& Genealogy
Research
© 2010 Scottish Ancestral Footsteps
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Q. Why Use a Professional Genealogist?
A. The professional has: experience, expertise, resources. While many records are available on the Internet to anyone who knows where to look for them, not all are. There are many other sources. Additionally, many of the records that are available on the Internet are either very difficult, or even impossible to access without paid subscriptions to various databases and programs. What starts out as "free" Internet research can easily, and quickly, become very expensive. Professional genealogists have access to all available resources. We also have the experience and expertise to be able to recognize what we find as something that is pertinent, not pertinent, or something that should be further explored.
Q. How long will it take to do the research and hand over the finished work?
A. We can not give a time estimate. Various criteria will effect the time scale, from the initial information supplied by the client and the time periods being researched. The clients objectives eg. Full history as far back as possible to only two generations required on the male line. What we do is agree a set of criteria and period of time and review the progress. Progress is normally reported on a regular basis, any change in requirements/direction requires agreement before continuing.
Q. How far back can you go? (how many generations or till what date)
A. This depends on the documentation available:
Statutory registration started in Scotland in 1855, and 1837 in England and Wales. Prior to these dates the Church maintained the records. In Scotland it was the Church of Scotland.
Q. How much information do you get on each
r elative?
A. As above it depends on the documentation available and the clients requirements.
This also depends on who and what the relationship is to the direct ancestor. Direct line should have the date and place of birth, date and place of marriage and any witnesses the age and address of the couple. Death information, age and place of death, marital status at the time of death, cause of death and who signed the certificate.
Census data from 1841 to 1901 in Scotland, 1911 in England.
Pre 1855 the Church records are used, these are less informative than the statutory records. They can be added to by looking at the Kirk Session records.
Wills, deeds, valuation rolls and pre-