New Web Photograph Album - Yvonne Sumner

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

Over the past year we have been working together with Yvonne Sumner from Australia. She has provided extensive information on Walter & Jane Annie Pask née Chester, and their descendants.

This was a very interesting, albeit a sad story. Walter married Jane Annie Chester on 21 May 1898 in Gateshead. Unfortunately Walter was killed in a railway accident on 18 July 1908, leaving Jane a widow with 4 children, the youngest George being only a few months old. With no means of support Jane gave the 2 middle boys, Arthur and Walter, to her mother-in-law Mary Ann. She kept Laura the eldest and the baby George.

Jane's mother-in-law, Mary Ann Pask née Ruddock emigrated to Melbourne Australia in 1912, together with her daughters Nellie, and Kate, and taking with her grandsons Arthur and Walter. Jane wrote to her mother-in-law begging for Arthur and Walter to be returned to her as she was getting married again and her circumstances were much better. Evidently Jane was horrified that they were going to Australia and was allowed to see them only a few days before they left.

Arthur, Yvonne's father, was very talented. 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.

Yvonne has provided over 30 photographs. These have now been included in a web photograph album.

New Web Photograph Album - Judy Crust

This information relates to Chart 6 - Peter & Catherine Pask née Frost, born 1739 in Kedington, Suffolk.

In 2007 Judy Crust wrote to us, and provided several photographs of the descendants of William Alfred Pask, see the previous blog titled William Alfred & Anna Sarah Pask née Rowe. Judy's Great Grandfather Francis Bartram was the brother of William Bartram who married Alice Maria Pask, the daughter of William Alfred II & Elizabeth Pask née Ellis. He immigrated to Australia, and came back to England for a visit in 1936/37 .

We have now created a web photograph album that shows the photographs.

Website Update 6 January 2010

The website was updated today, Wednesday 6 January. This focuses on information, as detailed in the previous blog:

• Descendants of William Alfred & Anna Sarah Pask née Rowe

A full list of the recent changes to the narratives is available in the New or Changed Narratives section. There are now 8,223 narratives available on the website - 45 new narratives in this website update.

For those interested in statistics, the Pask database now contains:

• 11,980 People
• 23,437 Events
• 5,010 Places
• 74,283 Citations
• 3,474 Sources
• 464 Embedded exhibits

Descendants of William Alfred & Anna Sarah Pask née Rowe

This information relates to Chart 6 - Peter & Catherine Pask née Frost, born 1739 in Kedington, Suffolk.

Geoffrey Alan Pask from Canada originally contacted us in May 2008 - see the previous blog titled Descendants of William Alfred Pask II. At that time we were preparing for the Pask Family Gathering therefore we somewhat neglected Geoffrey's information.

Over the Christmas holidays we have worked closely with Geoffrey, and are now pleased to say that his extensive information, together with photographs have been included in the database.

In addition, a web album of Geoffrey's photographs is available.

Website Update 14 December 2009

The website was updated today, Monday 14 December. This focuses on information, as detailed in the previous blogs:

• Descendants of John & Annie Pask née Abbott
• Frank William Pask (1874-1928)
• Descendants of George & Mary Ann Pask née Bettoney

A full list of these recent changes to the narratives is available in the New or Changed Narratives section. There are now 8,178 narratives available on the website - 51 new narratives in this website update.

This will be the last update this year. Many thanks to all who have contributed to the additional 350+ narratives created during 2009.

Descendants of George & Mary Ann Pask née Bettoney

This information relates to Chart 7, the descendants of Henry Paske, (1765 - 1845), who lived in Kedington, Suffolk.

Whilst researching information on Frank Pask - see blog titled Frank William Pask (1874-1928), I also found the baptisms of some of the other children of George & Mary Ann Pask née Bettoney:

• Maria Jane Pask b. 1856
• George Thomas Pask b. 1858, d. 1905
• Sarah Emily Pask b. 1860
• Frederick John Pask b. 1861, d. 1905
• Walter Pask b. 1863, d. 1927
• Albert J. Pask b. 1865
• Edwin Henry Pask b. 1868, d. 1929
• Alice Mary Pask b. 1872

Fortunately the baptism records were available on www.ancestry.co.uk, and gave not only their baptism dates, but their birth dates also.

