A woman researching her family's history is appealing for help in finding her relatives.

Tricia Butterworth, 65, who lives in Nantwich, Cheshire, wonders if Keighley News readers can shed light on her past.

Her grandparents were Luke and Clara Shackleton (Clara's maiden name was also Shackleton from an unrelated family). Her parents were John Shackleton and Jane Gott, the youngest daughter of James Gott, a worsted wool manufacturer of Elm Tree Mill, Bingley, who was an uncle of Sir Benjamin Scaife Gott. John was station master at Armley Railway Station in Leeds before he retired.

Luke and Clara lived at the time in Well Lane, Haworth, and between 1891 and 1908 had 11 children - Emily, Norman, John, Jane, Lydia, Helen, Mabel, Violet, Winifred, Dorothy and (Tricia's mum) Gertrude.

Luke's parents were Joseph Shackleton and Susie Hey. He lived in North Street, Haworth, and was a lay preacher at West Lane Baptist Church. They had five children - Benjamin, Lydia, Ruth, Emily and Johnson. He had twin daughters - Ida and Blanche - born in the 1930s and who are believed to be still living.

Tricia told the Keighley News some time ago she found Johnson and his wife Edith's grave in Haworth Cemetery - dated 1941. Johnson had lived at Lees.

Great grandfather Joseph's father was Luke Shackleton and his family lived at Springs Farm, Enfieldside, near Stanbury, where the family had farmed since at least 1771. "They were also stone masons," says Tricia. "Their work can still be found among the graves in the churchyard at St Michael and All Angels in Haworth."

She says grandfather Luke was a very good pianist. "Mum used to tell the story of him and his friend who had a good singing voice," she says. "They had musical get-togethers and on one occasion, after drinking some home brew, grandfather let rip by flinging open the piano top for more amplification. Unfortunately, he'd forgotten about the oil lamp which being on the piano toppled inside and set fire to it, causing utter chaos and need I say it - disgrace!"

Tricia says when grandma Clara died at the age of 58, grandfather sold up and set off to visit some of his children in Australia and America. "He sailed on the Queen Mary and had the honour of playing the piano for the Captain's company which was quite something in 1927," Tricia says. "He was a lovely Yorkshire character."

Anyone who may have information about Tricia's family should ring Keighley News reporter Gary Stokes on 01535 606611 ext 248 and we will pass on the information to her.

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