Helping you find out about your family history in Bedfordshire and the UK.

Family history research extends beyond simply finding out where you ancestors were born, married and died. For example, it involves finding out what they did for a living and whether or not they changed professions over time. It involves finding out about where they lived, and whether they rented or owned the houses they lived in. They may even have fallen on hard-times and in desperation ended up living in the local workhouse.
 

Researching a family history also involves finding out about how your ancestors may have integrated with the local community. For example, were they an upstanding citizen, or did they have to 'visit’ the local gaol
 

Very few social history records are available on line, and require a specialist local knowledge of where and how to find these records. That's where I am able to help you.  I have an excellent knowledge of how to find and access these records as I worked at a number of heritage organisations in Bedfordshire for over 20 years.
 

I have my own extensive library of original records that I can use to find out more about your ancestors. In addition to this I can offer an extensive search of the records held at Bedfordshire Archives. I was the County Archive Conservator at Bedfordshire Archives, and therefore have a good working knowledge of the collections held there, particularly those that not showing on their on-line catalogue.
 

Example of social history records that I can search for you include:

• Poor law Union and Workhouse records for Bedfordshire
• Local Newspapers 
• Local Trade directories
• Trade and Business archives
• Local historical publications
• Local school records
• Street and phone directories
• Electoral registers
• Insurance records
• Town plan and OS maps
• Land Valuation Records
• Land and property ownership records
• Bedford Gaol Database
• Bedfordshire Quarter Session records 

As mentioned above, only a few of the above records are available on the web, therefore the majority of the research I undertake is desk research, locating the original documents.

Any research undertaken is tailored to your specific needs. I can help with finding out about just one member of your family, or I can help with finding out about your whole family across a number of generations.  

If you are only interesting in having your family tree done, and taking your line back as far as possilbe, I can help with that too, click here for more information.
 

"Thank you so much for your work with my Denton girls, I am very thrilled with it.  I want to say that of the genealogists I have had work for me your work is absolutely outstanding. Your thoroughness, skill and dedication show your exceptionally high standards and I am so lucky to have found you. I will sing your praises loudly to anyone who is in search of a genealogist."

J. Tiller