Charles Pask from Fulbeck, Lincolnshire

Last week John Pask, who we have known for over 20 years, provided us with a detailed narrative of his ancestors.

Whilst including John's grandfather Charles Pask who was born on 11 May 1882, we found him in the 1901, and then the 1891 census, together with his mother and brothers and sisters. However his father was not listed. We then searched the 1881 census, and found that his father was also called Charles. They were living at Queens Terrace Mews, Kensington. Charles [Snr] was aged 25 born in Fulbeck Lincolnshire, the Head of Household; a Coachman - Domestic Servant, living with his wife Jane, and children George, Ellen, and Annie.

We then realised that John's great-grandfather was Charles Pask, the son of George Pask and Betsy Woolhouse. This was one of the families we researched when we started the Pask, Paske One-Name Study in 2003. One of Charles' sister was Caroline "Carrie" Pask. We were very fortunate at that time that Carrie's grandson Christopher Lewis, who now lives in California, contacted us. Then in July 2004, on a visit back to England Christopher, together with his brother Timothy, came to see us. They brought with them Carrie's photograph album which had several unidentified photographs from the 1890s. At that time we only included a few photographs on the website.

So you can imagine our excitement when we connected Charles and Caroline. Included in the photographs were some taken in London - there was a possibility that the London photographs in Caroline's album may be Charles, or of his family.

On Tuesday evening John telephoned and during a very interesting 2-hour telephone call, I asked John what happened to his great-grandfather he said "Oh, he was reputed to gone off and left them and went to Canada or America". This started the alarm bells ringing. Also in Carrie's photograph album were two additional photographs taken in a New York studio, showing three young children. There was written on the back of the photographs "Durant" 10. Oct 23rd 1898 Marshall Woolhouse Pask age 11 June 14th 1899 Oakdale U.S.A., and Royal Charles Pask age 6 years 3 months June 1899. However in 2003, although searches were made, nothing was found. Was there a possibility that Charles had gone to the US and had additional children?

On Wednesday John subscribed to pay-as-you-view on Ancestry.com and established that Charles was living in New York, in the 1900 census - a Coachman, living with his wife Filamela [Filomenia], and children Marchall [Marshall], Durant, twins Lucius and Lawrence, and Royal C.
Since then we have established that he, and possibly Filomenia immigrated in 1888. We have also found them in the 1910, and 1930 census living in New York and their sons' World War I draft registration cards, with their dates of birth, and addresses.

We have now signed up for a year's subscription with http://www.ancestry.com/ and will methodically trace all other possible information.