DNA Test Results for Chart 39

This information relates to Chart 39 - Thomas PASK, (1766-b1851) who lived in St. Pancras.

As mentioned in a previous blog dated August 25, a member of family group 39 - tester 267830, kindly agreed to do a DNA test. It has been very amiss of us not to provide an update on the results. However, we needed to consult with knowledgeable colleagues as there was some confusion on the results.

Chart 39 was relating to the descendants of Thomas & Martha Pask née Dent. They married in London on 9 October 1808. There was no indication, or paper trail, where Thomas originated from. However, through DNA testing, we have found that the new tester 267830 matched 34 out 37 markers with tester 191613 from Chart 06 – the descendants of Peter & Catherine Pask née Frost, who lived in Stoke by Clare, and Kedington in Suffolk.

However, whilst there are now six testers in Chart 06 group – see http://www.pask.org.uk/Pask-p/dna_project.htm, using the ‘classic results’ report, which requires a minimum match of 34 out of 37, the other four testers in this group did not match with the new tester. The reason is because there are a lot of mutations in this group. 

Using the new FTDNATiP™ report that calculates the likely time to a common paternal ancestor for two project members it shows that tester 267830 has the probability that he shared a common ancestor within:

·        16 generations with tester 153252 – 7 mismatches

·        12 generations with tester N15380 – 6 mismatches

·        10 generations with tester 191613 – 3 mismatches

·        16 generations with tester 205757 – 6 mismatches

·        12 generations with tester 255440 – 7 mismatches

On the basis of 3 generations per 100 years this ranges between 400 and 500 years ago, i.e.  1400s to 1500s. 

Chart 39 is now merged with Chart 06.

If you require any additional information on these results, or DNA generally, please do not hesitate to contact us. We may not have the answers, but we do know someone who will. 

Website Update 14 December 2013

The website was updated today, Saturday 14 December.

The updates included mainly relate to the following charts / family groups:

• Chart 01: The Lincolnshire main progenitor, John Pask, (c1520 - 1591) who lived in Washingborough, Lincolnshire. (Stuart's own ancestors).
• Chart 02: The Suffolk Main Progenitor - John & Mirabel Pask née Sparrow
• Chart 04: The Monmouthshire Main Progenitor: Isaac Pask, (c1705 - ) lived in Llanvihangel-ystern-Llewern, Monmouthshire
• Chart 06: Indented Chart - Unknown PASK lived in Kedington, Suffolk
• Chart 09: John PASKE, was a Yeoman of Stradishall, Suffolk (d1577 )
• Chart 10: Essex Main Progenitor - John PASK, (1771-1847) Thundersley, Essex
• Chart 11: John PASK, (c1745-1793) married Elizabeth FOUNTAIN and they lived in Gautby, Lincolnshire
• Chart 14: William PASK, (1791-1874) from Caythorpe & Sedgebrook, Lincolnshire
• Chart 16: --?-- PASKE, (c1755- ) lived in Hackthorne, Lincolnshire
• Chart 29: Thomas PASQUE, (c1700-1754) lived in Theberton, Suffolk #4483
• Chart 38: Thomas PASK, (1820- ) Upminster, Essex
• Chart 39: Thomas PASK, (1766-1846) lived in St. Pancras. This
  family is now combined with Chart 06, as a result of recent DNA testing.
• Chart 42: William PASK (c1720- ) lived in Cwmcarvan, Monmouthshire
• Chart 43: John PASK (1769-1835), lived in Northamptonshire & Cambridgeshire
• Chart 46: William PASK (1860-1914) born in Southery, Lincolnshire
• Chart 48: George PASK (1818-1904), lived in Northamptonshire
• Chart 49: Charles PASK lived in Dingestow, and Cwmcarvan, Monmouthshire
• Chart 52: William PASK was born in Llanover, and lived in Llangattock, Monmouthshire

There is a total of 9967 detailed narratives now available on the website. We now have 16,304 people, including living people in our database.

A full list of the recent changes to the narratives is available in the New or Changed Narratives section.

Many thanks to all who contributed.

Tendring Registration District Marriages

This information relates to:
Chart 02: The Suffolk Main Progenitor - John & Mirabel Pask née Sparrow
Chart 06: Unknown Pask lived in Kedington, Suffolk

We have just received three marriage transcripts, provided by Marion Hopkins, as part of the Tendring Registration District Marriage Challenge.