This information will be available in the next website update.

Frank William Pask (1874-1928)

This information relates to Chart 7, the descendants of Henry Paske, (1765 - 1845), who lived in Kedington, Suffolk.

Last week, our friend and family historian Marion Hopkins contacted us. She had found the baptism of Frank William Pask in St. James The Great, Bethnal Green.

I found that Frank was the son of George & Mary Ann Pask née Bettoney. His mother died when he was 2 years old, and probably he was institutionalized as he was not listed with his father in the 1881 census.

However I did locate him in the 1891 census. He was on an Institution Ship "Shaftesbury", harboured off Grays Essex. This ship was an Industral School Training Ship under the management of the School Board for London. It states on the census return a list of boys that were "Under legal detention to the age of 16 years according to Industrial Schools Acts of 1866 and subsequent acts".

There is a superb photograph of the ship on the National Education Network Gallery


Frank was listed as a Shoeblack in the 1901 & 1911 census. He married Elizabeth Gray on 5 August 1901 at St. Anne's Church, Hoxton, Shoreditch. No children from the marriage were identified. Frank died in 1928, and his wife Elizabeth probably in 1951.

This information will be included in the next website update.

Descendants of John & Annie Pask née Abbott

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

Recently we have been focusing our research on Leicestershire, and linking together families who lived there in the 1900-1930s - in particular Blaby, Lutterworth and Leicester registration districts.

Subsequently we have established that most of them link back to John & Annie Pask née Abbott. John orginated from Nocton Lincolnshire, and was the third son of Henry & Elizabeth Pask née Asman. We originally researched this family back in 2004, and with recent available records like the 1911 census we have been able to put together quite a lot of additional information.

John married Annie Abbott on 17 November 1891 in the Lutterworth registration district. They had 11 children. In the 1911 census he was a Shepherd, living with his wife Annie, and his children John, Frank, Edith, Alfred, Ethel, Edward, Richard, and Frederick. So this valuable information provided the connection between those children born between 1901 and 1913.

We also purchased two GRO certificates to help us establish a connection:

1. Birth of Ivan Michael Pask in 1937
2. Marriage of Arthur C. Pask & Jessie M. Tomlinson in 1927

The GRO reference for Ivan, who was later known as Michael Ivan, gave his mother's maiden as Ellis. However we could not locate his parent's marriage. The birth certificate gave that he was born 20 May 1937, and he was the son of Edward & Annie Elizabeth Pask née Ellis formerly Baker. Based on this we easily found their marriage in 1936 in the Spilsby, Lincolnshire registration district. Edward was the fifth son of John & Annie Pask née Abbott.

The marriage gave the name of Arthur Charles, however this is probably an error in the transcription from the church marriage register to the civil registration certificate. Arthur was actually called Alfred Charles Pask, he was the fourth son of John & Annie Pask née Abbott.

We have now included in our database all 1837-1984 birth, marriages, and deaths in the Blaby, Lutterworth and Leicester registration districts. Wherever practicable we have researched the families through to current day. These will be included in Chart 03 in the next website update.

PASK Hunting Horn

We received an e-mail from Patrick Button, who lives in Durban, South Africa.

He wrote:

I have in my possession a hunting horn from a great uncle in England, who was a huntsman. The horn is stamped Pask Maker London and I have now been able to identify and date it.

... in case you are aghast at its battered condition please be reminded that it appears to have been a real working tool for many years (!)


Patrick also provided a picture of his great-grandfather Huntsman Thomas Leonard Imms (1839 -1928) who used the Pask Maker London hunting horn at Clandon Park and Merrow, Surrey.

Thomas Leonard Imms was also Huntsman with the Norfolk Stag Hounds as well as the Brighton and Knaphill Harriers. He is said to have hunted with the then Prince of Wales, Edward, who frequented Clandon Park and Merrow.

Patrick provided more information on the possible dates:

I have listed three names & dates of successive IMMS huntsman to the Earls of Onslow, who lived at Clandon Park near Guildford, Surrey.

