Half Seventeen Cottage - A place for family to stay connected.

In Ian's case, the most common family comment or question was what happened to Michael. (Previous to Ian's search this was his family's only known picture of Michael.)

As Ian asked siblings, his Mum and extended family what they knew of Parkin family history, Michael's name came up every time. Did he survive to adulthood, is he alive, what's he like, who is his biological father, etc. Apparently, everyone knew the story of the missing infant - except Ian. Ian found this very frustrating - 'how can I be the only one who doesn't know about him?' he said over and over. Ironically, Ian's middle name is Michael - he was named for the uncle he didn't know existed and this made him even more determined (if that's possible with Ian) to find him.

When Ian started researching the Parkin clan (mostly online) he found lots of birth, death and marriage registrations and census records - each little nugget filling in a bit more of the puzzle that is his heritage. He was very excited to locate Michael's birth registration.

He also found Queenie's death registration which eventually led him (it's a long story) to telephoning the U.K. Using some good logic and an online phone book for the area he felt the family might still be in, Ian found his half uncle, David Tilbury and his wife, Terry. And Terry told Ian about Michael.

Michael lives around the corner from David and Terry. He's 60 years old, married and has two children. Ian laughed at David's description of Michael's personality. He says he sounds just like his Granddad and his Dad. David and Terry have talked with Ian several times by phone, exchanged email addresses, photos and family stories. There's still more to learn but most of the mystery is solved.

Michael's Dad is Tom Parkin. Parkin lore says Queenie left Tom for John Tilbury, taking Michael with her. The Tilburys say "Michael came with Queenie". Michael's birth registration names Tom Parkin as his father, he has a Parkin-like personality which David says is very unlike his Tilbury siblings and we see a resemblance in young photos of Tom & Michael (facial features and height). Without DNA testing, based on the above, we believe the birth registration as written.

Photo: Thomas Parkin holding baby Ian

Photo: Tom & Eadie with one of their grandchildren

Michael, who was an infant when his parents' marriage ended, to this day calls himself Michael Parkin. He never took the Tilbury name.

Queenie, with John Tilbury, subsequently had 4 more sons: Robert (1949), David & Peter (1950 twins) and Christopher (1953).

John Tilbury, who was a painter and house decorator, died in 1990 and Queenie died in 1996. David says the boys were raised in hard circumstances and learned early to take care of themselves. His wife Terry agrees with us that Michael clearly resembles Tom Parkin.

Photo - (older) John & Queenie Tilbury

Photo - Queenie and Michael (tall with arm around his Mum) with the boys.

Photo: Michael playing horse for his brothers

Photo - Michael with his brothers

David's wife, Terry emailed some precious old Tilbury family photos (many used here). Terry and Ian have talked at length about family resemblances. Ian feels his Auntie Jean bears a striking resemblance to Queenie and in some pictures so does his sister, Nicole.

Terry feels Ian's Dad Terry

So far, Ian has not had an opportunity to talk to his Uncle Michael. David says "Mick" has so far declined to discuss the distant past but will probably come around eventually. He also says this is an example of how Mick's personality differs from his Tilbury half-brothers.

Ian hasn't had an opportunity to discuss any of this with his father, Terry, either. I am anxious to see an older/more recent picture of Mick. I'm wondering just how alike these brothers may be.

So in searching for a lost infant uncle, Ian found his Uncle Michael alive and well in England and unexpectedly, 4 half uncles and their families.

And they live spitting distance from where my Great Grandfather's story lead me.