The Marriage Challenge is a Guild of One-Name Studies (GOONS) Project in which volunteers (Challengers) search for marriage entries in the deposited Parish Registers for a particular Registration District normally for the period 1837 to 1911. However in this case, Tendring RD was abolished after quarter 2 in 1939. So Marion took her searches up to 1939.
Marion has kindly provided the following marriages:

• Alfred Elisha Parsk and Emma Cocks.  Their marriage transcript shows they married on 7 October 1905 at St Nicholas, Harwich. He was a Bachelor aged 32, a Painter residing at 18 Fernlea Road Harwich. His father was listed as James Parsk, a Retired Gamekeeper. Emma was a Spinster aged 33, a Dressmaker residing at 43 Haydon Park Road Wimbledon. Her father was listed as Walter James Cocks, a Traveller. Alfred, also known as Alfred Elisha Pasque, was a descendant of Chart 06: Unknown Pask lived in Kedington, Suffolk.
• Emma Pask and Willie Ware.  Their marriage transcript shows they married on 30 April 1921 at Frating. She was a Spinster, aged 40 residing in Frating. Her father was listed as George Pask, a Farm Labourer. He was a Widower aged 50, a Farm Labourer residing in Frating. His father was listed as John Ware, a Farm Labourer. The marriage was witnessed by Martha Almond, and Percy R. Almond. Emma was also a descendant of Chart 06: Unknown Pask lived in Kedington, Suffolk.
• Ernest Arthur Paske and Hilda Maria Winney. Their marriage transcript shows they married on 30 April 1930 at St. Lawrence Church, Bradfield. He was a Bachelor aged 27, a Footman residing in St Mary's Bury St Edmunds. His father was listed as Ernest George Paske (Deceased), a Stableman. She was a Spinster aged 32, residing in Bradfield. Her father was listed as William Winney, a Roadman. The marriage was witnssed by John Frederick Burrell (his brother-in-law) and W. WINNEY (probably the bride's father). Ernest is a descendant of Chart 02-1 John PASK, eldest son of Suffolk Main Progenitor - John & Mirabel Pask née Sparrow #3372.

Many thanks to Marion and her helpers for providing these marriage transcripts. This information will be available in the next website update.

DNA Testing for Pask Family Group 39

This information relates to Chart 39 - Thomas PASK, (1766-b1851) who lived in St. Pancras.

A member of family group 39 has kindly agreed to do a DNA test. The test kit has now arrived at the laboratory at Family Tree DNA, and assigned to the PASK DNA study.  

The results will take approximately 6-8 weeks. So hopefully by late October we should have the results.

What will it tell us?  Optimistically it will match with one of the other family groups. This will give us a direction on where to focus to find documentary evidence. With a name like Thomas, it is difficult to distinguish which Thomas this may be - especially as we currently don't know where he originated.

A conclusive test will enable us to identify the origins of several of Thomas & Martha Pask née DENT descendants, like (to name a few):

Sergeant Major John Pask (1884-1963), who served in the 2nd Battalion Kings Regiment in Bengal, where he married Marion Tristram in 1917.

Edgar Henry Pask (1879-1959), who married Evelyn Clara Flowers in 1901. In the 1911 census, he was listed as a Captain of a Private Yacht.

Edgar's great-great niece Naomi Pask, who lives in Gibraltar. We met her, and her family, in March earlier this year.

Edgar's great-granddaughter Clare Pask, has provided information on his descendants.

Walter Pask (1876-1908) who died at the age of 32; He was killed in a railway accident, leaving his wife Jane Annie Chester, with four children. This included Arthur Pask (1905-1991), who together with his brother Walter, and his grandmother and Aunts Nelly and Kate, immigrated to Melbourne Australia in 1912. Arthur was a very talanted man. He played the cello in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, he was an accountant, and also the Team Manager for the Australian Archers in the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany.

Arthur was the father of keen family historian Yvonne Pask. We have been in correspondence with Yvonne since 2009 and she has provided extensive information on both this family and other Pasks who lived in Australia.

