Trace your English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, and overseas ancestors with expert genealogy. Specialist in DNA research and Titanic, transported convict & maritime family histories.
Ready to start your family history journey?
As a qualified genealogist with a Master’s degree in Genealogy, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde, I provide expert English family history research and also trace families in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and overseas. Combining expertise with practical experience, I uncover your ancestors’ stories and present them clearly and reliably.
As a registered member of the Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG) and Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA) Associate, I follow the highest professional standards in every project.
Every family history journey is unique. Some begin with a single record, others with a long-standing mystery or family story. As a professional genealogist, I bring together archives, DNA evidence, and historical context to uncover the lives of your ancestors. My approach is thorough, evidence-based, and always tailored to your goals, whether that means solving a brick wall, confirming a lineage, or creating a family history to share with future generations.
As a professional UK genealogist, I can:
DNA detective work is especially valuable for solving family history mysteries that cannot be answered by documents alone. By combining DNA evidence with traditional research, I provide expert DNA genealogy services to confirm biological relationships, uncover unknown ancestors, and connect you with hidden branches of your family tree.
If you are looking for help with DNA results, I can guide you through making sense of complex matches, identifying unknown parents, or tackling long-standing gaps in your research. My approach to DNA family history research is clear, practical, and tailored to your specific goals.
Book a free, no-obligation consultation today to discuss your DNA results questions and discover how I can help you unlock new chapters in your family history.
The loss of the Titanic left behind more than a legendary story; it changed the lives of over 1,500 crew and passengers’ families. Many descendants today still want to know what happened to their Titanic ancestor and how their family carried on in the years that followed.
I specialise in tracing Titanic crew and passenger families, drawing on unique sources such as the Titanic Relief Fund records, crew lists and agreements, Board of Trade files, census returns, and local archives. These records can be complex and scattered, but with my expertise they can reveal both the tragedy and resilience of the families left behind.
Research does not stop at identifying names on a passenger list. I can reconstruct the lives of your Titanic ancestors, explain the support their families may have received, and show you how they lived and worked before and after the disaster.
Whether you want to confirm a family connection, trace descendants, or build a fuller picture of the human story behind your Titanic link, I offer detailed, reliable research tailored to your needs.
For more, see my page on Titanic and Maritime Ancestors.
For many families, the sea was more than an occupation; it was a way of life. Generations of sailors, shipbuilders, dockworkers, and fishermen lived in close-knit portside communities, shaping identities that were tied to maritime work and culture.
I specialise in tracing maritime families, using Merchant Navy and Royal Navy records, crew lists and agreements, muster rolls, Board of Trade files, and local archives. These records can be challenging to interpret, but they hold the key to understanding how your ancestors lived and worked at sea.
My research does more than trace names in documents. I can place your ancestors in the context of their maritime communities, explain the conditions they experienced, and show how their seafaring lives shaped their families ashore.
You can find out more about how I can help with your Maritime Research here.
Between 1787 and 1868, more than 160,000 men, women, and children were transported from Britain and Ireland to Australia and other colonies. For many families, this was a turning point that left fractured households in Britain and new lives built overseas.
I specialise in tracing convict ancestors, drawing on trial papers, prison registers, transportation records, surgeons’ journals, muster rolls, and Australian conduct registers. These sources can be complex and sometimes incomplete, but together they reveal the stories of convicts sent to Australia, their journeys, punishments, and the opportunities that shaped their lives.
Research can follow both sides of the story: the relatives left behind in Britain and Ireland, and the descendants who established new roots in Australia. I can also help you understand the conditions your ancestors endured, the convict communities they joined, and how to use convict records to place them in context.
If you have a transported convict in your family tree and would like to uncover their story, please contact me to discuss how I can help, or visit my dedicated convicts to Australia page for more details.
Book a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your project.
“I would highly recommend ‘All About Ancestors’ as the place to go if you are looking for a comprehensive history of your family tree. You know you want to!”
“The information that Nicola painstakingly researched was of great interest and made me feel particularly empathetic towards my ancestors’ situation.”
Most research can reliably reach back to around the 1830s, when civil registration and censuses began. Earlier research is possible, depending on surviving parish and land records.
Yes. I offer DNA detective work to help clients understand their results, identify unknown ancestors, resolve adoption or illegitimacy cases, and confirm biological connections using DNA in combination with traditional records.
Simply book a free consultation or contact me through my contact form to discuss your research goals and learn how I can help. There’s no commitment, and I’m happy to answer any initial questions you may have.