Hi Mark & Janet, Hope you read my message I sent yesterday, as I inadvertently addressed it to Pamela! I think I've cracked the puzzle of Edith ECCLESTON who was married to two different MCMASTERS. I have found another Eccleston family on the 1881 living at 183 Firs Lane, Westleigh, but so far have found nothing to indicate they were related to your Ecclestons. The head of this family was Henry ECCLESTON, aged 35, born West Leigh. The 1901 shows an Edith ECCLESTON aged 19, cotton weaver, born West Leigh. I feel sure that Edith ECCLESTON was Henry's daughter, and that it was this Edith who married Sam. I feel sure that these two Eccleston families were related (Henry and Isaac brothers maybe?). If you find out anything more let me know. Sam and Edith were childless, but they did adopt a girl FRANCES when she was 6 years old. Frances was friendly with the Nicholson girls (my mother's family), and mum has a group photograph taken in the 1920's outside 140 Plank Lane, that Frances is on. Sadly, she died about 6 years ago. There is another twist to this tale. Arthur Eccleston, Edith Emma's brother married a BROMILOW, and became the uncle by marriage of my uncle STANLEY BROMILOW. In 1914 Sam McMaster and Ned BROMILOW, Stanley's father, formed a clog dancing group called The Eight Mites, of which my mother was one. Amongst other places, they used to perform in cinemas during the interval in the days of silent films. I read recently of a McMaster who used to cycle over from Hindley to teach Morris Dancing in the Plank Lane area, but don't know if there is any relation. My cousin Jennifer BROMILOW, Stanley's daughter, has a photograph of Plank Lane Rugby Team 1905/6. It was taken by a Leigh photographer, and Jennifer has been trying to find out more about it without success. She thinks that her great grandfather JOHN BROMILOW is one of the officials on the photograph. I don't know if there is a link here between Plank Lane and Leigh Rugby Club, but I could send it to you if you like. How old is Ben? It seems incredible that he is still alive. Mum has no recollection of him. She left Leigh in the 1930's when she got married. Valerie> > ==== ENG-LAN-LEIGH Mailing List ==== > Our list covers the following towns: Leigh (inc. Pennington, Westleigh & Bedford), Atherton, Tyldesley, Astley, Lowton, Golborne, Hindley, Abram, Howe Bridge, Culcheth and Glazebury. Make sure your family members join our list. This list is only as good as its members - please contribute regularly. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >