Ancestry Unlocked
My Services
let's see what we can find
Breaking through brick walls is a phrase you often hear to describe solving genealogical impasses. Family history research is about discovering and properly preserving our heritage, so I prefer to think of impasses as doors waiting to be unlocked. All that is needed is the right key to reveal the contents on the other side!
Do you want to know what ship your ancestor arrived on? Do you need a document retrieved from a courthouse or archive? Do you need a photograph of a home or a headstone? Are you preparing an application for a lineage society or want to create a family history book? I conduct genealogical research in all areas of the United States but specialize in Northeast Ohio, as well as, Central and Eastern Pennsylvania during the periods of the Revolutionary War, mid-1800s to early 1900s.
I adhere to codes of ethics established by both the Board for Certification of Genealogists and the Association of Professional Genealogists, so you can be assured of receiving the highest quality research services.
Family History
Research
Online records are a great starting point for discovering your family history, but not every detail about our ancestors is available at the click of a button.
You will receive the same level of professionalism and attention to detail whether you need a single record obtained from a local repository or want an entire family line thoroughly researched.
Examples of my work are available on request.
2006 photo of Family Register
St. Peter and Paul Church
Weil der Stadt Germany
Organization
Archiving
If your research files - paper or digital - have grown to the point of being unmanageable, I can help. All items will be indexed for ease of future reference and your digital files, including photos will be backed up onto an archival quality DVD.
If you have boxes of photos, slides, negatives or family treasures you want to preserve, I can help. Using Library of Congress recommendations your treasures will be properly catalogued and stored in the appropriate archival containers. If you have documents slides, prints or negatives that need to be scanned I can do that too!
Go from this
to this
House Histories
and Narratives
You fondly remember your grandparents home or the home you grew up in. You've always wondered where the house or farm that your ancestors owned was loacted. By researching deed records, searching archive holdings and consulting old maps I will prepare a detailed history narrative for you.
"During the late 1880's new home construction on the eastside of Harrisburg was happening at a frenzied pace and
in August, 1889 a
building permit
was obtained for
a new three story
frame home
belonging to
Lincoln and Agnes
Bolton. The spacious five bedroom home on Swatara Street was ideal for raising their family of three boys. The home featured..."
Excerpt from Bolton Research