Research uncovers ancestry of Keighley-born Captain Sir Tom Moore

Research carried out by Finders International has revealed the extent to which his home town was part of Captain Sir Tom’s DNA.

To mark what would have been his 101st birthday, Finders International – a professional probate genealogist firm which stars in the popular TV programme Heir Hunters – traced his family tree, and went back 230 years.

Captain Sir Tom captured the nation’s hearts last year when he walked laps of his garden to mark his 100th birthday – and raised a staggering £38.9 million for NHS charities. He died in February.

Danny Curran, managing director of Finders International, said: “We wanted to do something special for what would have been Captain Tom’s 101st birthday so we thought we’d use our research resources, normally used to trace heirs to an estate, to develop a historical family tree on our national treasure.”

The research took in three generations – going back to the birth of Captain Sir Tom’s great, great grandparents in the 1790s.

His parents married in 1877 and spent their entire lives in Keighley.

Captain Sir Tom’s father, Wilson Moore, lived until he was 85 and his mother – Isabella Hird – died aged 78.

Wilson, like his father before him, worked in the building trade and Isabella was a housewife.

Going back another generation, Captain Sir Tom’s grandfather – Thomas Moore – was a stonemason and builder.

He was married to Hannah Whitaker and they were both born in the 1850s.

As with Captain Sir Tom’s parents, they also lived, married and died in Keighley.

Thomas was 80 when he died in 1932.

Great grandfather, William Moore, was born in 1891 and was a labourer living in Skipton and then Keighley.

A further generation back is the great, great grandfather – John Moore – who lived from 1793 to 1871.

He was a farmer with 58 acres and, like Captain Sir Tom, had married twice.

Mr Curran said: “On his mother’s side of the family, Keighley and Yorkshire was part of the family’s DNA.

“The three generations going as far back as 1792 were all born-and-bred Keighley people.

“Most were involved in the weaving industry that thrived in Keighley from the early Victorian times. And all of them are also buried in Keighley.

“It wasn’t unusual at this time in history for generations of families to work in the same industry. When working conditions and pay were sufficient, there were few reasons to leave an area.

“In the early 1800s Keighley industry was mainly worsted manufacturing.

“Expansion of the wool trade continued and by the 1850s there were over 30 mills operating in the area.

“During the middle Victorian period Keighley’s main industry was weaving – there was said to be 1,200 handlooms working at the time the Brontes were writing.

“Industrialisation grew quickly in the area and mills were built to accommodate modern machinery that then replaced the handloom.”

Captain Sir Tom’s grandfather on his mother’s side, John Hird, was married to Fanny Burton.

He was a hairdresser and then a master hairdresser. Fanny was an academic.

John’s father – Captain Sir Tom’s great grandfather – William Hird, was also a hairdresser.

Mr Curran added: “Of Captain Sir Tom’s great, great grandparents that were traced, all except three lived long lives.

“One lived until she was 91 – from 1806 to 1897 – which was quite an achievement for someone born in the early 1800s.

“The historical family tree – and the accompanying data – together with money raised by Finders International for Captain Sir Tom’s charity, have been sent to his daughter.”