Kent England Research

Genealogical Research in Kent, England, specialising in South West Kent

I have been a member of AGRA since 1989. I have over 30 years' experience of research in England, specialising in Kent, and especially in South West Kent - the area around Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and Maidstone. I have my own extensive indexes, and large home genealogical library with microfilms, transcripts etc of original sources, mainly for Kent, and again centred on this same area - see my page on "Research Sources" for further details.

However, I cannot in all honesty claim any special expertise in searches in, or great local knowledge of, the Medway Towns (Chatham - where I now live - Rochester, etc). Likewise, I prefer not to undertake pre-1837 research in the London area, including those parts of North West Kent now in London (Greenwich, Bexley, etc), and am therefore not generally available for extensive searches in those areas before 1837, although I naturally make the occasional such search as required. From 1837 onwards, I am able and willing to search national records on the internet, including for these areas; I also make occasional searches in the Medway area parish registers now available online at http://cityark.medway.gov.uk.

I will make searches in my own indexes for set fees starting from £5.00. When undertaking general research work, I make no extra charge for making use of indexes and other sources in my home genealogical library. My fees are currently £20.00 per hour, with reduced fees for longer searches, starting at £80.00 for 5 hours (in other words 5 hours' work for the price of 4). I give a guaranteed (and personalised) response to all enquiries, with no initial fee for assessment and quote or estimate, and will give an honest appraisal and, if unable to help with an enquiry, will try to suggest a colleague who might be able to help, or some other option which may enable progress to be made, if possible. A page of selected links is also provided on my website, at http://www.mcopus.co.uk/otherlinks.asp.

Where able to take on a commission, I will gladly accept payments by PayPal, by arrangement. I also undertake research in many national records now available on the Internet - Census returns and indexes (1841-1911), GRO indexes of births, marriages and deaths (1837-2006), and Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills (1383-1858), among others - but not general Internet research. As a one-man operation, I provide a postal and email service only and regret that I am not in a position to offer telephone or personal consultations.

My original website at http://www.mcopus.co.uk also includes FAQs as well as much other information. Some of the pages are also available either in this present location (see tabs above) or at http://expertgenealogy.com/g/?x=MatthewCopus.

Matthew Copus
307 Dale Street
Chatham
Kent ME4 6QR

Email: info@mcopus.co.uk
Web Site: www.mcopus.co.uk