Family rumour and casual curiosity prompted history sleuth Marian Shaw to start exploring the life of Zachariah Pearson, but once she began to uncover the breadth and complexity of her great-great-grandfather, her interest became an obsession.

'Very exciting news! Marian Shaw, great-great-granddaughter of Zachariah Pearson, has published a book about her ancestor, the founder of our beautiful Park. This is a must-have for all Park lovers and supporters, containing as it does maps of the area and 66 black-and-white historic illustrations.' Friends of Pearson Park Newsletter, October 2016; 'I enjoyed the personal story of Zachariah, an unusually ambitious man, and his family - with his extraordinary life events starting in Hull then his huge losses and how he coped with it. I learned about world events, shipping, the northern city of Hull, Garibaldi, the US Civil War (this was very well explained), the process of the law in London at that time, as well as the influence of newspapers and journalists. The author is able to describe attitudes at the interesting time of Victoria and Albert as well as the loyalty of the people of Hull to their benefactor. .. [and] the infighting and envy of others. The research links up generations and gave me a very good idea of life at that time, particularly around 1860-65. I enjoyed the author's sense of humour and personal asides very much; her hard work has produced a real tribute to the family. The final section of the book gives a very comprehensive and fair reflection on a man who is well worth the effort of getting to know.' Dr Adrienne Regan.

Family rumour and casual curiosity prompted history sleuth Marian Shaw to start exploring the life of Zachariah Pearson, but once she began to uncover the breadth and complexity of her great-great-grandfather, her interest became an obsession.

'Very exciting news! Marian Shaw, great-great-granddaughter of Zachariah Pearson, has published a book about her ancestor, the founder of our beautiful Park. This is a must-have for all Park lovers and supporters, containing as it does maps of the area and 66 black-and-white historic illustrations.' Friends of Pearson Park Newsletter, October 2016; 'I enjoyed the personal story of Zachariah, an unusually ambitious man, and his family - with his extraordinary life events starting in Hull then his huge losses and how he coped with it. I learned about world events, shipping, the northern city of Hull, Garibaldi, the US Civil War (this was very well explained), the process of the law in London at that time, as well as the influence of newspapers and journalists. The author is able to describe attitudes at the interesting time of Victoria and Albert as well as the loyalty of the people of Hull to their benefactor. .. [and] the infighting and envy of others. The research links up generations and gave me a very good idea of life at that time, particularly around 1860-65. I enjoyed the author's sense of humour and personal asides very much; her hard work has produced a real tribute to the family. The final section of the book gives a very comprehensive and fair reflection on a man who is well worth the effort of getting to know.' Dr Adrienne Regan.

Family rumour and casual curiosity prompted history sleuth Marian Shaw to start exploring the life of Zachariah Pearson, but once she began to uncover the breadth and complexity of her great-great-grandfather, her interest became an obsession.

'Very exciting news! Marian Shaw, great-great-granddaughter of Zachariah Pearson, has published a book about her ancestor, the founder of our beautiful Park. This is a must-have for all Park lovers and supporters, containing as it does maps of the area and 66 black-and-white historic illustrations.' Friends of Pearson Park Newsletter, October 2016; 'I enjoyed the personal story of Zachariah, an unusually ambitious man, and his family - with his extraordinary life events starting in Hull then his huge losses and how he coped with it. I learned about world events, shipping, the northern city of Hull, Garibaldi, the US Civil War (this was very well explained), the process of the law in London at that time, as well as the influence of newspapers and journalists. The author is able to describe attitudes at the interesting time of Victoria and Albert as well as the loyalty of the people of Hull to their benefactor. .. [and] the infighting and envy of others. The research links up generations and gave me a very good idea of life at that time, particularly around 1860-65. I enjoyed the author's sense of humour and personal asides very much; her hard work has produced a real tribute to the family. The final section of the book gives a very comprehensive and fair reflection on a man who is well worth the effort of getting to know.' Dr Adrienne Regan.