Case Studies
The following family history case studies are drawn from family history research projects I have conducted. They are intended to provide an insight into the type of work undertaken and the level of detail that can be uncovered and provided in a completed family history.
Each example highlights a different aspect of research, from military service and maritime history, to migration, industry, and social change, demonstrating how individual lives can be understood within their wider historical context.
To protect the privacy of the families involved, some names and certain identifying details have been altered, however, the research itself, and the historical records on which these accounts are based, remain entirely accurate.
These case studies demonstrate how family history can go beyond names and dates, and how wider historical events and circumstances can shape the lives of individuals and families across generations.
Explore the case studies
A detailed account of a soldier’s service during the Napoleonic Wars, tracing his military career and confirming his presence at the Battle of Waterloo through surviving records.
A Cornish families multi-generational maritime history, following their service at sea through the Coastguard, Royal Navy and merchant shipping, and revealing a number of tragic losses in dangerous waters.
A family history set against a backdrop of political and social change, exploring identity, movement, and the experiences of a household spanning England and Ireland.
An account of a Cornish mining family affected by the decline of local industry, illustrating how wider economic forces led to migration and reshaped family lives across generations.
In case studies, some names and identifying details, where appropriate, have been altered to preserve the privacy of the families involved, while the research and historical context is entirely accurate.
