Free ConsultationSpeaker Trainingall United Kingdomsome United KingdomLondonSouthwest EnglandDorsetSomersetWiltshireHampshireColonial USAPalaeographyHouse HistoryTranslationLocation PhotosDegreeUK Ireland TourEuropean inn 18
Genealogical and historical researcher, and lecturer.
BA PGCE University of Southampton. Over 30 years experience of research. Specialist area: the local records of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, England.
Family history;local history; paleography, transcription of wills and other documents into modern English.
Charges:£20 per hour plus agreed expenses. Please contact me to discuss your requirements without obligation.
Also,lectures, talks and courses.
Locations for research
Dorset: most original records are held in the Dorset History Centre in Dorchester; this now houses the local studies collection as well as the Dorchester Museum collection. The Dorset Archives Catalogue can now be accessed online at www.dorsetforyou.com but the original documents can only be seen at the History Centre. These include:overseers papers; estate papers; property deeds; court records; parish records. Most of the wills proved within the county are also in the Dorset History Centre; an index will be going online later this year. Some Dorset wills are in the diocesan record office in Wiltshire; those wills for Dorset people proved in the PCC are held in the PRO in London.
Somerset: most original records for Somerset are held in the Somerset Heritage centre near Taunton which also houses the collection of material formerly held in the Somerset Studies Library..
Wiltshire: The new Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, in Chippenham, is where most of the original records are kept for the county of Wiltshire. It is also the Diocesan Record Office, so it is home to a large collection of original wills proved within the Salisbury Diocese.
Genealogy Vacations
If you are traveling to England on the trail of your ancestors you want to make the best possible use of time. I live and work in the south west so I can help you plan your trip to the area.
Together we can assess the evidence you have and decide what what records you need; then I can advise you where to find them, suggest ways to travel and places to stay.
Research assessment, with accommodation and travel planning: £100 [5 hours]
Accompanying you for a day: £150 plus expenses.