AN Australian woman has appealed to residents in North Yorkshire to help her unravel a mystery surrounding her family.

Patsy Sharp, of Queensland, said she had launched a quest to discover why her great grandparents, John and Annie Tyerman, emigrated to Australia in 1923.

It is believed the family may have been in the service of Lord Cathcart, at Thornton le Street Hall, between Northallerton and Thirsk. The third Earl Cathcart, who died in 1905, was a deputy lieutenant of the North Riding and president of the Royal Agricultural Society.

Mrs Sharp said research had shown her great grandparents, grandmother and several great aunts, sailed on a ship from London.

Studies have revealed her great grandparents, who married in 1893, had four sons, Eli, James, Robert and William and four daughters, Rose, Minnie, Alice and Olive, all of whom were registered as having been born in Thirsk between 1894 and 1910. She said after her ancestors arrived in Queensland on the east coast of Australia, they lost touch with several of her great uncles, who had remained in Britain.

Mrs Sharp said her great grandmother’s maiden name was Holborn and her great uncle Robert had died in Australia in 1943.

She said: “I have no idea as to why they only brought their daughters to Australia, would love to find out why the brothers stayed behind. My great grandfather was a farmer here, but I have no idea what he did in Thirsk.

“I have always wanted to find out more about the family left behind and I would love to come to Thirsk one day as my grandmother spoke about how beautiful it was.nHopefully, they have had families and I would love to share stories with living relatives there.”

To contact Mrs Sharp, email p__diddy2@hotmail.com