Peter Paskins was born in Broadwater, Worthing, Sussex, and baptised there on 28th August 1796. He was the son of James Paskins, 26yrs, Gardener, and Elizabeth, 29yrs, nee Grimsted, and was 1 of 7 children, Job b.1794, Patient b.andd.1799, Caroline b.1800, Abraham b.1801, Eleanor b.1805, and Isaac b.1808. The family lived in extreme poverty, (his father later died in East Preston workhouse) and Peter was unable to read or write. Peter worked as a labourer, and in April 1820 was tried and acquitted at Lewes Crown Court for Larceny.
On 8th May 1820 Peter married Elizabeth Jones at Broadwater Parish Church, they were both 24yrs of age and both marked an X on the marriage certificate. They had 6 children, Sarah b.1821, Eleanor b.1822, Peter b.1824 died 1825, Charles b.1826, Jacob b.1827, and Matilda b.1830.
Peter, like his own father, was unable to support his family; in January 1836, his 15yr old daughter, Sarah, went into domestic service in Brighton, and Peter applied to the Poor Law authority to buy her suitable clothing. Just 2 years later, she returned home, too ill to work, and again Peter had to apply for welfare to support her.
In 1849, his daughter, Matilda, 19yrs, had a son, also named Peter Paskins, and this grandson appeared to have lived with Peter and his wife. Peter was still working as a labourer in 1861, aged 66yrs. The following year Peter was cleaning out a boiler for the Local Board, when a piece of rust hit him in the face and blinded him. The Board continued to pay his weekly wages until he retired. By 1871, he was receiving parish relief for himself and Elizabeth; they lived in Cooks Row, a notorious slum area in central Worthing. Elizabeth died in 1874, aged 78yrs, and Peter died on 8th May 1881, aged 85yrs. The very next day, 9th May, his brother, Job, died, aged 88yrs. Peter's daughter, Eleanor, died the following year in Brighton workhouse, aged 60yrs.