A VILLAGE mystery has been solved after extensive international research was carried out for a new book on the village of Oswaldkirk.

David Goodman, who has helped compile the book, Oswaldkirk – a living village, said that research has revealed the mysterious background to Col John Musgrave Benson, a bachelor, who lived nearly all his life in the village until his death in 1932.

“His background has been rather a mystery, in particular what happened to the money raised when the estate was sold after his death. It had been thought that this went to the Inland Revenue but no beneficiary had been found,” he said.

Research on websites and via e-mail showed that Col Benson’s family came from Leeds, but seemed to have died out.

“Now we know that an earlier relative, who had served in India with the British Army, went to live in Australia in 1854,” said Mr Goodman.

“There was one surviving Benson from that family in the 1930s called Felix. He was a carter in Queensland with ten daughters. They came to share what was about £4 million in today’s money.”

He added: “We came to hear all this by e-mail from the great grandson of the carter, John Lane, who came across the Oswaldkirk website while researching his ancestors.”

By coincidence, Oswaldkirk residents Bob and Jayne Buck had a holiday in Queensland last summer and met Mr Lane and his wife and gave them a ‘tour’ of Oswaldkirk on the website.

One of Col Benson’s legacies to Oswaldkirk was the building of the village hall. He had the floor specially mounted on coil springs to enable dancers to enjoy the Palais Glide.

But it was later outlawed by the colonel because the dancing made the floor move violently on its springs. “He did not allow country dancing either,” said Mr Goodman.

He also provided Oswaldkirk with a village shop and post office as well as the local school.

Recently, Col Benson’s family grave was traced to a tomb at St John the Evangelist Church at Moor Allerton, Leeds.

Villagers packed the hall for the launch of the book, which is priced £5, with the proceeds going towards providing Oswaldkirk with a new noticeboard.

Helen Goodman said the book was proving popular with people searching their family history.

Copies are available from Mr and Mrs Goodman at Ledbrooke House, Oswaldkirk, York, YO62 5XT.