THE grave of a man killed by Native Americans in Montana in the 19th century is intriguing a Northwich man since he saw it in a Lostock cemetery.

Robert Corker is hoping to discover more about Edward Buckley Caldwell, whose final resting place is in his family plot at the church yard at St John's Church, in Lostock Gralam.

The inscription on the headstone reads: "Edward Buckley Caldwell, youngest son of the above, who was killed by Indians at Fort Benton, Montana, USA, March 1887, aged 29 years."

Robert said: "I thought people might be interested in a little story about it because it's something so far away and so different – in time and place – from Northwich."

Contemporary newspaper articles differ in their reports of events surrounding Caldwell's death.

The Great Falls Tribune, on April 9, 1887, said: "News has just been received of a horrible and cold blooded murder."

It described how Mr Caldwell travelled to see his neighbour, Tom Bevin, on March 29 and set off to return home on March 30.

It said: "He was found yesterday morning three miles from Bevin's place, having been murdered and left lying behind his buckboard.

"He had been stabbed in the breast in two places.

"One of his horses had been shot dead and the other had been cut loose from the buckboard and ridden off by the murderer or murderers.

"No clue has yet been reached.

"Caldwell was a man of considerable means and was universally liked.

"He had about $45 with him at the time and is now supposed to have been killed by a party of British Indians who stole some horses from Sare & Kennedy about the time of the murder."

Robert wonders if there may be a link between his family and Caldwell.

"His middle name is Buckley and some of my ancestors are Buckleys so I wondered if there was some kind of connection there," he said.

"I wanted to find out if any other people have researched into the Buckley family and have any information."

Anyone who can shed any light on the story and on Buckley connections should email gbebbington@guardiangrp.co.uk or ring 01606 813624.