Hi everybody, Until recently I haven't been able to link an ancestor, Thomas Clarkson, who lived in Rhodes from at least 1824, to the other local Clarksons. However, after collaborating with David Pointon, who lives in Whitefield and who's wife is also a descendant of Thomas Clarkson, I have an excellent clue. David has found the burial record from St. Leonard's of Thomas Clarkson, listed with a Peter Clarkson and Peter's second wife Betty. He then visited the grave, but the gravestone inscription only mentioned Peter Clarkson and both his wives. The burial records show Peter Clarkson buried in grave No 19-75-3. Thomas Clarkson is listed next but there is no grave number. Can anyone who is familiar with the burial records tell us if it is safe to assume this would mean he is in the same grave? Thanks, Dom O'Malley.

Hi Dom, I wouldn`t assume he is in the same grave just because he is the burial mentioned afterwards. What year did Thomas die? I have 3 named Thomas Clarkson on the burial index up to now. Grave 19-73-3 : I just have Peter and Betty Clarkson buried there up to date (still ongoing). Only about 1 in 10 in the registers have grave numbers. Members of the Middleton Local History Group are shortly starting to record the M.I.s for graveyard 3. I was going to do this last yr but had some health problems and wasn`t able to arrange this. I have given them a short list of grave numbers to help with their recording. The graveyard has recently been cleared of bushes, grass and weeds etc, so this will make their work a little easier, though many of the stones will still be hidden below the surface. Will keep the list posted on their progress. There are over 2,000 graves in this area, so it won`t be a quick job! Doreen.