A little about
My Immediate Family History
by Paul Pettypiece

I was born in 1947 and grew up in Forest, Ontario, Canada, a small town of around 2000 people. Forest is located about 40 km from Sarnia, about 10 km from the shores of Lake Huron, about 50 km from Grand Bend and about 100 km from London.
Pictures of Paul from an infant to today

My parents were Harper John Pettypiece (1921-2002) and Joan Gertrude Taylor (1926-2003) who, after marrying in 1945, had lived in Halifax until 1946, Forest until 1972, Iceland until 1976, England until 1983, and then London, Ontario until their passing. They had been married for 56 years when my father passed away.
 Pictures of Harper and Joan
Pictures of Harper only

I have four brothers and two sisters. Geof is now married to a Philipino lady, Ning, and live in Iceland, as do his children from a previous marriage. Larry and his spouse, Gladys, and their children, Tina and Bruce, live in Sarnia. Vicki and her husband, Asgeir, live in Iceland. Their children, Nadia lives in Toronto and Daniel lives in Ireland. Tim and his family live in Arctic Bay. Linda and her husband, Steve, live in London. Carl, the youngest, his wife, Cathy, who were married in Venezuela and their children, Richard and Alana live in Ilderton.
Pictures of Harper and Joan's family and their families through the years

I have one son, Michael, from a previous marriage and after living in Lethbridge, Calgary and Toronto for several years, last I heard, he now lives in Montreal. I remarried in 1982 to Laddi Aleta Hughes, originally from Vancouver, but also from Whitehorse and Prince George.
Picture of Paul & Laddi's wedding

So we are a global family.


My father, Harper J. Pettypiece

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Harper John Pettypiece receiving diploma for Bachelors degree in Music
 from University of Western Ontario in his home in London, Ontario
 with university dignitaries in 1996 at the age of 75.

 Auto-Biography of Harper John Pettypiece
The autobiography of my father, Harper John Pettypiece (1921-2002),
was hand written on 113 pages during the later few years of his life (approx. from 1995 to 2000).

It highlights his passion for music, history, travel and his Faith. It took him and his family all over Canada, the United States, Iceland, England, continental Europe and finally back home to Canada. From his earliest recollections of childhood growing up in a small town in Ontario, to world travel as a communications officer for the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II, to raising seven children while working in the printing and publishing industry in Ontario, to serving his Faith in Canada, Iceland and England, to obtaining a music degree at the age of 75, to his final years struggling with poor health, it is very detailed, especially the places visited, historical sites, and the music he loved to play and listen to.

My father's parents, my grandparents, were Victor Anthony Pettypiece and Leila Ruth Harper who lived in Forest most of their lives.
My great-grandparents, Victor's parents, were Henry John Pettypiece and Mary Madeline Maloche.
 Henry John Pettypiece and Mary Meloche

My great-great grandfather was Anthony Pettypiece, son of John Pettypiece of Ireland. John's family moved to Canada after his passing somewhere between 1837 and 1843.

Origin of the Pett*piece Family



Two versions -- the newer version created in 2004 with Family Tree Maker which includes well over 1000 names of most of the North American Pettypiece, Pettipiece, Pettapiece and associated families. An earlier version created and maintained in the mid-90's by my brother, Carl Pettypiece, who, along with my late father, put a lot of effort into it and I wanted to be sure it remained available to those who were interested in it.  It was last updated by Carl in January 2000.  I made a few minor updates within my immediate family but in the last few year, have been too busy with other projects to keep it up to date.