A FLORIDA man who feels at home in East Lancashire is continuing to research his family tree, after the death of his cousin who started the project.

The Fawcett family has been tracing its roots for the past nine years, and Bill Fawcett, who lives in Florida, makes regular trips to East Lancashire to visit his new-found relatives.

Bill first got interested in researching his history when he met his cousin Thomas Fawcett, of Richmond Street, Accrington, nine years ago.

Between them they tracked down 35 relatives in Britain, and now Bill feels that he belongs here and he treats it like his real home, even though Thomas has now died.

Bill made his latest visit to East Lancashire with his distant cousin Ben Schulz, 68.

Bill said: "While we are in Lancashire we are going to put Thomas' ashes in the family vault at St Stephen's Church in Tockholes. He died on October 16 last year and we all really miss him."

Bill wants to continue the dedicated research carried out by his late cousin so that he can piece together the jigsaw puzzle of his family tree, particularly on his grandmother's side. His grandmother, Emma Bennett Gill, married Thomas Fawcett in 1897 and then emigrated to Duluth, Minnesota, in 1903. Her parents were William Bennett Gill and Mary Waddington Gill, who are buried at St Leonard's Church, Samlesbury.

Bill has managed to find out that his grandmother had seven sisters: Lettice McQuirk, Ellen Wooley, Mary Alice Gill, Marge Gill, Nancy Jane Gill, Elizabeth Gill, and Edith Cross.

She also had three brothers: William Gill, John Gill and William Bennett Gill. John Gill and his wife Mary are buried at St Leonard's Church in Samlesbury. William Bennett Gill married Emma Slater in 1899 and is now buried at Blackburn Cemetery.

Bill said: "I would like to find my descendants on the Gill side of the family, after finding many on the Fawcett side. Many of my ancestors are from East Lancashire and Yorkshire and I am really keen to continue Thomas' research."

Bill, 66, works at a golf and yachting club in the States. If you can help in his search, contact him at 1832 La Grande Drive, Dunedin, Florida, USA 34698.

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