AN author and historian has pieced together the story behind an unusual gravestone found in a Lostock churchyard.

Tony Davies, from Tabley, has published a book exploring the life and death of Edward Buckley Caldwell, killed by Native Americans in Montana in the 19th century, whose gravestone is located in St John's Church, in Lostock Gralam.

Tony has previously written a variety of books focusing on the First World War and the men who never came home, and he also gives history talks.

Explaining his latest book, Tony said: "A couple of weeks ago I was approached by Brian Appleton, who told me about the gravestone in Lostock.

"I was posting some of my other books at the post office and he heard what I was saying and said he had a story for me.

"His brother found the gravestone when he was mowing the grass in 1994.

"It read ‘Edward Buckley Caldwell – killed by Indians in Montana 1887'.

Northwich Guardian:

"I started researching this event.

"There were no official documents left so I relied on newspaper articles to piece together the events.

"A Blackfoot Native American named Two Fox was blamed for the murder and he took his own life rather than be taken by the Tribal Police.

"But there are other theories as to what happened and these have been explored in the book."

Edward emigrated to Canada in about 1880, and worked for the Hudson Bay Company before arriving in Montana, where he prospered as a rancher.

He was chased while driving his buckboard and shot in the back.

"In the book I have pieced together the story, using a policeman’s eye," Tony said.

"I was a policeman for 30 years.

"I used information gleaned from the sheriff at Fort Benton, Montana, Quaker Societies in the USA and Canada, Montana historians and information from the school Edward attended in Banbury.

"It is a fascinating story."

For a copy of the book, email tony@tonydavies.me.