We can help American and Australian families trace their UK ancestors. If you’re based in the USA or Australia and you’d like to discover your family’s past, please fill out our contact form in the first instance and we will carry out some initial research to see if we can trace your family line. This initial research is free and you are under no obligation.

Civil registration began in England and Wales on 1 July 1837 and in the majority of cases it is possible to progress research back to at least the early 1800s/late 1700s. Some parish records exist as far back as the 1500s but realistically research from parish records will probably take your family tree back to the early 1700s. Always remember that the ability to research a family tree depends upon a number of factors, eg, the survival, condition and availability of documents.

When you have decided which research package you are interested in pursuing we will ask for a deposit before the research continues. For fixed priced packages the deposit will be 50% of the full amount of the package with a deposit of £15 for bespoke research. You can pay by PayPal or Direct Bank Transfer (details on request). You do not need to have a PayPal account and can simply pay as a 'guest' on their site. On completion of the research we will send you a final invoice either by email or PayPal for the payment balance. On receipt of final payment we will send your Research Report by Royal Mail Special Delivery which will require a signature.

At the present time, the two terms are often used interchangeably. Historically, genealogy was the research and compilation of evidence to construct a family tree. Family history is the wider study of our ancestors, their lives, where they lived, occupation, their standard of living, etc, set out in a narrative report.

I will endeaver to discover where your ancestors lived, where they went to school, who they married, how many children they had, what they did for a living.

We offer three fixed price packages at £85, £175 and £250. Bespoke research is available at £15 per hour.

A Death Certificate can be a very useful research tool. Not only will it show your relative's cause of death - fascinating in itself - but it will also show who notified the death which can be very revealing. It may show a previously unknown relative or that a previously estranged son/daughter was present at the death. All this information places flesh on the bones and can take research forward leaps and bounds.

Our initial research during the Free Initial Assessment will ensure whether or not enough records exist to begin your journey. It is important to point out that positive results cannot be guaranteed. No researcher can promise to be able to find an ancestor or a document unless they have already got the results sitting in front of them. There are many reasons why births were not registered, people changed their names or gave false or misleading information about their origins on the censuses. There are also cases where records have been lost or destroyed. So, although positive results cannot be guaranteed, we can promise a full committment to endeavouring to achieve the best possible result. Should we unfortunately come to a halt in our research due to there being no available records the price of your package will be reduced accordingly. In any event, a minimum charge of £50 for research time will be deducted from any deposit paid.

I have a wide experience of US and Australian research. Have a look at these examples

The 1939 Register provides a snapshot of the civilian population of England and Wales just after the outbreak of the Second World War. It was taken on 29 September 1939. The information was used to produce identity cards and, once rationing was introduced in January 1940, to issue ration books. Information in the Register was also used to administer conscription and the direction of labour, and to monitor and control the movement of the population caused by military mobilisation and mass evacuation. As the 1931 census for England and Wales was destroyed by fire during the Second World War and no census was taken in 1941, the Register provides the most complete survey of the population of England and Wales between 1921 and 1951, making it an invaluable resource for family, social and local historians.

No two family research projects are the same - each poses its individual challenges. Therefore some family research can proceed faster than others. Family history research is dependent on the availability of source documents. If entries are easy to find research will progress more quickly. The timescale can be constrained by the time taken for delivery of certificates from the General Research Office in order to progress the research further. Unfortuantely it's impossible to accurately foretell the timescale. It really is a voyage into the unknown! However, the preliminary searches I undertake will give some indication of the research time.

The Genealogical Proof Standard is a process used by genealogists to demonstrate what the minimums are that genealogists must do for their work to be credible. Researching family history can become complicated and complex. In the search to find the elusive ancestor, you’re likely to come across dozens of records, countless websites and a host of books each offering you a piece of the puzzle. With so much information available, incorporating the Genealogical Proof Standard into your research allows you to justify your work and feel secure in your conclusions. The standard lays out five essential steps for accurate research: * Reasonably exhaustive research has been conducted. * Each statement of fact has a complete and accurate source citation. * The evidence is reliable and has been skillfully correlated and interpreted. * Any contradictory evidence has been resolved. * The conclusion has been soundly reasoned and coherently written.​