Sunday, November 25, 2012

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.

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Website Update Sunday 7 October

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

Sunday, October 07, 2012

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.


Thursday, October 04, 2012

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:

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.      









Wednesday, September 12, 2012

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.

Monday, September 10, 2012

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:

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.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

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

Thursday, August 23, 2012

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.



Saturday, August 18, 2012

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.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

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.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Website Updated Monday 23 July 2012

The website was updated today, Monday 23 July. The updates included mainly relate to the following charts / family groups:

93 new narratives have been added since the last update on 12 June. This makes a total of 9,592 detailed narratives now available on the website - although there was an increase of 200 people, including living people, making a total of 15,345 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.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

DNA Results for Chart 01 - Lincolnshire

A follow-on to the post earlier on June 28 - New DNA Results.

This information relates to Chart 01, the Lincolnshire Main Progenitor - John Pask, (c1520 - 1591) who lived in Washingborough, Lincolnshire. (Stuart's own ancestors).

All test results, 37 of 37 markers, have now been received. They match the other 3 families in this group. A great and significant result!

Whilst we cannot found the documentary evidence to link the Lincolnshire families from Chart 1, and Chart 3, they are conclusively the same family, as they all share the same DNA. We have merged all these families into one chart, and this can be seen on the Pask website in the next website update, that is imminient. 

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. This is a major contribution to the Pask One-Name Study.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Descendants of Montague Wilfred & Emily Annie Hardy née Hyland

This information relates to Chart 6 - Unknown Pask who lived in Kedington, Suffolk.

In May, Joanne Bush née Torrens, from Canada, contacted us about her great-grandmother Frances Pask who was born in 1857 in Kedington, Suffolk. Frances married Henry Hardy on 25 December 1875 in Kedington. They had ten children, including Joanne's grandfather Montague Wilfred Hardy.

Montague married Emily Annie Hyland in 1911 in Chelmsford registration district. Shortly afterwards they immigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. They sailed on the "Royal George" that departed from Avonmouth on 22 March 1911, and arrived in Halifax, on 28 March 1911.

Joanne has provided information on their 6 children, and their descendants. This will be included in the next website update.

Many thanks to Joanne for providing this information.






Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Family of Thomas Henry & Mary Jane Bond née Paske

Family of Thomas Henry & Mary Jane Bond née Paske 
Back Row Ethel, Fred, Edie, Nellie, Wally, Harry 
Front Row: Thomas Henry, Mary Jane Bond née Paske

This information relates to Chart 34, the descendants of Philip Pask, (1768-1843), who lived in Bryngwyn, Monmouthshire.

During the past few weeks we have been exchanging e-mails with Mitchel Bolin, whose great-grandmother was Mary Jane Bond née Paske. Mitchel has sent us some great photographs, kindly provided by his mother Virginia Ann Bolin née Bond. These photographs have been included in a web album titled Family of Thomas Henry & Mary Jane Bond née Paske.  

Mary Jane Paske was born on 9 October 1851 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. She was the daughter of Isaac & Mary Paske née Little. Mary married Thomas Henry Bond in 1879. Thomas and Mary immigrated, together with their children, Edith, Herbert, Ethel, Eleanor, Fred, Ed, and Wallace, sailing on the ship "Vancouver" arriving in Quebec, Canada on 23 June 1889. Initially they moved to South Dakota, and then in 1902, they moved with their family to Watford City, McKenzie County, North Dakota, America. A picture of their homestead is available in the photogram album. Mary died on 21 June 1921 in North Dakota, America, at the age of 69.

The information on this family, and their descendants is included in the next website update.

Many thanks to Mitchel, and his mother Victoria, for sharing their photographs, and their information.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

New DNA Results

Another excellent result in the DNA Project.

This information relates to Chart 01, one of Lincolnshire main families - William Pask (c1695-), who lived in Wellingore, Lincolnshire (Stuart's own ancestors).

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

Whilst we cannot found the documentary evidence to link the Lincolnshire families from Chart 1, and Chart 3, today we heard the initial results of the DNA tests currently in progress from a descendant of Chart 3.

Whilst this is only the first 12 of 37 markers, all 12 match with the 3 DNA tests in Chart 1. This is superb news, as this means they all share the same DNA.

The results can be seen on the Family Tree DNA website in the Pask DNA Project. Later next month we will include the results on the DNA website page. Also these families will be merged in the next website update. 

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. This is a major contribution to the Pask One-Name Study.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Daughters of John & Elizabeth Paske née Curzon

This information relates to Chart 49: Charles Pask (1760-1833) who lived in Dingestow, and Cwmcarvan, Monmouthshire #8663. Charles married Esther Edwards in 1789. Their descendants span seven generations.

A few weeks ago we were contacted by Michael Paske, the 2 x great-grandson of John & Elizabeth Paske née Curzon. He provided this excellent photograph of five of John & Elizabeth's eight daughters, probably taken in the early 1910s.  

