A single note in the margin can change an entire family history. And yet, it’s the very detail some people miss. Family history research has been transformed by online databases. Websites like Ancestry, FamilySearch, and Findmypast allow us to search millions of records in seconds. Names, dates, and places that once required days in an
I was recently sent an AI-generated hypothesis of a family history by a client I have worked with for several years. He’s a very smart guy, loves testing technology and at first glance, the output looked impressively structured with dates, relationships, plausible connections, and even suggestions for further research. It had the confident tone that
In 1927, my grandmother Gladys Warren was a 14-year-old Girl Guide, like many girls her age. That year, she kept a Girl Guide diary that offers a window into the life of a young teenager in the 1920s. Gladys passed away in 2003, but the fact that she saved this diary suggests it was a cherished
As a professional genealogist, I enjoy the thrill of solving the intricate puzzles of my clients’ family histories. Each name I uncover and every story I reveal brings me immense pleasure; however, I’ve realized that I’ve neglected the most important puzzle of all—my own ancestors. As we approach Remembrance Day, I will share the story
Nestled in the picturesque landscape of West Sussex, a charming thatched cottage stands as a testament to centuries of history. This enchanting home, built during the twilight years of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, has undergone modernisation while still preserving elements that whisper tales of its past. The thatch, timber frame, and hearth remain intact, evoking
Names have been changed for privacy reasons. There are themes within this research that some people may find upsetting. Many times I have been asked to research a family with very little starting information. This is Peter’s story. Peter told me he had the “smallest family in the world” and wanted to know if
From Lambeth to Battersea I was recently on a train to London from my home in Emsworth and I saw the upgraded Battersea Power Station in all its [expensive] glory. It got me thinking about my grandmother Minnie who was born in Lambeth but who grew up in Battersea. Minnie was a formidable woman and
I am a Connector! What’s a connector? Isn’t that a bit of pipe that connects one bit of pipe to another bit of pipe? Yes, it could be. But what I do is to connect the present to the past. . . . I’m a Genealogist. Last week I was talking to an old colleague
The theme for International Women’s Day 2023 is #EmbraceEquity This year, I thought I would indulge myself and write about some of the women who helped to shape my life and who, in their own ways, may have contributed to the equity woman enjoy today. The first photo is of my Great Grandmother, Lilian Fisher.
Nextdoor.com is an app where people go for local news, trade recommendations, etc. I joined the one for Emsworth in Hampshire when I moved here just over 18 months ago. It’s been a great way to find out what’s going on nearby, but one particularly unusual post caught my eye, it read “This is a
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