Welcome to Past Discovered, where I share what I’ve learned about the people and places that make up my family’s history.
This website brings together the stories of my mum’s family, my dad’s family, and my biological father’s family. Each is part of my story, and each has given me different paths to explore.
For me, family history is about more than names and dates. It’s about discovering how people lived, the choices they made, the relationships they formed, and what brought them to the places they called home. Photographs, records, family memories, and unexpected discoveries help bring those lives into focus.
This is a work in progress. Some stories are well documented; others still have gaps, unanswered questions, or details that don’t quite fit. I’ll keep adding what I find and revisiting what I thought I knew.
Whether you’re a relative, a fellow researcher, or simply curious, I hope you’ll enjoy exploring. If you recognize a face, share a connection, or have a story or correction to contribute, I’d love to hear from you.
My Mum’s Family
Mum’s paternal family came from:
- Lanarkshire, Scotland (Burt and Forsyth)
- Cornwall, England (Davey), and
- London, England (Reid).
Her maternal line came from:
- Denmark (Poulson)
- Dorset, England (Parsons)
- Lancashire, England (Pilkington), and
- Aberdeen, Scotland (Cooper).
My Dad’s Family
Dad’s paternal family came from:
- Staffordshire, England (Fellows)
- Durham, England (Graham) and
- Ireland (O’Neill and Farrell).
Dad’s maternal family came from:
- Surrey, England (Jacobs)
- Hampshire, England (Alderslade)
- Wiltshire, England (Miles) and
- Berwickshire, Scotland (Shiels).