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Would you like help with your genealogy research?
Not enough time?
Can't get to the sources?
Rather spend money on results than on travelling?
Would you like help?
About me
For those who know where to begin genealogy is easier than ever now, with ever-increasing amounts of information available on the web including censuses, PCC wills, War Graves Commission records and GRO indexes. However, searching these sources online is still time-consuming, and in some cases the accuracy of the information still has to be verified and the original sources referred to.
Parish registers, the primary English source before 1837 are rarely available online. Local and national history documents capable of shedding light on family history are very largely accessible only in record offices, even when they're indexed online. Military records, chancery exhibits, bastardy returns, churchwardens' accounts, heralds' visitations, poor law records, school records, and so on, have to be seen at local repositories in most cases. Photos of locations, villages, churches, and buildings usually require a physical visit with the camera.
Rather spend money on results than on travelling?
The combination of money and time spent just travelling to research sites, then yet more time to do the searches, can be very uneconomical. Costs can be reduced by paying someone more local to do the research for you, potentially allowing your budget to cover more searches and get more results.
I may be able to help you with my personal genealogy research service based on a straightforward hourly fee-rate.
After an initial communication by e-mail or letter to establish whether I can genuinely help, I will agree a task or time-limit to meet your requirement. Following agreement to proceed I recommend an initial 1-2 hours of research, following which I will provide a report detailing results found and any further scope for research. I will then only proceed with further research following your agreement.
I am based in the south of England. In addition to London repositories I can offer research in the counties of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex.
I can undertake photographic assignments
All research results will be provided in a clearly written report with references to sources which can be emailed or posted to you. Where requested copies of records (such as birth certificates, census records, wills, parish register entries etc.) will be included at cost.
I have 25 years' experience of researching family, local and community history, with a B. Ed. degree majoring in History from Nottingham University. I am a member of the Society of Genealogists and live within one hour of London's family history and records office including The National Archives ( Public Record Office); The Family Records Centre; The Society of Genealogists; The Imperial War Museum; The London Metropolitan Archive; The Guildhall Library; and The British Library.
My own ongoing family research is available for review if you would like to 'sample' my work. I have also published a study of farming families in the Lincolnshire village of Rippingale (Fenland Worker-Peasants: The Economy of Smallholders at Rippingale, Lincolnshire 1791 - 1871, The Agricultural History Society Supplement Series, no. 1, 1992).
* Please send
an e-mail detailing your research need. In order to avoid spending time (and
your money) in fruitless searches I will only undertake research which is based
on clear "lead" information and has a specific, tangible outcome.
* I will reply with an assessment of whether I can help. If so I will provide
you with a proposed tangible research objective for the research. I will
also recommend an initial research time limit, and quote fees and any likely
additional costs (e.g. for copies, photographic processing or
postage). I will request your agreement to proceed on that basis.
* On receipt of your agreement I will undertake the agreed task to the
agreed time limit. I will alert you on completion. (This will
normally be within 28 days of the agreement - but we may agree a longer period
depending on the scope of the task.) I will also then request payment by
posted cheque.
* On receipt and bank clearance of your payment I will forward a full
word-processed report of the work undertaken, the resulting information with
full source references, and copies of records (where requested). Reports may be
provided as hard copy and/or electronic files on CD-ROM or floppy
diskette. Photos may be provided as 35mm colour negatives and 'standard'
size prints and/or as electronic jpeg files on CD-ROM. Items may be
dispatched by post or e-mail as agreed.
* Further work may be undertaken following agreement of the next research
objective and associated fees.
IN OFFERING AND PERFORMING THIS SERVICE I ACCEPT NO LIABILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION PROVIDED OR FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER ARISING FROM USE OF MY SERVICE OR INFORMATION PROVIDED BY ME. I ACCEPT NO LIABILITY FOR THE QUALITY OF COPIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS. ITEMS ARE DISPATCHED ENTIRELY AT THE CUSTOMER'S RISK AND I ACCEPT NO LIABILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE IN TRANSIT.
My fee-rate is £15 (GBP) per hour or the prevailing local currency equivalent at time of agreeing to proceed.
Incidental expenses and costs for travel, copies, photocopies, films, processing etc will be charged at cost.