Whilst my genealogy services cover the whole of the UK, I do not actually have much access to Scottish records, which are often very different to English or Welsh records.  I therefore use the services of Jo whenever I have a client with Scottish ancestors, and I know I will get a good, friendly service and fully researched results.

Just for fun, I am copying here Jo’s most recent post about the haggis, including the great haggis hunt, a bit of haggis history – and even where you can find a vegetarian haggis!  (Between you and me, and think she may have had a wee dram already – the observant among you may spot a bit of traditional Scots humour…):

Seriously – if you have Scottish family history and you want a professional and friendly service, then go to Jo’s main research website.

Enjoy your Burns Night Supper!  Scots Wha Hae!

However, while more and more documents are becoming available online, many necessary records before the 19th century - and some records after - are only accessible by visiting local archives.  If you have found your ancestors in the birth, marriage and death indexes from 1837, it can be extremely expensive to order copies of the certificates from outside of the UK.

Even if you have discovered that someone else has done research on your line, you should never trust that the person publishing the tree has done their research properly.  I have seen countless mistakes on these trees - and not infrequently a lot of wishful thinking!

The trouble is that when people are not able to access the original sources, such as parish registers, they tend to rely on sources such as the International Genealogical Index.  Now, this is a wonderful source which is extremely useful.  However, as it is not complete, and is not always accurate, it is very possible to make errors when using it, and go climbing up the wrong family tree.  The IGI should only ever be used as a search tool to find probable or possible register entries, and it should always be backed up by searches of the original records before going further up the tree.

This is a problem if the parish registers you need are not yet online.  Other documents, such as wills, may help - and many of these are indexed online, and some are even downloadable, or at least orderable via the internet - but many wills are only to be found at local record offices.  In other words, if you are only using the internet, you cannot be sure that you are getting all the sources you need.

So, while the internet is a boon for non-UK residents searching their British genealogy, it is also very frustrating when the essential records you need are only accessible locally.

A very good search engine is one provided by The National Archives.  This is called Access to Archives, and you can use it to search for documents that mention your ancestors.  The list of results will tell you in which repository the document is held - so at least you will know which archive you need.

You may be able to contact the relevant archive and request a photocopy of the document, for which there will be a fee.

But it is very likely that there will be lots of records you need in different parts of the country.  Parish registers that need intense searching, documents to be copied or photographed, or lists of wills to be perused.  To try and organise such searches individually in each area would be extremely time-consuming and ultimately expensive.

The ideal alternative would be to hire a UK genealogist who can 'oversee' your UK searches, carry out searches in local archives, or sub-hire other genealogists in other parts of the country.  A genealogist in the UK will have expert knowledge about the history and geography of their area, and can therefore often find sources or archives that you may not have known about.  They will understand the historical background of British ancestors; how people lived and why they may have moved house or emigrated.

UK genealogists very often have extra services, such as photography or family history writing services, backed up by their knowledge of British and local history.

My own British genealogy service covers the whole of the UK.  I am based in Warwickshire in the Midlands, but I use a pool of trusted genealogists across the country who will undertake searches at local county record offices that are outside of my area.  I can therefore take your British ancestry and research it from scratch.

AND... for the month of December 2011, I am offering a huge 20% discount for all new clients ordering British genealogy research.  My usual hourly charge is £20 - but for this month it will be £16 only - and this will continue into the new year AS LONG AS you order your research before 31st December.  Just email me at info@tracingancestors-uk.com with December Discount in the subject box, and give me the details of what you are looking for.

Many of my clients are either American or Australian, and of course so many people in both these great countries have British genealogy.  How exciting to find out where and how they lived before they took the enormous decision to leave these shores for new lives.

Of course, it is not always possible to look into the minds of those ancestors and find out exactly why they made that decision – but by looking at their occupations, environment and lifestyles, you can sometimes get a very good idea of their reasons for leaving everything they have ever known behind them.

Unlike today, when we can stay in touch with friends and relatives through the phone and internet, and hop on a plane if you want to see them, those ancestors who emigrated to America or Australia knew they would never see their loved ones again, and were leaving the place they had known for good, without really knowing what kind of life lay ahead.  Not only that, but they usually had to face a dangerous, lengthy and extremely uncomfortable journey across often stormy seas in order to reach their destination.  That must have taken a lot of courage.

