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Genealogy

Hiring a genealogist

7 replies

Beingscammed · 28/11/2024 17:09

Trying to find my biological father. My mum had brief fling then had an accident which caused brain damage and lots of stuff happened. Basically she doesn’t know him. I did ancestry and found a 2nd cousin once removed and kinda sure I now know where the link is through great/ great great grandparents. Issue I’m having is her grandma had 8 siblings and I think my father stems from there but I’m struggling finding records so would a genaologist be able to look into these for me?

OP posts:
CrazyAndSagittarius · 28/11/2024 17:27

There are a number of genealogy Facebook groups you can join who have "search angels" who will help you for free.

strawberryshortcake1 · 29/11/2024 09:25

If you want to find someone reputable to help you, try AGRA (Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives), there are DNA experts there.

TheSquareMile · 29/11/2024 23:26

@Beingscammed

I certainly think that you would benefit from help from a genealogist at the stage you are at now. You need someone to look at the data you have and make some sense of it.

I would suggest choosing someone registered with AGRA.

https://www.agra.org.uk/memberbrowse

DrZaraCarmichael · 30/11/2024 10:28

Also Register of Qualified Genealogists - RQG.

https://www.qualifiedgenealogists.org/resumes

You need to look for someone specialised in the area you think you are dealing with, Scotland, Ireland, London etc. Also bear in mind that most genealogists spend their time researching back into the past, not tracing living people. The reason you are having issues finding records is because of privacy laws and things like GDPR which does not apply to people who have died.

Profiles - Register of Qualified Genealogists

https://www.qualifiedgenealogists.org/resumes

ConversingWithStrangers · 09/12/2024 21:11

Try DNA Detectives UK on Facebook for volunteer help.

Any third party is unlikely to have access to records you don’t, but may have more skills In triangulating your matches.

SwedishEdith · 09/12/2024 21:13

Rootschat is another really helpful forum. I've had so much help with stuff I could never have found alone.

RedToothBrush · 03/01/2025 11:29

Beingscammed · 28/11/2024 17:09

Trying to find my biological father. My mum had brief fling then had an accident which caused brain damage and lots of stuff happened. Basically she doesn’t know him. I did ancestry and found a 2nd cousin once removed and kinda sure I now know where the link is through great/ great great grandparents. Issue I’m having is her grandma had 8 siblings and I think my father stems from there but I’m struggling finding records so would a genaologist be able to look into these for me?

I've recently worked out the biological father of a friend and a couple of odd matches within DHs and my family which are clearly the result of sex outside marriage.

A genealogist may or may not be able to help you at this stage.

If your closest match is a second cousin once removed you possibly will end up with a situation where you can't establish which sibling it is even with the additional records, you don't have.

If you have several possible brothers, it then comes down to where they were at the time you were conceived. Some of this may be in records but not necessarily all. The experience of the genealogist may come in here - many will just use records available online. Some may look into locally held archives not available online.

It's often fairly easy to track someone down cross referencing the gro birth indexes and the electoral role but it does depend on where in the country they live.

The genealogists on TV shows go further - they often track down the family, make contact and ask questions. There's also a problem here though.

For every case you see on TV they will have researched another whether approaches to family are either rejected or find out nothing useful.

This is where you need a closer match than 2nd cousin once removed in your matches.

If you can find someone you think is closely related and get them to do another DNA test to give you another reference point.

It's worth keeping in mind that when they track down relatives on TV shows, they often have cases on file for some years, whilst they wait for a good match to pop up before they pursue further with the research.

That's why I say it's not just about hiring a genealogist: it's a combination of a good genealogist, a bit of luck and/or cooperation from the family and patience all coming together.

Not everyone in your situation will get that unfortunately.

I wish you luck in finding out. X

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