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
Every year, LinkedIn fills with inspirational posts celebrating women but as a genealogist and ex-HR professional, I often feel uneasy about what we’re overlooking. Quite rightly, we remember the Suffragettes, Marie Curie, Rosa Parks, and the remarkable Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, and more recently, Malala Yousafzai and many other famous women whose
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
When beginning World War I family history research, many people have stories of great-grandparents who served in The Great War. Often told by older family members, shown on service records, confirmed by medals and recorded on a few faded photographs. When delving deeper, what is discovered is something far more powerful: the human cost of
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
It all began with an old, weathered Bible that had been tucked away for decades in a forgotten corner of an attic in Leicester. On its inside cover, an inscription offered a tantalising clue “Presented to C.J. Martin, Service Number P/JX 147862,” followed by the date “June 1944” and an address “7 Canon Street, Malta
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
I have been running my genealogy business full-time for just over two years; long gone are the days of juggling two very different professions. It’s been a steep learning curve, but it has been worth it to do something I love so much. One of the things I have realised is that I am really
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