Of course, sometimes, people were sent abroad against their will – and many an Aussie will find an ancestor who was transported from England for some crime, whether minor or major.  It can be of great interest to find out details of your ancestor’s crime through trial and transportation records.

If you have English genealogy – or Irish, Scottish or Welsh ancestry – you can find much on the internet.  But at some point you will need to hire a local researcher to research the local archives for parish register records, wills, land records and other documents that can provide an insight into your ancestors’ lives.

A word of warning though.  Before you hire and English or British expert, you need to try and find out as much about your ancestor as possible, particularly if their name was a common one.  We may be a small country, but we have a fair size population, and trying to find a Thomas Brown of England, just isn’t going to work unless you have some idea of where he came from!

So, do as much as you can within your own country before asking for help over here.  The best kinds of records to look at will be the census records in your country.  Much of the time these will only give a vague place of birth, such as “England” or “Ireland” – but do look in every possible census to see if at any time they gave a more specific place.

Try to get hold of any death or marriage records.  I believe that death records in the United States give a lot more information than they do over here, and can give a clue to their origins.  Once you have a death date, you could also try looking for local obituaries in newspapers, which will often give details of a person’s origins.  The information on marriage records differs from state to state, but might give parents’ names, and possibly even origins if you are lucky.

Try also to find any immigration records you can find.  It is usually much more likely to find these records in the place of arrival, rather than the place of departure.  Ancestry.com has a good coverage of American and Australian passenger lists and other immigration records, so it’s a good place to start.  If you can find your ancestor here, you will often find at least where they sailed from, and very often where they were born.

Once you have as much information you can find from your own country’s records, then you are equipped to request searches into your UK roots.  However, sadly, there are cases where this information just cannot be found, and unless you are lucky enough to have a very unusual name, then it is unlikely you will be able to trace your Thomas Brown.

If you unsure, then you can always make an enquiry.  I am very happy to have a look at your case and give you some advice about the possibility of finding your ancestor.  You can email me at info@tracingancestors-uk.com.  Or, if you have more information about your immigrant ancestor, you could try one of my research packages on my research service page.

My main expertise is for English Genealogy – but I do have professional contacts in Ireland, Scotland and Wales, so I can help you wherever your ancestors came from in the UK.

With the VAT increase, rising fuel prices and the general cost of living rising substantially I AM going to have to increase my fees from £18 to £20 per hour, which is still pretty reasonable compared to many other genealogists’ fees.

However, I am not doing this officially until 1st February 2011 – and anyone who hires my genealogical services before that date will stay at the old rate for the whole of the time of the first project they commission – even if that lasts for 6 months!

However, all NEW jobs after 1st February, and all 2nd and subsequent projects will be charged at the new rate of £20 per hour.

So, if you’ve been thinking about hiring someone to trace your ancestors in the UK but have been hesitating, now is the time to do it.

Ros

There are 4 main ways of ordering my genealogical services.

You can either use my hourly service, which gives you a minimum of 2 hours of research up to whatever spending limit you want to set.  This leaves you in control of your budget and means that the research can be done in stages.  It is also the best option if you just require a record look-up in the local archives.

Alternatively, there are also 3 packages at varying levels, depending on your budget and requirements.  You can either decide to pay in advance, using the Paypal buttons, or email me for further details.

Whatever your research needs, feel free to email me at info@tracingancestors-uk.com to discuss what kind of option will suit you.

For more details on my genealogical research options CLICK HERE.

Today, however, almost anyone with internet access can research their own family history using online resources – at least as far back as 1837, using census records and BMD indexes.  There is even a growing range of parish registers that can be read online, so if you are lucky, you may be able to press back further than 1837 without leaving your desk.

Does this mean that work for professional genealogists is drying up?  Actually, the answer seems to be Absolutely Not!

I seem to busier now than I ever have been.  The nature of my work has changed radically (I spend more time at home at my computer than I do at the record office!), but I have a healthily large pile of work folders on my desk and no sign of it drying up.

So – if it’s so easy for people to trace their own ancestry, why do they still need the services of a professional?  Here are a few of my ideas.  If you have any more, please feel free to comment!