Isaac Arthur James Pask, M.C., DSO., R.G.A. (1881-1916), who was a Captain in the Royal Field Artillery, 28th Brigade. Isaac was killed in action on 1 September 1916, fighting in World War I in the Somme, at the age of 35.

James Morton Pask (1848-1930), who joined the Royal Navy as an Instructor. Whilst serving on the H.M.S. Druid, he took part in the Ashantee war led by Sir Garnet Wolseley in Oct 1873-March 1874. James had in his possessions two skulls shaped into drinking cups, that were taken by King Hama-dikky (King of Dixcove). These are now deposited at the British Museum.

James' great-great nephew John Morton Cross, who we met at the Pask Family Gathering in 2008, and who has extensively researched this family and provided detailed narratives.

If you are a Pask, Paske, or Pasque male, we encourage you to take a DNA test. To date, we have tested 23 men, and this has helped us considerably with the Pask One-Name Study. Alternative if you are a Pask, Paske, or Pasque female, we ask you to encourage your fathers, or brothers to do the test. More information on the process, cost, etc., are available from pask@one-name.org.

Website Updated 26 July 2013

The website was updated yesterday, Friday 26 July - long overdue! However there has been continuous changes, since the last website update - I just did not get round to updating the website.

The updates included mainly relate to the following charts / family groups:

• Chart 01: The Lincolnshire main progenitor, John Pask, (c1520 - 1591) who lived in Washingborough, Lincolnshire. (Stuart's own ancestors).
• Chart 02: The Suffolk Main Progenitor - John & Mirabel Pask née Sparrow
• Chart 04: The Monmouthshire Main Progenitor: Isaac Pask, (c1705 - ) lived in Llanvihangel-ystern-Llewern, Monmouthshire
• Chart 06: Indented Chart - Unknown PASK lived in Kedington, Suffolk
• Chart 09: John PASKE, was a Yeoman of Stradishall, Suffolk (d1577 )
• Chart 10: Essex Main Progenitor - John PASK, (1771-1847) Thundersley, Essex
• Chart 11: John PASK, (c1745-1793) married Elizabeth FOUNTAIN and they lived in Gautby, Lincolnshire
• Chart 14: William PASK, (1791-1874) from Caythorpe & Sedgebrook, Lincolnshire
• Chart 16: --?-- PASKE, (c1755- ) lived in Hackthorne, Lincolnshire
• Chart 23: Edward PASK, (1771-1836) lived in Barholm, Lincolnshire
• Chart 26: Thomas PASK, (1777-1855) Brockley, Suffolk
• Chart 30: James PASK, (1835- ) Southrow, or Southrey, near Bardney, Lincolnshire
• Chart 35: James PASK, (1807-1889) Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk
• Chart 38: Thomas PASK, (1820- ) Upminster, Essex
• Chart 39: Thomas PASK, (1766-1846) lived in St. Pancras
• Chart 40: Hezekiah PASQUE, lived in Cripplegate, London
• Chart 41: James PASK, lived in Finsbury, London c1758
• Chart 42: William PASK (c1720- ) lived in Cwmcarvan, Monmouthshire
• Chart 43: John PASK (1769-1835), lived in Northamptonshire & Cambridgeshire
• Chart 44: William PASK lived in Timberland, Lincolnshire
• Chart 45: James PASK (c1780- ) who lived in Nantylgo, Monmouthshire
• Chart 46: William PASK (1860-1914) born in Southery, Lincolnshire
• Chart 47: Robert PASK, formerly PASS born in 1884 in Freiston, Lincolnshire 
• Chart 49: Charles PASK lived in Dingestow, and Cwmcarvan, Monmouthshire
• Chart 51: Joseph PASK lived in Wisbech Cambridgeshire in 1840-1860 

There is a total of 9837 detailed narratives now available on the website. We now have 16,090 people, including living people in our database.

A full list of the recent changes to the narratives is available in the New or Changed Narratives section.

Many thanks to all who contributed.

Website Now Back Online

The Pask-Paske One-Name Study website is now back online. Unfortunately, whilst we were on a cruise to St. Petersburg, the domain required renewing and although this was done the technical backend of the website was not accessible to us until we were back in the UK.

Many thanks for all those who notified us of the website unavailability.

During the cruise I had time to do a lot of updates. So a website update is imminient.

