Q - What information do you need to take on research?

A - For any kind of research I will require name, surname, dates of birth/marriage/death where known, towns/counties and/or parishes, parents names and any other information, such as other family members.  The more information I have, the less time it takes to find them, saving you money!  Please consider whether you want your paternal or maternal blood line traced or both.

Q - What exactly will I get for £20 per hour?

A - You will receive a professionally presented report containing details of the research undertaken, successful and unsuccessful, findings, along with full transcriptions of certificates, parish registers, census returns, references to sources, printed family charts (if requested)  and suggestions on how your research can be continued.

If I encounter any problems I will contact you.

Q - How long will research take?

A - This is difficult to answer as surname spellings can change over time, nicknames can be used that you may not be aware of, people move around, records may not be available and if travel is involved on my part, this needs to be fitted around my full time job.  However, I will estimate how long it will take as best I can.

Q - What info can I get from a birth certificate?

A - In Scotland more information is recorded than in England and Wales.  You get the Parish/District, entry number, name and surname of the individual, date of birth and in the majority of cases a time, sex, place of birth and usual residence, name and surname of the father and mother, whether they are deceased and their occupation.  The mother’s maiden name.  Parents marriage date and place, name of informant and relationship to child and their address.  Date and place of registration and the name of the registrar.

English and Welsh certificates will display the year, registration district, sub district, county, entry number, date, name of child, sex, father and mother’s name and surname and mothers maiden name, occupation of the father, signature and residence of informant, when it was registered, signature of registrar and any changes to the child’s name entered after registration.

Q - What info can I get from a marriage certificate?

A - Again Scotland gives more information on its certificates than England and Wales.  You can get parish/district information, entry number in the register, date and place of marriage. Name, surname, usual residence, age, occupation, marital status, father and mother’s name, mother’s maiden name and father’s occupation of the bride and groom.  Details of the witnesses, addresses, date and place of registration and any other information are also given.

English and Welsh certificates will show year, registration district, entry number, date, name and surname, age, condition (single, widow etc), rank or profession, residence at time of marriage, father and mothers name and surname and rank or profession, for each party, married in (parish church etc), signatures of both parties, witnesses and date of registration.

Q - What info can I get from a death certificate?

A - Certificates from Scotland will tell you parish/district and entry number.  Name, surname, age, occupation, date and place of death, usual residence, marital status, name of spouse, name of father, father’s occupation, name and maiden name of mother, mother’s occupation, cause of death, name of informant, relationship to the deceased, date of place of registration and place of residence.

With English and Welsh certificates you will get registration district, entry number, date and place, name and surname, sex, maiden name, date and place of birth, occupation and usual residence, name and surname of informant, qualification (relation to deceased), usual residence of informant, cause of death, signature of informant, date of registration

Q - What info can I get from Parish registers?

A - In most cases you will get the name, surname, date and parish.  You may sometimes get the parents names.

Q - What info can I get from census returns?

A - From 1861 to 1901 you can get names, surnames, address, parish/district, age, married/unmarried, occupation, disability, place of birth.

The 1851 census will tell you the names, addresses, age, occupation, place of birth and the relationship between each member of the house.

The 1841 census will only tell you name, address, age and occupation.

Q - When do English, Welsh and Scottish civil records start?

A - English and Welsh civil registration records started in 1837, before this, records are held in individual parish registers.  Scottish records started in 1855 but give more information than their English and Welsh counterparts.

Civil Registration is the recording of births, marriage and deaths.