• Even though there are easy-to-use name indexes on many genealogical websites, it is still possible to hit a brick wall and find that an ancestor seems to have completely disappeared from the records.  A professional can often get through these brick walls because they often have a better knowledge of how the search engines for each site works, and also how different name spellings and transcription errors can result in an ancestor not showing up in the results.  They may also have knowledge of other resources and documents not available online that may help to find the missing ancestor.

• Most professional genealogists have an interest in and studied local and/or general history and can often provide a good understanding of local migratory habits, industries, education and lifestyles.  This depth of understanding can enrich your knowledge of your ancestors and what their lives were like.

• While the census and BMD certificates can help you trace your family tree back to the early 19th century, there are many documents that will flesh out the information about a 19th or 20th century ancestor.  Only a few of these are available online, and you could be missing out on fascinating information if you only stick to certificates and the census.  Wills, directories, occupational records, land records, criminal and military records can all provide you with interesting information about your ancestor.

• Before 1837 your main source of information are parish registers (as well as the other records just mentioned).  While some parish registers (particularly for London) are now online, the vast majority are still only available by visiting local archives.  Online indexes such as the IGI can be helpful – but should not be relied upon.  It is essential ALWAYS to follow up such information by checking out the original documents.

• A professional genealogist will usually have membership of various genealogical societies where they may have access to information not readily available to other members of the public.

• Once you do get beyond 1837, and need to find local researchers, using just one researcher who will sub-hire other researchers on your behalf will save you lots of time – and probably money.  If you are following several lines, you will probably find that your ancestors came from many different areas, or you might find one line where the family moved around a lot, and trying to find researchers in each area takes a lot of valuable time, and is not always that easy.  A researcher who will act as an overseer, and collate all the information for you makes it all very much easier for you.

I think that as long the professional genealogist keeps up to date with modern changes and moves with the times, there will always be work available.  In many ways, I find it more satisfying now than it used to be.  Instead of most of my jobs just covering the one area, I very often have charge of the whole tree, and am able to get involved in a far more in-depth way than ever before.

For more information about my own genealogical services, covering the whole of the UK, CLICK HERE.

Ros

In February, I am going to increasing my charges from £15 per hour to £18 per hour….BUT…

… if you order any of my services now, I will keep you at the old charges for the duration of the service you order, no matter how long it takes. 

To order ancestry searches in the UK, go to my services page and choose the service you require.

Here’s to achieving your family history goals in 2010!

I haven’t fallen off the planet – I’ve just been very busy with some genealogy work and writing work, as well as taking a short holiday in Devon.

Now the summer is virtually over, why not find out more about your UK ancestors?  You can use my comprehensive research services here, or use an online service such as Ancestry or Find My Past.

Tracing ancestors is such an exciting and fascinating hobby.  Once you get started you’ll be hooked!   You’ll get a new sense of identity, and you will feel more connected to social history and events of the past.

I only charge £15 per hour at present (some researcher charge up to £25).  However, I will be putting my prices up to £17 soon – so get in quick!

Find out about my research services here.

Ros Bott

If you know which county your ancestors lived in, you can find a genealogist in that area and ask them to search the local archives.  However, if the searches find that your ancestors came from a different area – or perhaps you already know of ancestors all over the country – this means contacting several different local genealogists.

To save you time I would therefore recommend that you hire a professional genealogist who offers search services across the country and let them do all the hard work of finding the best local researchers for you.

You can find details of my own British ancestry research services here. I offer 3 separate packages: 1 – an initial research service to get an idea of what’s possible throughout the UK, 2 – a full package tracing all possible ancestors in the UK, and 3 – my local research service in Warwickshire.

I also offer online research services if you do not have the time to do this yourself.

To find out more about my ancestor search services click HERE.

Ros Bott

I still have a few problems to sort out, but thanks to my friend Jeffery at the Niche Power Group, I am sure it will be working properly within a few days!

In the meantime, please have a look round the site and explore the links.  I intend to give anyone around the world easy access to services and links that will help them with tracing ancestors in the UK.

View my own one-stop-shop services here, or my Warwickshire research services here, then bookmark  this site and come back often as I will be regularly posting lots of new information in the near future.

Thanks.

Ros Bott