Pages 13-16
Betty writes that she is Elizabeth "Betty" Shackleton, her father was Walter Hodge Shackleton, son of Charles Shackleton, who was the son of Abraham Shackleton. Elizabeth married Milton Frederick Valentine Glock, Sr.; 2 children, Milton Frederick Valentine, Jr. "Fred"; m. Holly ann Kuruce; and Elizabeth Mabel; m. Steve Andrew Hughes;
The following information about her Great Grandfather comes from "Memoir" a fragile little printed booklet.
Abraham Shackleton, b 18 August 1805; d. 26 November 1868; m. Mary Nuttall in 1828; d. 29 September 1874 (in her 67th year)
MEMOIR OB BRO ABRAHAM SHACKLETON OF THE FACIT DISTRICT OF UNITED FREE GARDENERS. The memoir is addressed to the members and begins:
Dear Brethren, It is again my painful duty to record the passing away to a world of spirits on one of the brightest gems of our Order.
Bro. Abraham Shackleton...was born at Todmorden on the 18th of August 1806. His father was the clerk and sexton of Todmorden parish church, an office that had been in the family for upwards of seventy years. His mother was the daughter of a neighbouring farmer, and possessed the ability of being able to read and write. This she had axuired while following her occupation of tending sheep. They were too poor to send him to school. He was sent to the mill as a scavenger, before he was seven years of age. He endured great hardships in this place, having to work very long hours. His desire for knowledge was such that he arranged with his father to go without supper, in order that he might attend a penny night-school, and it was under these circumstances that he axuired a knowledge of reading and arithmetic, and laid the foundation of that wider and more extended general culture which distinguished him in after life.
He married Mary, the youngest daughter of Mr. James Nuttal, of Todmorden in 1828. Shortly after his marriage he and his wife removed to Toad-lane, in Rochdale, whre he sought and found employment as a mule spinner. He identified with the first co-operative movement tried. In 1850 he moved to Leavengreave, a village some five miles north of Rochdale, where he still followed the same occupation. he founded a night school (the first ever attempted in the neighbourhood) in his own cottage, which he kept on for many years. He with others established a cottage library. In 1840, he was employed by the Messrs, Whitworth and Sons, cotton spinners of Facit, where he became the manager in 1859. He was an ardent lover of science, and delighted in the study of geology, botany, and electricity. He joined the "Prince of Peace" Lodge at Facit 1833. He served all the offices in his lodge and district. He was presented with an elegant silver medal, for his service. He was a past grand master and past grand treasurer of the Order. His labours for the benefit of the Order will never be forgotten...Let us endeavour so to live as our departed brother, so the world will have been benefited by our existence, and our memory, like his, may live when we are no more. Signed-William Brierley, G.Secretary. Oldham, April 18th, 1867.
A letter from Mrs. Venus Lyons (dated 4 September 1974):
My mother was a Shackleton before her marriage and Sir Ernest Shackleton's father and her father (my grandfather) were brothers. his name was Thomas Shackleton. Could Theobald Shackleton listed on page 38 be called Thomas? Can anyone explain this Thomas? She also adds; "He came over 3 times before he settled in the States and married."
Corrections and Additions:
Page 28-Griesebank rather than Griese Bank.
Page 234-add (2) marriage of Laurene St. John to Wilbur "Bill" Carl Ackerman. His parents were Harold F. and Dorothy Ackerman
