia and the Cephalonia. I have never seen a transcript of this latter list and only a transcript from that of the Furnessia.

The birth data that I have for George, Mary and the children is as follows;
George G Norman 22/4/1871
Mary Ellen Ward 18/3/1870
Alice Annie Norman 6/12/1895 (copy of birth cert available born in ward 24 county Suffolk, Boston, Ma.)
George b. 1897 ? (your date now 29/12/1896)
John b. 1899 (your date now of 21/7/1899 confirms)

With this information I should now be able to get a marriage certificate copy for George and Mary from the Boston registry office.

Thanks again for your help
Charles