Peter Tork

Tork in 2011, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Peter Halsten Thorkelson

Date of Birth: February 13, 1942

Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., U.S.

Date of Death: February 21, 2019

Place of Death: Mansfield, Connecticut, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*25% Norwegian
*25% Ashkenazi Jewish
*25% Irish
*25% mix of English, Dutch, German, French, Scottish, and remote Belgian [Walloon], Norwegian, Danish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and Jersey [Channel Islander]

Peter Tork was an American musician, composer, and actor. He was the keyboardist and bass guitarist of rock and pop band The Monkees, whose members have also included or include Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Michael Nesmith.

Peter was the son of Virginia Hope and Halsten John Thorkelson, an economics professor at the University of Connecticut. Peter’s mother was of half Ashkenazi Jewish and half Irish ancestry. Peter’s father was of a little over half Norwegian descent, with the rest being English, Dutch, German, French, Scottish, Belgian [Walloon], Danish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and Jersey [Channel Islander].

Peter was married to Pamela Grapes, until his death. He had three children, including a daughter with his former wife Reine Stewart; and a son with his former wife Barbara Iannoli.

Peter’s paternal grandfather was Halsten Joseph Berford Thorkelson (the son of Mathias Thorkelson and Marit Halsteensen Eggen). Halsten was born in Wisconsin, to Norwegian parents. His father was from Finnaas, Hordaland. His mother was from Hedmark.

Peter’s paternal grandmother was Mary Schuyler Carver (the daughter of Horace Peck Carver and Elizabeth Manning Seymour). Mary was born in New York. Horace was the son of James Herman Carver and Mary Elizabeth Sagendorf/Sagendorph, who was born in Binghamton, New York. Peter’s great-grandmother Elizabeth was the daughter of John Belden Seymour and Elizabeth Thompson, who were born in Lisle, New York.

Peter’s maternal grandfather was Albert Joseph Straus (the son of Gustav/Gustave Carl Straus and Clementine Kupfer). Albert was born in New York, to a German Jewish family. Gustav was born in Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate, the son of Michael Straus and Rosa/Roeschen Goetz. Clementine was born in Philadelphia, the daughter of parents from Germany, Simon Kupfer, who was born in Burgkunstadt, Upper Franconia, Bavaria, and Bincher/Binchen/Pholoppine Straus.

Peter’s maternal grandmother was Catherine Alicia McGuire (the daughter of Thomas McGuire and Catherine O’Connor). Peter’s grandmother Catherine was born in New York, to Irish parents.

Sources: Genealogies of Peter Tork – https://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com

Peter’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of Peter’s maternal grandparents, Albert Joseph Straus and Catherine Alicia McGuire – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of Peter’s maternal great-grandparents, Gustav/Gustave Carl Straus and Clementine Kupfer – https://familysearch.org

Peter’s maternal great-grandparents, Gustav/Gustave Carl Straus and Clementine Kupfer, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org