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1972 – MASON Elizabeth Ellen of 8 Queen street, Briercliffe, Burnley, died 14 January 1972. Probate Liverpool, 14 February. £1,367

1976 – MASON Willie of 8 Queen street, Briercliffe, Burnley, died 10 August, 1976. Probate Liverpool, 3 September. £11,179

Certainly jogged my memory this morning!
This was my Auntie Lizzie and Uncle Willie. Well...greats, really, as Lizzie was my dad's father's sister....I spent many a cozy day at #8 Queen Street. (photos on the Halstead page of the Photo Archive).
They had no children so had always been very fond of my dad as he was growing up....and then of me, by default! I cannot remember my Uncle Willie ever without a shirt, tie and jacket...except when he was making tea when I visited them. Auntie Lizzie had diabetes, so he cared for her quite a bit.
He used to entertain me by tying a piece of string to a sideboard dooknob, attached to which were a series of paper cut out doll-like figures...he would then jiggle the string and make them dance! Willie was often part of the Gilbert and Sullivan productions at Haggate! I think I saw them all...Iolanthe, Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado....sitting on hard benches, fascinated. Looking back it was truly dire...but for a little girl - mesmerizing!
True baptists, they had hard and fast rules for life...but I do remember Auntie Lizzie and I having a little secret moment together. She and I once shared a Woodbine when I was about 14 ( and soooo sophisticated, y'know). She giggled like a schoolgirl...as we huddled in the outhouse having a sly drag!
Oh, boy....lovely memories.

Suzy, according to your father, Willie Mason was related to William Henry Leaver (1882-1960), but so far I have not been able to find the connection. Would you please ask your Father if he remembers any details?

John William Mason (1867-?) and Mary Sutcliffe (1867-?) had three children.

Nannie Mason b. 1891
Nellie Mason b. 1892
Willie Mason (1898-1976)

And perhaps this will help your Dad.

James Leaver (1857-1930) and Ellen Unknown (1852-1914) had five children.

William Henry Leaver (1882-1960) married Elizabeth Ann Foster (1882-1966)
John Leaver (1884-1965) married Miriam Starkie (1886-1958)
Alice Hannah Leaver (1888-1947)
Clarissa Leaver (1893-1957) married Haydn Barker (1891-1953)
Ellen Leaver (1890-?)

If your Father knew William Henry Leaver, then is possible that he also knew John Leaver (1884-1965) and Miriam Starkie (1886-1958). If this is the case, then perhaps he will recognise the people in these photos. At the bottom of this page (please click this link)
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1878

Photos of William Henry Leaver are below.

http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Pho ... family.htm

http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Pho ... evers2.htm

http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Pho ... evers1.htm

http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Pho ... 0horse.htm

http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Pho ... 20Team.htm

http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Pho ... /Group.htm

Elizabeth Ellen Halstead
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Pho ... lstead.htm

Willie Mason and Elizabeth Halstead
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Pho ... 0Mason.htm

Willie Mason and Elizabeth Halstead
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Pho ... 0Mason.htm

Wedding 1
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Pho ... Mason1.htm

Wedding 2
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Pho ... Mason2.htm

Willie Mason WW1
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Sol ... 0Mason.htm

OK...will do. I don't know how much luck I'll have garnering any info. This past year, my poor owd dad's mind has really diminished in capacity. Still...every once in a while he surprises me! He is, after all, 91 now.

My Grandma is the same (she is 89 this month), but it’s surprising how things come back to her when she hears a name or sees a photo.

Hi Suzy, did you ask your Father about the Willie Mason / William Henry Leaver connection? If so, what did he say?

I tried on Saturday...but it was not a good day for him....a bit uncommunicative. I'll keep trying though.

Thanks Suzy

Well well well. It seems, if my research is correct, that Willie Masons mum was a Sutcliffe. I stumbled on it by chance while looking at a Sutcliffe family in the very thin branches of my tree (very very distant connection to me). I have a Mary Sutcliffe marrying John William Mason in 1890. They had 5 children, 1 died, but the only son was a Willie Mason born in 1898. I'm struggling to find any other Willie Mason for that period.

_________________
Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Boom boom boom another one bites the dust-----well done Mel.

_________________
Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

I knew it.....I'm reated to y'all, one way or another!!