Descendants of Charles Herbert & Marjorie Alice Paske née Signs

This information relates to the descendants of William Pask (c1720- ) who lived in Cwmcarvan, Monmouthshire.

Kareen Frances Bennett née Pask

Sadly today we were notified of the death of Kareen Frances Bennett née Paske, the granddaughter of Charles Herbert & Marjorie Alice Paske née Signs.


Kareen, known as Kari, was born in Anchorage, Alaska on July 1 1970, and died on May 7, 2013. More information is available in her Obituary.

Kareen was the sister of Jennifer Helen Paske, who was born on August 7, 1972 and died on January 16, 2009. More information is available in her Obituary.

Jennifer Helen Paske

Kareen, and Jennifer's 2 x great-grandfather William Joliffe Paske, together with his first wife Emily, originally immigrated to America in 1886. Shortly afterwards Emily died, and William remarried Ida Olive Kline in 1888 in Norfolk, Madison County, Nebraska where they raised 3 sons in the early 1890s. William was born in Bristol, in England although the family originated from Monmouthshire.

Our thoughts are with the families.

Descendants of Walter Claud & Maisie Pask née Dennis

This information relates to the main Suffolk tree - descendants of John & Mirabel Pask née Sparrow, born c1680 who lived in Wickhambrook, Suffolk. In particular descendants of Daniel Pask (1711-1763) their second son.

A few days ago we received an e-mail from Aaron Pask, the grandson of Walter Claud & Maisie Pask née Dennis. He has kindly provided information on his wife and their three children.

If you a related to Aaron, and have any additional information on your own family, do let us know. Only names of 'living' people are included on the website. 

Hopefully in the near future, after my retirement at the end of this month, we plan to republish the PASKs of Suffolk books, and also include some new titles. For more information see Pasks Publications.  

Descendants of Phoebe Elizabeth Kaucher née Pask

This information relates to Chart 06 - Unknown Pask who lived in Kedington, Suffolk.

We had an e-mail yesterday from Janice Hecker who lives in Australia. She is the grand-daughter of Phoebe Elizabeth Pask, from the Suffolk Family Chart 06.

We searched www.ancestry.co.uk for some additional information, and found Phoebe's marriage to Edward Kaucher in the parish register of St. Judes, Bethnal Green. Also her school admission in 26 August 1901 to Cranbrook Road school in Tower Hamlets.

Janice advised that she also had an Aunt Phoebe, who was not listed in the narratives. So we need to do some more research here.




Janice's parents and her siblings immigrated to Australia in 1962. We look forward to receiving more information from her.

DNA Testing for Pa(r)s(k)(e)(que) Update

This information relates to Chart 29, the descendants of Thomas Pasque, (c1700-1754) who lived in Theberton, Suffolk.

We have received the results of the DNA testing of Roy Parsk, who kindly agreed to do a DNA test for Chart 29. This is a particularly interesting family as there has been numerous spellings of the name. See the previous blog dated September 12.

The DNA results show that this family (extensively researched by several, including Herbert Bunt, Martyn K. Elmy, Valerie Francis, Kevin Parsk, Roy Parsk, and Geraldine Edwards) has the same DNA as Chart 06. Chart 06: Indented Chart - Unknown PASK lived in Kedington, Suffolk #13655.

This means that the 326 people currently assigned to Chart 29 will be merged with Chart 06 which already has 1596 people. We need to establish how Thomas Pasque links into Chart 06. Hopefully this will be completed in the next website update. Thomas lived in Theberton, some 60 miles from Kedington.

In the meantime, the results of the DNA test can be seen on www.familytreedna.com in Pask DNA Project - Y-DNA Classic Chart.

Many thanks to Roy for agreeing to do the DNA test and for allowing us to publish his name in the hope of encouraging other male Pa(r)s(k)(e)(que) to come forward and volunteer to do the test. It is strongly recommened that more than one person from each group take the test.

