8:23am Saturday 7th August 2010
AFTER lying in an unmarked grave at Heaton Cemetery for more than 70 years, Margaret Alice Buckle is finally receiving visits from her long lost relatives.
When businesswoman Emma Harrison started to research her family history, she had no idea that she would uncover a story of scandal, wedlock and mystery.
Like many people Emma, from Barnoldswick in East Lancashire, became interested in researching her family tree after being inspired by television programmes such as Who Do You Think You Are?
She knew she had roots in Bolton, and by using a combination of the internet and the Bolton Family History archive she discovered the deeds to her great grandmother’s unmarked grave, in Heaton Cemetery, where she had lain for nearly 70 years without any visitors.
From there the story unravelled, as it became clear that Margaret Alice Buckle had a fascinating tale to tell.
Emma discovered that Margaret had married first in Leeds in 1899 to a man called George Marshall, who was killed in 1903. Two years later she married Allen Nuttall, but by August 1905, Margaret was granted a rare court separation with an allowance of 10 shillings per week because Allen and his daughter had been ill-treating her. Just one month later Allen had been sent to prison, and Margaret was pregnant and left to fend for herself in the workhouse at Fishpool.
“It must have been a terrible ordeal for Margaret, because separations for women were very hard to get in those days,” said Emma.
For many women that would have been the end, but Margaret was lucky enough to leave the workhouse, and although her son Daniel went to live with his father, she met Emma’s great grandfather, Samuel, in 1907.
Although they were never legally married, as Margaret was not divorced, it seems she had finally found a man who loved her, and they lived together long enough to have two children, Jack and Alice.
Samuel served in the First World War, and was awarded a trio of medals in 1921, but died in Yorkshire in 1927.
“My Harrison family have been something of an elusive mystery,” said Emma. “We found out that Samuel was born in Moses Gate and his mother was called Martha Ann, one of his brothers, James was a greengrocer living on Hall Lane and I have found records of the family dating back to the mid 1800s.”
Now, with the help of Heaton cemetery, Emma is making sure that Margaret’s grave is marked so that her family can honour her in the way that her extraordinary life deserves.
“I'm now working on finding out where Samuel’s grave is,” she said.
Another piece of information that has come to light is that Margaret’s niece, Elizabeth Ann, was killed in a Farnworth house fire in 1922 aged just four so Emma is now beginning her research into this family tragedy.
“I’m determined to try and find out as much as I can. I’m up until 4am sometimes following leads, and my little girl Charlotte is absolutely fascinated by it. We’re hoping we will be able to track Samuel’s medals — she says she would love to be able to wear them on Remembrance Day to pay tribute to her great-greatgrandfather.”
Anyone with any information that might help Emma can contact her on 07815 061888.
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