Services

NOTICE: I am currently working on a PhD and turnaround time is slow. Please let me know if there is urgency when contacting me.

SEARCHES

Do you want to know the outline of your family history? Have you always wanted to do family research but given up because you can’t seem to get very far? Or perhaps you’ve got a family history subscription and want a headstart? Maybe you are just curious, and don’t wish to commit to a full tree.
When I perform a search. I find your immediate ancestors going back to approximately 1840 – usually five or six generations.

For those wanting more detail, and as an interim service while full trees are suspended, an in-depth search, covering five or six generations is also available. This builds on the above, giving information on occupations, family size, and areas of interest.

Both searches provide information on where archives and records are held for the relevant areas. The resulting product is a copy of your family outline, and notes on what I have found. I can also provide the GED file of the search for you to import into a family research website.
This process is quick – 24hrs for a basic search and a week for an in-depth search – and can be delivered digitally.

COST:

BASIC SEARCH: £25

IN-DEPTH SEARCH: £75 (inc. postage)

FULL FAMILY HISTORIES

This is by far the most popular service I offer. It’s a two part process. The first part is the search, as explained above. The second part is deep research and writing up. With a full family history, I go as far back as digitised records allow. I research each generation in detail, creating a narrative of their lives. I use the census, birth, marriage and death records, war records, crime records, newspapers and Ordnance Survey maps to develop their story. The research and writing up takes between ten days and six weeks, depending on the size of your family.
When it’s finished, you receive a fully typed book, typically between 40-120 pages, in an easy-to-digest format. This includes contents, guidance notes, a list of war dead, relevant appendices and an index of direct ancestors.

These are excellent gifts for big birthdays and wedding anniversaries. However, family history can be distressing, and I do not recommend them as a surprise gift.

I require explicit permission from a direct descendent before I can agree to a family history commission. Please bear this in mind if you are considering a gift for a partner or friend.

COST: These are priced individually, and cost between £200 and £400 depending on the number of generations covered. There is a waiting list, and gift vouchers are available. Please contact me for an information pack, including examples

EVERYTHING ELSE!

I offer a variety of history services, including researching links to famous people, looking at specific episodes from the past, and exploring house history. If you are stuck in your family research and need some help, please get in touch.

COST: Varies by what you need, but starts at £10.

I am also available for commercial research, media work, and public speaking on inquest and coroner history in the Victorian era. Please contact me directly for costs and availability at smfamilyresearch@outlook.com