Carolyn Alderson
- Family History Research
- Document Retrieval / Record Agent
- Family History Research
- Author/Writer
Carolyn Alderson is a qualified, accredited, professional genealogist, based in Cambridge, UK, providing friendly and affordable Family History Research Services.
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AGRA Member, RQG Member, APG Member.
Master of Studies in History (University of Cambridge)
Postgraduate Diploma in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies (University of Stathclyde).
The Correspondence Course in Geneaology Certificate (Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies)
BA (Hons) 2i Literary and Cultural Studies (University of Wawick)
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Have you always wanted to find out more about your ancestry, or how and where some of your ancestors lived their lives, but just never had time or patience? Perhaps you’ve traced back several lines of your family tree, but it isn’t so straightforward with some other branches, or you’ve hit a brick wall. Or maybe you want to know if there are any other sources that can throw light on a particular individual, family or community. Whatever the reason, I aim to help you.
I would be very happy to discuss your particular family history research interest. Just get in touch via the contact form, email me directly, or leave a voicemail, and I'll get back to you.
Research Services
Family Trees – You want to develop your family history and ancestors chart on one or more lines as far back as possible, or for specific generations, or for a particular person. It may mean researching your ancestors more or less from scratch, or it could mean I pick up the research at a certain point / individual. Most investigations start with online research, but as the research progresses back in time, it may prove relevant to visit a local archive to view and assess original records, that have not yet been digitised, which relate to your ancestors. Each commission is unique and so I'll discuss and establish with you, your specific starting brief.
Brickwalls – You’ve come to a halt when researching a specific individual or family yourself, or it’s all got a bit complicated sorting out who is who from all the possible connections.
DNA matches – You need help understanding your DNA results and how certain DNA matches relate to you. You've perhaps established, or think it likely, that one or more of your biological parents or grandparents isn't who you thought. This type of activity often involves reworking your family tree.
Transcriptions of wills – I often incorporate information found from transcriptions of wills into family tree research. You may have obtained an old will to do similar, but find the old handwriting is just too difficult to decipher. I can help, and the fee I charge depends on the number of pages/ words involved, so I need to see the document to quote.
Local archives support – You’re a researcher located outside the UK or at some distance from Cambridgeshire, and have identified records held at archives near me, such as Cambridge University Library/ Special Collections, various Cambridge Colleges or Institutes, and/or Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Suffolk County archives. I can request, review and assess documents, and take photographs of pages on your behalf (subject to copyright), or undertake transcriptions of documents. Get in touch to discuss further.
England, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire.
Please see my website. https://www.carolynalderson.com/
England
Alderson, Carolyn (2024). A Genealogical Investigation of the Suffolk Seasonal Maltster Migration in 19th Century Burton upon Trent. The Journal of Genealogy and Family History. Vol. 7 no 1. https://www.qualifiedgenealogists.org/ojs/index.php/JGFH/article/view/146 (open access)
University of Cambridge Library, England Cambridge University - various College and Institute archives, England Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire County Archives, England Suffolk County Archives, England London Metropolitan Archives, England The British Library, London, UK The National Archives, Kew, England
- 20th Century
- 19th Century
- 18th Century
- 17th Century
- 16th Century and Earlier
French (reading - genealogical details); some Latin (genealogical details)
IHGS, UK - The Correspondence Course Certificate in Genealogy (2020)
University of Glasgow, UK - Early Modern Scottish Palaeography: reading Scotland's Records, Future Learn (2021)
University of Cambridge, UK - Diploma in Local History (2014)
Member of the Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG), UK. Member of the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA), England.
PG Diploma Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies, University of Strathclyde, UK (2022) Distinction
MSt History (local and regional), University of Cambridge, UK. (2016)
BA (Hons) Literary & Cultural Studies, University of Warwick, UK. (1982)