AN American is hoping Star readers can help her track down long-lost members of her family believed to be living in the St Helens area.

Patricia Smith, from Pennsylvania, spent three years trying to trace her family tree, finally discovering her maternal great-grandparents, Peter Devine and Ann Burns, had once lived in Parr.

Now she has enlisted the help of Rainhill couple Howard and Jennifer Chadwick - via the Internet.

Howard explained: "We have recently returned from visiting a good friend of Jennifer's in Canada who told us she been in contact with Patricia via the Internet and told us her story. Later Pat sent us a letter outlining everything she had found out so far and we promised to do everything we could to help."

According to the records, Peter and his wife Ann were both born in Ireland but only met after settling in Parr and Fingerpost respectively. They married at Lowe House Chapel in 1860 but a few years later set sail for America, eventually settling permanently in Pennsylvania.

However, Patricia believes they left a number of relatives behind in St Helens including Ann's sister, Margaret, and her brothers, Edward, Michael, James and John, who, she thinks, carried on the family tradition and became stonemasons. Now she is now anxious to get in touch with any descendants of these people.

Added Howard: "Patricia has been working on this project for years and it would really mean a lot to her to meet any members of her family who are living in St Helens or Prescot."

ANYONE who might be able to help can contact Howard on 0151 426 2767.

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