WALTER William Law, the son of a carpet and yarn dealer and later manufacturer, was born in Mill Street, Kidderminster, in 1837.

In 1860 he emigrated to New York where he had an immensely successful career in the carpet and furnishing trade.

So successful that he eventually established the village of Briarcliff Manor in New York State, 30 miles north of New York City.

Long-standing Kidderminster Historical Society member Bob Millward has researched Walter and the Law family extensively.

He has obtained a great deal of information from the Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society and in 2016 a member of that group visited Kidderminster for a tour of the town of Walter’s birth.

Walter, who died in America in 1924 aged 86, was not the only member of this enterprising family to emigrate.

Recently, Tim Law, the great grandson of John Francis Law, contacted Bob with a view to visiting Kidderminster to see the town of the family’s roots.

John Francis, born in 1834, was William’s elder brother.

In the 1850s he left to seek his fortune in Australia.

Some years later, when John Francis had established himself as a banker, all the family who remained in England after William had left for America — mother, father and eight siblings — joined him.

In May this year Tim Law and his wife Kerry visited the UK and members of the town’s historical society were able to give him a tour of the town.

More information about the Law family can be found online at kdahs.org and at kiddercivicsociety.wixsite.com/kiddercivsoc.