I've always loved history because I'm naturally nosey and find it fascinating exploring the way people lived in the past and discovering the individuals who make up the bigger historical picture. There's something reassuring about our ability to empathise with those who lived hundreds, even thousands of years ago, a...

Every so often in my family tree research I come across a seemingly random name hidden amongst the usual array of Titfords, Masseys and Stockers. Inevitably this leads to a bit of a detour, but quite often it can prove to be a rather fruitful journey. While searching for the...

When I first began researching my family tree I relied on all sorts of documents in order to piece together a picture of who my ancestors were and what their lives had been like. Birth, marriage, census, occupation, criminal, death and many other records can be accessed relatively easily online,...

Researching your family tree will take over your life, if you let it. It can also drive you slightly crazy if you don't keep organised and focused. Although I'm still something of a novice, here are my six vital survival tips that should help you at the start of your...

I come from a very secretive family, at least on my dad's side. My paternal grandma passed away months before I was born meaning I never got to know her or develop a true sense of who she was, and although I grew up visiting my grandpa regularly, he was...