Website Update Sunday 7 October

The website was updated on Sunday 7 October. The updates included mainly relate to the following charts / family groups:

• Chart 01: The Lincolnshire main progenitor, John Pask, (c1520 - 1591) who lived in Washingborough, Lincolnshire. (Stuart's own ancestors).
• Chart 02: The Suffolk Main Progenitor - John & Mirabel Pask née Sparrow
• Chart 04: The Monmouthshire Main Progenitor: Isaac Pask, (c1705 - ) lived in Llanvihangel-ystern-Llewern, Monmouthshire
• Chart 06: Indented Chart - Unknown PASK lived in Kedington, Suffolk #13655. 
• Chart 09: John PASKE, was a Yeoman of Stradishall, Suffolk (d1577 ) #1600
• Chart 10: Essex Main Progenitor - John PASK, (1771-1847) Thundersley, Essex #2493
• Chart 11: John PASK, (c1745-1793) married Elizabeth FOUNTAIN and they lived in Gautby, Lincolnshire #7697
• Chart 34: The descendants of Philip Pask, (1768-1843), who lived in Bryngwyn, Monmouthshire. 
• Chart 47: Robert PASK, formerly PASS born in 1884 in Freiston, Lincolnshire #7521 
• Chart 48: George PASK (1818-1904), lived in Northamptonshire #2912
• Chart 49: Charles PASK lived in Dingestow, and Cwmcarvan, Monmouthshire #8663. 
• Chart 51: Joseph PASK lived in Wisbech Cambridgeshire in 1840-1860 #8861. This contains information, as detailed in the blog Elgin Cemetery Walk, dated 4 October.

65 new narratives have been added since the last update on 10 September. This makes a total of 9725 detailed narratives now available on the website - although there was an increase of 164 people, including living people, making a total of 15857 people in our database.

A full list of the recent changes to the narratives is available in the New or Changed Narratives section.

Many thanks to all who contributed.

Update to 25th Elgin Cemetery Walk

This information relates to Chart 51, the descendants of John & Mary Pask née Hammond who lived in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire in the 1840-1860s.

Through www.findagrave.com, I contacted Anna who has advised me that there are several other Pask buried at Bluff City Cemetery in Elgin. She has provided this photograph.

Additionally she provided a link to an excellent Youtube video of the 25th Elgin Cemetery Walk.  Brilliant!

The power of the internet.

Elgin Cemetery Walk - Francis Joseph Pask

This information relates to Chart 51, the descendants of John & Mary Pask née Hammond who lived in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire in the 1840-1860s.

Just recently through Google Alerts, we were notified of the 25th Elgin Cemetery Walk by Dave Gathman from the Elgin Courier News in Illinois, USA. Dave reported:

"The cemetery walk is put on each year in Bluff City Cemetery as a fundraiser for the Elgin Area Historical Society. Actors who volunteer to re-create each person and have researched that person’s life dress up as the person would have looked, stand at the real person’s grave and speak for five to seven minutes about the life of the person whose remains lie below. Tour groups move from one such gravesite to the next...
...One couple being portrayed, Francis “Shanty” Pask and his mother, Maryann Pask, had a life story so odd that it once was featured in the nationally syndicated comic strip “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” in 1941. "

Having read the detailed account I decided to identify where his mother Mary Ann originated from.

Mary Ann Pask née Lamming, immigrated together with her husband William Pask, departing from Liverpool on the "Constellation" arriving in New York on 13 April 1854. They settled in Elgin, Kane County, Illinois, USA. I found the family listed in the 1860 through to the 1940 censuses. William was listed initially as a Farmer, and then a Gardener. They had six children:

• Mariah A. Pask b. 1854
• George Lamming Pask b. 7 Jul 1856, d. 24 Oct 1927
• Elizabeth Pask b. 1858
• Francis "Frank" Joseph Pask b. 1860, d 6 Jun 1940 - known as "Shanty"
• Lottie J. Pask b. 1862
• Julia Pask b. 1864

William was born in 1828 in Moulton, Lincolnshire. He was the son of Joseph & Mary Pask née Hammond.

William married Mary Ann Lamming in 1850 in the Glanford Brigg registration district. In the census of 30 March 1851 in Howsham, Lincolnshire, he was listed as a Rail Labourer, aged 23 born in Moulton Egate [Moulton Eaugate], the son-in-law of George Lambing. 

William died in Elgin, between 1880 and 1900. Mary Ann died on 18 October 1919, and is buried in Bluff City Cemetery. Her son Francis after being paralyzed by spinal damage in 1913, died on 6 June 1940, having spent 27 years in hospital.

The Elgin Cemetery Walk was well attended, as reported by Tara García Mathewson from the Daily Herald.

