Welcome to the home of Rowan Tree Research!
I believe that without understanding history - my own history - I am incapable of fully grasping who I am. In this very individualistic age, it's easy to forget that we are profoundly affected by our ancestors. We aren't defined by our past, but it's still very relevant to us, even today. Researching a personal history is, of course, a very personal thing, but perhaps you need some help to get started?
Learn a little about me, what I offer and what others have thought of my work in the past. See my AGRA profile as well!
The thrill of the chase
I am a teacher by day, and a keen genealogist and family historian by night. I have been researching my own family for well over twenty years, and know that this bug, when it bites, is fatal. There is always something else to be investigated - a small side story, an interesting piece of social history, and sometimes something very significant indeed.
There is no telling what you may find - even if your ancestors were 'only' agricultural labourers, they had full lives with pleasures and cares much as we do. Be prepared to find family skeletons - we all have them, and whilst we may not like what our ancestors got up to, they did!
My father's side of the family is entirely Scottish (from Moray and the Hebrides), whilst my mother's is completely English (Somerset, Norfolk & Lincolnshire). Most of my wife's ancestry is Northern Irish, and I have lived and worked in the north-east of England for over two decades, and so my expertise is greatest within the confines of the United Kingdom.
Can we work together?
I would be delighted to help you begin discovering your own past. We can discuss what you would like me to assist you with. That may be a single question such as, "Where was Uncle Fred in the 1911 census?" It may, instead, be a request for me to research your whole family tree as far as is possible.
The one thing which is certain is that you will have your own particular needs - and so I am reluctant to suggest a one-size-fits-all option which may not actually suit you. Please contact me to find out more!