Welcome

Professional Family History Research in Hertfordshire Essex Cambridgeshire Middlesex and London. Past Discoveries is a family run genealogy business offering a friendly and efficient service to those who wish to find out more about their family history. Genealogy is the study of family lines of descent and incorporates all aspects of family history. Researching your family history can be very rewarding and revealing as a lot of unknown information can be found

About me

I am a Qualified Genealogist and Family History Researcher and have 20 years' experience working in archives for family history research. I started my own family history research back in 1993 and since that time have researched my own family back many generations with some branches back to the middle 1600s. I then decided to embark on a career in genealogy and family history and undertake work for clients.

Qualifications - I am committed to continuing my professional development and as such undertake many professional courses in specific areas of research to update my knowledge. I have completed the accredited Correspondence Course in Genealogy which was a comprehensive programme of study that I undertook over 3 years with the 'Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies'. This course covered all aspects of family history from basic records through to the more complex court records, manorial records and heraldry. Following an examination I was then awarded the Higher Certificate in Genealogy. I then furthered my studies in genealogy and family history and in 2013 graduated from the IHGS (Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies) with the accredited Diploma in Genealogy (Dip Gen).

Professional Organisations - I am a Member of APG 'The Association of Professional Genealogists' which is an association of professional worldwide genealogists and have committed to follow their Code of Ethics.

Society Memberships - I am a Member of The Society of Genealogists which is based in London, various Local Family History Societies and The Guild of One Name Studies.

Services

I offer both online research and archival research at various county and London archives. Many researchers only use online records and indexes but to achieve a complete history about the lives of your ancestors then records need to be researched that are found at various archival repositories. I offer both bespoke research and various family history research packages that can be customised to your specific requirements.

Do you know absolutely nothing about your family and would like to have your family history researched from the beginning?

Has your family heard the story of an ancestor that has been passed through the generations and you would like to know if the myth about your ancestor is true?

Have you hit a "brick wall" in your research and would like some professional help? I can offer my expertise and knowledge to help you progress further with your research.

The various family history research packages are denoted by the British eras. If you choose one of the family history packages shown below then the price quoted is the total figure that you will pay and no other charges will be added. The family history research packages are based on the use of GRO (General Register Office) indexes for births, marriages and deaths, GRO birth, marriage and death certificates (these reveal further information to the indexes) along with census returns between the years 1841-1911. If other information is found during the research such as military information, probate information, or information from other online sources then this information will also be included in your family history research package. The Georgian and Tudor packages are presented as a written story of your family history and are presented in a spring-backed leather effect Family History folder. All family history research packages can be customised to your specific requirements.