Why Choose Leaves for your Research?

My experience and training allows me to assess and research problems in a variety of ways.  I also use my expertise and knowledge of the records to help to identify information and sources that the average researcher may not be aware of.

I have . . .

Over 30 years of family history research experience and many 5 star reviews on:

I am . . .

A qualified genealogist having completed three years of high level training in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies.  This training included theory and practical work covering a wide range of skills and research sources – much more than the usual birth, marriage, death and census records, such as:

The background/history and how to use records for genealogical purposes:

  • Censuses, civil registers and church records in the UK
  • Education and Occupational records
  • Military research
  • Local government, borough and counties records
  • Immigration
  • Wills and Inheritance
  • Land records in England and Wales
  • Ecclesiastical law in England
  • Medieval Records and Charters
  • Overseas records

As well as:

  • Record Keeping
  • Report Writing
  • Referencing sources
  • Using archives effectively
  • Palaeography (reading old handwriting)
  • DNA research
  • Latin
  • Heraldry

Read my Dissertation research here:

THE DEAF AND DUMB IN THE 19th CENTURY – An East Yorkshire study of children born deaf between 1840 and 1850.  Victorian Deaf & Dumb_dissertation

I will . . .

  • Ask you for details of what you already know, to avoid duplicating your own research.
  • Do basic checks to ensure your research is correct.
  • Give you a timescale for the work to be completed.
  • Give fortnightly (at least) updates if the work will take longer than one week -with the exception of portfolio work, unless requested.
  • Explain any findings that are not obvious, or explain why information may not be found.
  • Verify my findings and conclusions.
  • Fully reference and document my findings.
  • Use my experience to identify a variety of online sources – not just one.
  • For East Yorkshire research I will use archive (offline) sources when necessary.
  • Refund any full hours that I have not used.

You Can . . .

If you are not satisfied with my work you can:

I can not . . .

  • Guarantee I will find what you are looking for.
  • Wave a magic wand find records or information that no longer exist.

I will not . . .

  • Search for and contact living relatives on your behalf.
  • Pass on your details to any third party without your permission.  Please read my Privacy Policy for full details and exceptions.
  • Purchase documents without your express permission – unless they are included in the quoted price.
  • Do more research than agreed and charge you for it.