Daughters of John & Elizabeth Paske née Curzon -
Annie Paske (1841-1922), Helen Philpott née Paske (1857-1937), Bess Farr née Paske (1836-1923), 

Maggie Loar née Paske (1849-1930), and 
Sarah Davies née Paske (1837- )

John Paske, was born in Cmwcarvan Monmouthshire in 1805. He married Elizabeth Curzon on 26 March 1834 in Dingestow. They had thirteen children:
  1. Charles Curzon Paske b. 14 Mar 1835, d. May 1835
  2. Elizabeth Paske b. 29 Sep 1836, d. 1927
  3. Sarah Paske b. 29 Dec 1837, d. 1907
  4. John Paske b. 8 Dec 1839, d. 15 Nov 1906
  5. Anne Paske 1841, d. 21 Sep 1922
  6. Mary Paske b. 1843, d. 1863
  7. William Paske b. 24 Aug 1845, d. 1917
  8. Eliza Paske b. 1847, d. 1918
  9. Margaret Paske b. 1849, d. 1930
  10. Thomas Paske b. 1851, d. 1887
  11. Amos Paske b. 1 Aug 1853, d. 30 Nov 1946
  12. Jane Miriam Paske b. 1855
  13. Helen Paske b. 1857, d. 16 Jul 1937
Three of their children immigrated to Kansas, US - William Paske,  Amos Paske, and Margaret Paske. Amos and Margaret returned to the UK, however William remained, and died in Kansas in 1917.

With the assistance of Michael, we are currently updating our records to include the descendants of this family. In due course, this will be included on the website.

Many thanks to Michael, for providing access to his extensive, and very interesting, records.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

PASKs & PASKEs Statistics

Just recently we were asked how may PASKs are living.

We estimate that there are around 1,300 PASKs, and 800 PASKEs living around the world.

In the UK there are 1200 PASKs, and only 150 PASKEs. 
In Austrialia there are 200 PASKs, and only 35 PASKEs.
Whilst in America there are 400 PASKs, however the PASKEs are more dominant with 610 PASKEs.

We currently have 15,000 Pa(r)s(k)(e)(que) people (or descendants of) in our database however details of living people are not included online.

If you have the name PASK, or PASKE, or any of the derivatives, and have not already been in contact with us, do let us know - we may need to adjust our estimates!

This was based on information from the websites:

http://www.britishsurnames.co.uk
http://www.americansurnames.us

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Chart 13 Combined with Chart 02-2

This information relates to the descendants of James Pask (1818-1882) who lived in Shoreditch, London.

We have now established that James Pask married Caroline Panting in 1840. However in 1842 he was living with Mary Ann Reynolds,  and they had six children. They married in 1852 (perhaps after Caroline's death).

In the census of 30 March 1851, the family were living at 6 Trafalgar Street, Bethnal Green, London. James was a Coffee Roaster. For some time, together with Gary Pask, we have been trying to identify where James originated from. Last week there was a major breakthrough. 

We have over the years compiled a list of all PASK(E)s in the probate indexes, and purchased several wills. I was working on another family and searched to see whether a will was probated in 1863. I did not find anything for that family, but I did find:

1863
Letters of Administration (with the Will annexed) of the Personal estate and effects of James Pask otherwise Paske late of Bury St. Edmunds in the County of Suffolk Leather Cutter deceased who died 3 October 1831 at Bury St. Edmunds aforesaid left unadministered by Samuel Adams and Joseph Paske the Son two of the Executors named in the said Will were granted at the Principal Registry to James Pask of 6 Trafalger-street Church-street Bethnal Green in the County of Middlesex Coffee Roaster the Grandson a Legatee substituted in the said Will he having been first sworn. Former Grant Prerogative Court of Canterbury February 1832. Effects under £200. (See attached)

The will of James Pask is very difficult to read. In the will it mentions his wife Deborah, sons Joseph and James, and his daughter Mary Dorling, wife of John Dorling. Also mentioned was Richard Batchelor, son of my wife Sarah Batchelor, daughter of my wife (children of my wife by her former husband). He appointed as executors Samuel Adams, Joseph Pask (son), and Nathaniel Kevan.
In a marginal note (on the fourth page) it reads:

On 11th June 1863 Admon with the Will amended of the personal estate and effects of James Pask otherwise Paske late of Bury St. Edmunds in the County of Suffolk Leather Cutter who died 13 October 1831 at Bury St. Edmunds aforesaid left unadministered by Samuel Adams deceased whilst .... one of the Executors and Joseph PASKE ... whilst living the Son of the other of the Executors ... the Residuary Legatee named in the said Will was granted to James Pask one of the natural and lawful children of James Pask deceased whilst living the Son also of the said deceased and as such having attained the age of 21 years a Legatic substituted in the said Will be having been first sworn. Nathaniel Kevan the other Executor named in the said Will having died 4 January 1862 without having proved the same the said Joseph Paske having survived the said Samuel Adams and died intestate Deborah Paske widow the relict the ... in life named in the said Will being dead and Emily Catherine Cutting (wife of John Cutting) the ... and the sole person entitled to the ... .. estate and affects of the said John Paske deceased (who died a Widower being ... the Letters of Administration (with the said Will amended) of the unadministered personal estate and effects of the said deceased.

Originally we did not James having a second son called James  – clearly when his father James made the will in 1832, James the son was under the age of 21. He was probably the son of James & Deborah Paske née ?, who married in 1814.  

James, and his descendants are now assigned to Chart 02-2. In the next website update further adjustments will be made, and Chart 13 will be deleted. 

Website Update Tuesday 12 June

The website was updated last night, Tuesday 12 June. The updates included relate mainly to the following charts / family groups:

There are 73 new narratives added since the last update on 1 May. This makes a total of 9,499 detailed narratives now available on the website  - although there was an increase of 127 people, making a total of 15,145 people in our database, including living people.

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