Case Histories

Tale of a hidden hero

Posted in Case Histories, For Family Historians, For Relatives

All of our cases have a human story behind what may look like dry genealogical detail. Every life has its interest; its relationships, happinesses and setbacks. Case manager Hannah Horton was particularly intrigued by a recent case which revealed an intrepid tale of wartime daring and adventure.

Hannah fixes error by council’s heir hunters

Posted in Case Histories, Fairness Campaigns, For Family Historians, For Relatives

In this article we examine a case in which a council passed an intestacy to a firm of heir hunters who incorrectly traced as a beneficiary someone not even related to the deceased. It illustrates how councils can misunderstand their obligations in dealing with deaths where there is no known next of kin and the ways in which exclusive deals between councils and heir hunters can lead to mistakes.

How ATS war records solved a case

Posted in Case Histories, For Family Historians, For Relatives

Sometimes the details on birth, marriage and death certificates present genealogists with a baffling puzzle of varying dates and changing names. In cases like these, it’s important to remember that a few missing pieces of information hidden in a different data set may be all it takes to get your investigation back on track. Here, Sam Watkin reports on a case that could not have been solved without the information held in military service records.

Inheritances that open doors

Posted in Case Histories, For Relatives

Two years ago, when Susan Cook received a phone call about a possible inheritance, she signed an agreement with Anglia Research and then promptly forgot about it as day-to-day worries took over. In this article, Eileen Butcher reports on a life-changing case.

When patience and persistence pay off

Posted in Case Histories, For Family Historians, For Relatives

In this article, case manager Carolyn Felgate extends the definition of ‘patience’ and ‘persistence’ as she reports on her ten-year struggle to chip away at an impregnable genealogical brick wall – the case of Mary Margaret Baker.