Why use my services?
- Resources – I have access to a number of paid for genealogy websites, as well as experience which enables me to know how to navigate through historical records and archives. I will also research whether there are any photos of your ancestors’ gravestones online, and look through newspaper archives searching clippings to try to find any mention of your forebears. This has sometimes helped me piece together a difficult ancestry jigsaw, and it can also throw up some very unexpected information!
- Detail – Research requires minute appreciation of each detail in a document, it is easy to miss clues which may be the key to uncovering the next layer of ancestry. My experience and understanding of sometimes complex, sometimes archaic, language helps me decipher the documents I uncover.
- Time-saving – Genealogy research is usually time consuming; there are many cul-de-sacs, and many times a common name means searching through numerous documents feeling like you are looking for a needle in a haystack! Over time, my experience has helped me to avoid the blind alleys and connect the dots to speed up this process. However, I will always painstakingly test each link I make to satisfy my rule that I must be 99% satisfied of the accuracy of any information I report to you.
- Objectivity – It can be very easy to fall into the trap of making assumptions about your ancestors that colour your interpretation of documents you read. We may assume all our ancestors were from a specific location, for instance, or a piece of family folklore may be taken as gospel. I will have no bias one way or the other and can be objective when I do the research.
What services do I offer?
I offer 2 different levels of service Silver and Gold. In each case the following will apply:-
- I will research through England Wales and Scotland archives online. In Northern Ireland, and Ireland, family history documents are not as extensive, or haven’t survived as well. I can sometimes find some documents, but often it may not be possible. I will make attempts to track down family members who may have emigrated at some point. For instance, one of my Great Grandfathers emigrated to America in 1903, and I found him on a passenger list entering Ellis Island in New York. He eventually returned (for reasons we will never know) or else I wouldn’t be here!
- I will produce a number of variations of your Family Tree in PDF form incorporating dates of birth and death, places of birth, occupation and marriage dates – all where it has been possible to find that information. I will send these to you on a pen drive for you to look at on your laptop etc, and of course you may then organise yourself to have one printed. (I no longer offer to print one out for you, as often the Family Tree can be so extensive that to be readable to print out would be the size of half a wall!!)
- I will have professionally printed for you a Family History Report incorporating all the interesting information and documents, including any newspaper articles and any gravestone photographs, which I have found along the research journey. It will also include your Family Tree in sections.
- The Family Trees I produce will only concentrate on your ancestors ie those people from whom you directly descend. Often I will have obtained details of your ancestors’ siblings along the way, and these details will be included in the most extensive Family Tree I produce for you. If I find interesting information about an ancestor’s sibling, I will of course include this in your Family Report. If you ask me in advance about specific members of your extended family, I will try to find information about them to include in the report, eg a client recently asked me to include her 2 uncles who both fought in WW1.
- If you select a package which only includes certain surnames, I will specifically follow that surname back through time. So, for instance, all four of our grandparents originally have 4 separate surnames. If you want only these surnames followed back in time, then it means other surnames I encounter along the way, eg 4 of your 8 Great Grandparents’ surnames, I will not trace further.
- I will trace back in time your ancestors as far as I am able. This will usually be to the early 1800s, over 200 years ago, and often into the 1700s. The earliest full census was in 1841, so before this, information is sketchy. Earlier than 1841, I am really dependent on where the ancestor lived, and very specifically, whether the church they attended kept good Parish records and has preserved them well. For instance, in my own family tree, I have my 6 X Great Grandfather’s baptism record from 1753, because the church in Burgh on Bain, Lincolnshire has preserved its records well.
Reviews
“The results were astounding, she traced our families back to the 1700s, detailing many unknown family incidents along the way together with photographs and relatives we didn’t know existed! The presentation of both reports and the family trees were excellent. Highly recommended. ” John, Bedfordshire
“Sharon has produced two astounding reports uncovering some lovely stories along the way. The reports go into some detail about our ancestors. Not only that but she has researched areas and towns where they lived which gives some great context.” Fran, Hampshire
“I was very impressed to discover how far back Sharon was able to trace my ancestors. It was so interesting to learn about my Irish and Welsh roots and the historical background that was included in my report. The extra information she provided by way of the newspaper articles, and merchant seaman records, really brought my ancestors to life. I have shared the report with all my family, including my mum, and it has given us all lots to talk about.” Paul, Lancashire