James Imms 1773 or 1774 - 1846
Thomas Leonard Imms 1811-1879
Thomas Leonard Imms 1839-1928**

The latter was my great grandfather** and it was from him that the Pask Maker hunting horn is supposed to have come. Assuming that the dates of the Pask company span from 1840-1871, it seems that this horn may have been acquired and used by Thomas Leonard Imms (1811-1879) and passed down in the family.

This photo is from another similar horn. However Patrick's horn does not have the "& Koenig" part of the stamping, the rest, including the British coat of arms is the same, even the font is identical.

If anyone has any additional information about the PASK company, we would be very interested, and will pass it on to Patrick.

Website Update 28 October 2009

The website was updated today, Wednesday 28 October. This focuses on information, as detailed in the previous blogs:

• Marriage Certificate for Bertie & Ella Kate Pask née Sargent
• Pasks of Hargrave, Suffolk

A full list of these recent changes to the narratives is available in the New or Changed Narratives section. There are now 8,127 narratives available on the website.

Pasks of Hargrave, Suffolk

This information relates to the main Suffolk tree - descendants of John & Mirabel Pask née Sparrow, born c1680 who lived in Wickhambrook, Suffolk.

In September we exchanged e-mails with Kai Davey regarding his grandmother Laura (Nene) Irene Morley née Pask who lived in Hargrave, Suffolk. Kai has provided several photographs of his grandmother's family and also those of her relations, including:

• Stephen Pask with his wife Ellen (Nellie) and his eldest son William c1940
• Joseph Philip & Lily May Pask - 50th Wedding Anniversary - 17 June 1952
• Wedding of Alfred & Beatrice (May) Brooks née Pask 1936
• Wedding of Eric Joseph & Joan Pask née Robinson 11 May 1958

The photographs, together those previously provided by Rose Beadle are now available in a photograph album and in the slideshow below. This information will be included in the next website update.

Trip to Paschendale

Last Friday, and Saturday we took a trip to visit some of the Commonwealth War Graves in France and Belgium. Our travelling companion was John who had never been to visit any graves, so our focus was on those people he is researching.

Initially we visited Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery in France, where John's great uncle Stanley George Bird is buried.

Our next stop was Pheasant Wood near Fromelles in northern France to see the site of the new Commonwealth War Grave cemetery where experts during a major archaeological dig found the remains of 250 World War I soldiers.

We then travelled into Belgium to see Hype Park Corner, and the Berks Cemetery Extension, for the Ploegsteert Memorial. We then drove to Ypres (Ieper) and visited the In Flanders Field museum. In the evening we attended the Menin Gate Last Post, where we witnessed a very poignant ceremony which included an address by the New Zealand High Commissioner followed by a Maori lament during the wreath laying, and a piper from the Black Watch.

On Saturday, we visited Tyne Cot Memorial, and the newly opened visitor's centre. This museum is stark, and minimalistic. However the accompanying voice of a young girl reading the names, and ages of those who gave their lives leaves a very lasting impression.

Finally we visited the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, near Poperinge.

A very interesting trip. We have included all our photographs in an album, and slideshow.

Marriage Certificate for Bertie & Ella Kate Pask née Sargent

This information relates to Bertie Pask who lived in the Colchester / Newmarket area in the early 1900s.

We have now received the marriage certificate for Bertie & Ella Kate Pask née Sargent as detailed in a previous blog.

It shows that Bertie was residing at Little Saxham, Suffolk and that his father was George Pask. As suspected, Bertie is Bertie Arthur Pask who was born in 1887 in Stowlangtoft, Suffolk.

The records for Bertie will be merged, and chart 50 will be merged with Chart 02-2: Daniel Pask, second son of John & Mirabel Pask née Sparrow #5329. This will be included in the next website update.

Website Update 19 August 2009

The website was updated yesterday, Saturday 19 September. This focuses on information, as detailed in the previous blogs:

Descendants of Bertie & Ella Kate Pask née Sargent
Ernest George & Rose Pask née Pitches

Also this includes several updates based on information found in the London Metropolitan Archives Records, and 1911 Census.