Up-to-date information on this family will be available in the next website update.      

DNA Testing for Pa(r)s(k)(e)(que)

This information relates to Chart 29, the descendants of Thomas Pasque, (c1700-1754) who lived in Theberton, Suffolk.

As a result of the recent successful DNA testing, Roy Parsk has kindly agreed to do a DNA test for Chart 29. This is particularly an interesting family as there has been numerous spellings of the name.

Thomas Pasque married Ann Knighting on 8 June 1732 in Theberton, Suffolk. Thomas was the Parish Clerk there. His 220+ descendants span 11 generations, and have many variants of the name, including Pa(r)s(k)(e)(que). This family has been extensively researched by several, including Herbert Bunt, Martyn K. Elmy, Valerie Francis, Kevin Parsk, Roy Parsk, and Geraldine Edwards.

Roy's own ancestors had the names of PARSK, PASQUE, PIRSK, and PASK. Whilst most of them originated from Suffolk, there are family rumours that they came from Essex. Let's hope the DNA testing will confirm there is a connection between this family and one of the main progenitors.

Many thanks to Roy for agreeing to do the DNA test and for allowing us to publish his name in the hope of encouraging other male Pa(r)s(k)(e)(que) to come forward and volunteer to do the test. It is strongly recommened that more than one person from each group take the test.

New DNA Results for Chart 34 & Chart 49 - Monmouthshire

This information relates to Chart 34, the descendants of Philip Pask, (1768-1843), who lived in Bryngwyn, Monmouthshire, and
  Chart 49: Charles Pask (1760-1833) who lived in Dingestow, and Cwmcarvan, Monmouthshire #8663.

A recent DNA test has revealed a match between Chart 34, and Chart 49. They matched 32 out of 37 markers.

Whilst we cannot currently find the documentary evidence to link the Monmouthshire families from Chart 34, and Chart 49, they are probably the same family. In the next website update, we will merge all these families into one chart. The connection is probably somewhere in the 1700s, which will need further documentary research.

In the meantime, the results can be seen on the Family Tree DNA website in the Pask DNA Project.

Thank you to all concerned for taking part in the DNA project. We welcome any male Pa(r)s(k)(e)(que) to participate in the Pask DNA Project - do contact us for further details. DNA testing is really a major contribution to the Pask One-Name Study.

Website Updated Monday 10 September 2012

The website was updated today, Monday 10 September. The updates included mainly relate to the following charts / family groups:

• Chart 01: The Lincolnshire main progenitor, John Pask, (c1520 - 1591) who lived in Washingborough, Lincolnshire. (Stuart's own ancestors).

• Chart 02: The Suffolk Main Progenitor - John & Mirabel Pask née Sparrow

• Chart 04: The Monmouthshire Main Progenitor: Isaac Pask, (c1705 - ) lived in Llanvihangel-ystern-Llewern, Monmouthshire
  

• Chart 06: Indented Chart - Unknown PASK lived in Kedington, Suffolk #13655. 

• Chart 34: The descendants of Philip Pask, (1768-1843), who lived in Bryngwyn, Monmouthshire.

• Chart 49: Charles PASK lived in Dingestow, and Cwmcarvan, Monmouthshire #8663. This contains additional information provided by Michael Paske, as detailed in the blog titled Daughters of John & Elizabeth Paske née Curzon, dated 25 June.

68 new narratives have been added since the last update on 23 July. This makes a total of 9,660 detailed narratives now available on the website - although there was an increase of 348 people, including living people, making a total of 15,693 people in our database.

A full list of the recent changes to the narratives is available in the New or Changed Narratives section.

Many thanks to all who contributed.

Happy 90th Birthday Celebrations

Ken & Alma celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary
together with their family - August 1997.

This information relates to the main Lincolnshire tree - descendants of Johannis [John] and Elizabeth Pask née Archer, who lived in Lincolnshire.

Very special wishes to Ken Pask who this weekend will be celebrating his 90th birthday with his family. Ken is Stuart's cousin. He was born in Alfreton, Derbyshire, England, the son of Arthur Edward & Rachel Pask née Sanders.

