Following my ancestors through the places they knew.

I enjoy exploring family history, visiting historic places, and finding unexpected connections in archives. This is where I share the stories I’m piecing together, the places they lead me, and the questions I’m still following.

If a name, place, or story here connects with something you know, I’d love to hear from you.

Stories to explore

Family connections, places I’ve visited, and discoveries that have kept me looking.

Tracing Roots in Bloom: A Journey Through History at The Lost Gardens of Heligan

A visit to Heligan led me to an eighteenth-century family diary—and an entry recording my ancestor coming to dinner.

Tales of Menabilly: The Rashleighs, the Estate, and Polridmouth Cove

Following my Rashleigh connections brought me to Menabilly and Polridmouth Cove, exploring the landscape around a place woven into my family history.

Connecting Cleavers: A Family Reunion in Padstow

A family surname change connects Bath to Montreal, while a visit to Cornwall brings me together with a Cleaver relative in Padstow to share stories and compare family trees.

Mike Quackenbush

A little about me

My interest in family history began with a binder sent by my great-aunt when I was nine. The unanswered questions caught my attention, and I’ve been following them ever since.

I enjoy spending time in archives and exploring the places connected to my family. Sharing what I find here is a way to meet others with overlapping interests—and perhaps discover something neither of us knew.

More about me →