A full list of these recent changes to the narratives is available in the New or Changed Narratives section. There are now 8,104 narratives available on the website.

Ernest George & Rose Pask née Pitches

This information relates to the main Suffolk tree - descendants of John & Mirabel Pask née Sparrow, born c1680 who lived in Wickhambrook, Suffolk.

Whilst researching the family of Bertie & Ella Kate Pask née Sargent (see previous blog), I looked at all Pask(e) births, marriages, and deaths and 1911 census in the Colchester / Newmarket registration districts. I identified the family of Ernest George & Rose Pask. Initially I could not find their marriage, then realised that Ernest was also known George Ernest. He was in fact duplicated in our database.

We originally included him in 2004, as we visited his grave in the Military Cemetery, in Roclincourt, Pas-de-Calais, France. We were intrigued as although he was 50 years old, he was at that time a Sergeant, in the Army Veterinary Corps, 170th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. We found that he had died in a riding accident during military sports on 5 June 1917. He left a widow and three children.

After his death, his widow Rose married his widowed brother John William Pask.

Descendants of Bertie & Ella Kate Pask née Sargent

This information relates to Bertie Pask who lived in the Colchester / Newmarket area in the early 1900s.

We were contacted by Christopher Pask in December last year inquiring about his Colchester descendants. We were able to trace him back to Bertie Pask, who lived in the Newmarket area. When we acquired the 1911 census images recently we contacted him and provided the census information for Ella Kate Pask née Sargent, and her twins Frederick Bert and Rosa Evelyn. They were inmates in the Newmarket Union Workhouse, Exning Road, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire.

Unfortunately no additional information has been found on Bertie & Ella, however the marriage certificate has now been purchased. In the meantime, based on the information provided by Christopher, Chart 50 has been compiled showing their descendants, who span four generations.

Many thanks to Christopher for providing us with the information. Hopefully in the near future we will be able to link this family to one of the main Suffolk families.

London Metropolitan Archives Records

This week has been extremely busy. I started working on the 1911 census entries, as detailed in a previous blog. However before I had real chance Ancestry announced that the indexed images of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials from the London Metropolitan Archives are now available.

There are:

• PASK: Baptisms 176; Marriages 195; Burials 31 - Total 402
• PASKE: Baptisms 13; Marriages 21; Burials 4 - Total 38
• PASQUE: Baptisms 17; Marriages 14; Burials 10 - Total 41
• PARSK: Baptisms 2; Marriages 1; Burials 0 - Total 3

I have downloaded the index, and will in time include this valuable information into the database.

Website Update 13 September 2009

The website was updated yesterday, Sunday 13 September. This focuses on information, as detailed in the previous blogs:

Laura Irene Morley née Pask of Hargrave
1911 Census - PASK, PASKE, PASQUE, PARSK
Power of DNA

A full list of these recent changes to the narratives is available in the New or Changed Narratives section. There are now 8,093 narratives available on the website. In the database there are 11,661 people in total, including 3568 living people (excluded from the website).

Power of DNA

This information relates to Chart 6 - Peter & Catherine Pask née Frost, born 1739 in Kedington, Suffolk.

In May, we exchanged information with Raymond Pask of Australia - see the blog titled
Descendants of James & Charlotte Mary Pask née Chaffin. Raymond kindly agreed to do a DNA test. When his results came back they matched exactly with another Pask, also living in Australia. Raymond did not know of his existance.

A fortnight ago Raymond, together with his brother Edward met Colin Pask, and his sister. They established that their grandparents Henry James Pask, and Arthur Pask were brothers. The family had immigrated to Australia in the late 1890s.

If you are a male Pask, and are interested in doing a DNA test, do contact us, and we will explain the technicalities, costs, and outcome. Alternatively look at the webpage Pask DNA Project for more information.

1911 Census - PASK, PASKE, PASQUE, PARSK

Last weekend I completed the downloading of the PASK, PASKE, PASQUE, and PARSK images from the 1911 Census.

We now have over 500 images, covering 1400+ names from the 1911 census. This will keep us busy for some considerable time!

We hope to have them all in the database by the PASK Family Gathering in July.