A MAN whose grandmother left her Accrington roots and set off on a transatlantic voyage of uncertainty 90 years ago wants help in tracking down surviving family members in East Lancashire.

Robert Grist, of Mississauga, Canada, plans to make a pilgrimage of discovery to Accrington and Blackburn this summer to visit his ancestors' graves and former homes - but he would dearly love to meet some living relatives too.

Mr Grist's grandmother Florance Shorrock (nee Harwood) was 23 years old when she set out for Canada in 1910 to begin a new life.

Leaving behind an unhappy marriage, she was pregnant and travelled with her widowed mother Mary Jane, her sister May and her two-year-old daughter Dorothy May.

Florance arrived in Toronto, Canada, and gave birth to a son Reginald. Her mother and sister moved to Redondo Beach, California. Florance stayed in Toronto where she married a dentist called Perry Grist and her children's names were changed to Grist.

Since the 1950s the sons have wondered about their family ties in Lancashire, and have recently started researching their history. Mr Grist, 53, and his wife Lynne, 52, who are both teachers, plan to visit East Lancashire in the summer to continue their quest. Florance's family were members of Oak Street Congregational Church in Accrington. Her father was called John Thomas Harwood, and her grandparents, both of whom were from Preston and born around 1826, were called Thomas Harwood and Alice Stones.

Mr Grist would also like to trace relatives of his grandfather James Shorrock, the 23-year-old Blackburn medical dispenser who was left behind by Florance back in 1910.

The search has so far taken the Grists back to their great-great-great grandparents Joseph Shorrock and Gainor Pearson, former parishioners of St Alban's Catholic Church, Blackburn, who are buried in the town's council cemetery.

Anyone who can help should write to Robert Grist, 1655 Springwell Avenue, Mississauga, ON, Canada, L5J3J1, or e-mail: robgrist@home.com

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