Personal and Professional Genealogy Research
At Stories in the Branches, I go beyond names and dates to uncover the lives behind your ancestors.
Through careful genealogical research and historical context, I aim to piece together not just who your ancestors were—but how they lived, worked, and experienced the world around them.
Our SERVICES - an Overview
🌿 How I Can Help
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Trace your family tree using historical records
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Locate birth, marriage, death, and census records
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Explore ancestors’ occupations, homes, and communities
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Add historical context to better understand their lives
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Research UK ancestry with optional emigration insights
Where records allow, I incorporate relevant historical detail—such as working conditions, local industries, social history, and significant events—to help bring your ancestors’ stories to life.
🌱 More Than Just Records
Genealogy is more than a list of names and dates—it’s about people.
Whenever possible, your research will include insights such as:
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What your ancestors’ daily lives may have looked like
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The type of work they did and what it involved
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The communities they lived in
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The historical events that may have shaped their lives
This added context helps transform records into a meaningful and engaging family story.
Please note: The level of detail depends on the availability of historical records and sources.
🌱 Free 15-Minute Consultation
Not sure where to start? I offer a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your goals and assess what may be possible.
This is a great opportunity to:
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Ask questions
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Get a sense of available records
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Decide which service is right for you
👉 No obligation, and no research is carried out during this time.
About me - Stories in the Branches
🌿 The Story Behind Stories in the Branches
Hi, I’m Sharon, the researcher behind Stories in the Branches.
My journey into genealogy didn’t begin with a business plan—it began with curiosity, family stories, and a question that needed answering.
🌱 Where It All Began
I first became interested in family history as a teenager, around the age of 16 or 17, long before online records were widely available.
It started with conversations with my mum, who had carefully kept old photo albums, documents, and a treasured family Bible. She believed there was a connection to a well-known entertainment figure somewhere in our family—but no one knew exactly where that connection lay.
So the search began.
📚 The Early Days of Research
In those early years, research meant travelling to:
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Local libraries
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County record offices
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Local history archives
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I spent hours searching through records, matching names on the backs of old photographs to family members, estimating dates, and slowly building a picture of the past.
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Even then, it wasn’t just about collecting names—it was about imagining the lives behind them:
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Where they lived
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What their working day looked like
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The communities they were part of
🌳 Discovering the Stories Behind the Names
As my research grew, so did my fascination with the human stories within family history.
I uncovered lives shaped by:
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War and loss
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Poverty and hardship
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Illness and infant mortality
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Institutional life, including workhouses and asylums
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But alongside those challenges were also stories of:
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Strength and resilience
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Family connections
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Achievements and triumphs
It was this balance—the reality of ordinary lives lived through extraordinary times—that truly captured my interest.
🤝 From Passion to Helping Others
Over time, I found myself sharing these discoveries with friends and family—and being asked to help with their own research.
What began as small requests to find a record or confirm a detail soon grew into more in-depth work, including building full family trees across both maternal and paternal lines.
It was then I realised that I didn’t just enjoy genealogy—I loved:
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The research
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The problem-solving
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The connection to people and history
That’s when I decided to take the step into offering my services professionally.
🌍 A Lifetime of Discovery
My own family tree is still growing.
With more records being digitised and made accessible, genealogy is constantly evolving. What feels like a complete story today can change tomorrow with the discovery of a new record or piece of information.
Over the years, my research has taken me to:
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Beautiful villages and towns across the UK
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Old churches, chapels, and historic sites
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Family homes where they still stand today
I’ve also travelled to France and Belgium to visit war memorials, helping to better understand the lives and losses of those who served in the World Wars.
🌿 Still Curious, Still Searching
Even after more than 40 years, I’m still as curious as when I first started.
There is always:
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Another story to uncover
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Another connection to explore
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Another piece of history waiting to be found
Genealogy is never truly finished—and that’s part of what makes it so meaningful.
🤍 A Personal Approach to Your Family History
I understand that family history is deeply personal.
Every record represents a real person, a real life, and a place in your story. I approach each project with care, respect, and a genuine passion for uncovering the lives behind the names.
📩 Let’s Discover Your Story
If you’d like to explore your own family history, I’d love to help.
Get in touch to book your free 15-minute consultation and begin your journey.
