My Journey into the Past

When I was growing up, I always felt like I had a small family. Most of my cousins were much younger, and as an avid reader, I found myself captivated by stories of large, bustling households. This childhood curiosity eventually grew into a lifelong obsession with history.

From Royal Mysteries to Personal Roots

My fascination began with the British Royal Family. I was intrigued by how the modern royals descended from the figures I studied in school, like Henry VIII and Queen Victoria. I loved tracing how Henry’s wives were connected to other prominent families, and later, discovering how Queen Victoria’s grandchildren sat on the thrones of opposing nations during WWI. The tragic story of the Russian Tsars and the "royal disease" of hemophilia further fueled my interest in how biology and history intertwine.

The Detour that Changed EverythingJulie - British Museum

The spark for my own family research happened by chance in 1994. I grew up hearing stories that my Great-Grandfather, Arthur Neal, came from a large family in the tiny village of Bignor, Sussex. While avoiding motorway traffic one afternoon, I spotted a sign for Bignor and decided to follow it.

I found the local church and spent the afternoon wandering through the graveyard. Seeing row after row of "Neal" headstones, I grabbed a scrap of paper and began scribbling down names. Twenty-five years later, I am still hooked.

The "Old School" Way

In the early days, genealogy was a physical challenge. I spent my days:

  • Battling heavy ledgers: Searching through giant Index books at registry offices.

  • Scrolling through Microfilm: Spending hours in dimly lit rooms viewing tiny records.

  • Turning holidays into hunts: Dragging my husband to record offices and graveyards across the UK to photograph headstones and archives.

Research in the Digital Age

Today, the internet has made information more accessible, but it has also made it easier to make mistakes. I pride myself on distinguishing verified records from "copy-pasted" family trees. Without proper evidence, it’s easy to build a fictional tree based on someone else’s errors.

For me, genealogy isn't about the number of names on a list—it’s about the stories. I love discovering an ancestor's occupation, researching their trade, and seeing how their life fit into the local events of the time.

Julie - LlamaThe Good, the Bad, and the Shocking

My research has uncovered incredible diversity. While I have "favorite" finds that I could talk about for hours, I have also uncovered darker chapters, such as discovering a 5th Great-Grandfather who was a slave trader. I’ve also had to debunk long-held family myths, which can be a surprise for many.

Genealogy is a journey of truth, involving:

  • Fascinating Discoveries: Meeting wonderful "new" cousins and collaborating on shared history.

  • Hard Truths: Facing upsetting or shocking records that give a realistic view of the past.

  • Ongoing Mysteries: There is always one more record to find or one more story to tell.

I now use my decades of experience and access to professional databases to help others solve their own family mysteries. Let me help you find the stories that led to you.

Is there a particular family story or "myth" you've always wanted to prove or disprove?