He joined the RAF in December 1940, was awarded his pilot wings in January 1942, and was posted to Kilbride for test pilot training. In August 1943 he was posted to India, joined 155 (F) Squadron in Burma, South East Asia Command. In May 1945 he moved to 226 Group, Delhi, and on to Risalpur and Karachi on test pilot duties until returning to Britain in June 1946. After the war, Ken returned to university and graduated in 1947. He joined Pfizer Canada Inc. and retired in 1987 as Regional Manager, Western Canada.

Kenneth married Alma Yvonne Laughton, daughter of Francis Thomas Abraham & Amelia Laughton née Langford, on 23 August 1947 at Christ Church, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. Sadly his wife, Alma, died on 29 June 2009, at the age of 85, after 62 years of marriage.

In 1949 the family immigrated to Canada. Ken has four children, eight grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.

Alma & Ken preparing to fly away on their honeymoon
23 August 1947

Edgar Alexander Pask Featured on BBC's The One Show

Professor Edgar Alexander Pask O.B.E. (1912-1966)

This information relates to the main Lincolnshire tree - descendants of Johannis [John] and Elizabeth Pask née Archer, who lived in Lincolnshire.

On Monday 20 August 2012, the BBC programme The One Show, featured the remarkable story of Professor Edgar Alexander Pask O.B.E.

He was deemed 'The bravest man in the RAF never to have flown an aeroplane'. Edgar 'Gar' Pask was the first professor of anaesthesia in Newcastle, the second chair to be established in England. During the Second World War, he worked with Professor Macintosh, researching aspects of human physiology for the RAF. He acted as a human guinea pig for very dangerous experiments, intended to investigate ways of saving the lives of airmen forced to bale out at high altitudes, or ditch into freezing seas. He tested the limits of a human endurance due to hypoxia at high altitudes. He tested immersion suits and, unconscious and afloat, tested life jackets. For his bravery, the King awarded him the OBE in 1944.

You can see the programme again on BBC iPlayer - The One Show. However, be quick as it is only available for 5 more days. The topic is about 20 minutes into the programme. We are trying to obtain a copy of the programme.

Edgar, was Stuart's 3rd cousin, once removed. Many thanks to Jo Pask for notifying us that this was featured.

Family Reunion 29 July 2012 Update

Shirley Amos née Pask

This information relates to the main Lincolnshire tree - descendants of Johannis [John] and Elizabeth Pask née Archer, who lived in Lincolnshire.

Yesterday we received an e-mail from a very excited Shirley Amos, who lives in Medina, Orleans County, New York State. She advised us that she had been interviewed by a local reporter. Then today, via Google alerts, we received notification of an article in The Daily News, the local newspaper for Genesee, Wyoming, and Orleans Counties. The full article, written by Virginia Kropf of The Daily News, is available online.

The article is about the Family Reunion held on 29 July, as reported in the previous blog. The above photograph of Shirley is shown, together with Robert Pask who did the DNA test proving the link to Stuart's family. This enabled us to establish that Shirley, and Robert are Stuart's 10th cousin, once removed.

Over the past three weeks, whilst working in Germany, I have included 250+ new people from the family trees provided in Shirley's book into the Pask database. This is far from finished, and I will continue over the forthcoming weeks. In the meantime, we welcome any additional information / updates from our Orleans County cousins.

Family Reunion - Sunday 29 July 2012

This information relates to the main Lincolnshire tree - descendants of Johannis [John] and Elizabeth Pask née Archer, who lived in Lincolnshire.

Shirley Amos from America wrote to say that their Family Reunion takes place today. Shirley's ancestors were Henry & Mary Pask née Marshall, as detailed in the blog dated March 22, 2012.

We hope that Shirley's 93 year old aunt Ernestine had a safe journey from Indiana. She hasn't missed the Reunion in years!

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that this family is related to Stuart. Henry Pask was Stuart's fourth cousin 4 times removed. DNA testing was carried out by one of Shirley's cousins, and matched Stuart's DNA. The results can be seen on the Pask DNA Project webpage. Stuart's DNA (105246) matches 34 out of 37 markers, with the test 240485. More information is detailed in the blog DNA Results for Chart 01 - Lincolnshire.

We wish them all a good day, and look forward to receiving the pictures to add to the web album The Family of Henry and Mary Pask née Marshall. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, we could attend their annual Family Reunion.