LONDON ARCHIVE SEARCHES
St Saviour, Southwark
London born and bred, I have been researching my own family history for over 30 years. I have traced my family back from Southwark, through 150 years of London history, into Dorset, Wiltshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Middlesex, encountering members of the established Church, Catholics and Independent Congregationalists along the way. In doing so, I have discovered branches of my family spread across the world.
Genealogy is a wonderful hobby. It is absorbing and fascinating, full of surprises and every discovery provides a fresh lead to investigate.
Over the years I have built up a sound knowledge of the records available in the London repositories. For anyone with ancestors in London, particularly in the 18th and 19th century, they can be a rich source of information. Travel to London can be time-consuming and expensive and is often not an option for those overseas.
A freelance professional researcher since 2005, I regularly visit major and local record offices in London and also carry out searches in the counties of Surrey, Sussex and Middlesex and the Metropolitan districts formerly in Kent. I have considerable experience researching a wide range of records, helping clients in the UK and overseas to discover more of their family’s history.
I also work with those who have been adopted who wish to trace birth relatives or learn more about their birth family, where enquiries by specialist organizations have failed. Similar requests may be received from those whose parents divorced when they were very young. On one occasion some years ago I traced the burial of the father of a client (whose parents separated during her childhood) so that she was able to visit his grave; I then traced her cousins, who had been trying to find her for many years (this case referred to with client's permission). During 2005-06 I worked in parallel with the Salvation Army to successfully reunite 8 siblings separated as children during the 1930s after the death of their father (this case referred to with client's permission).
I have also assisted several authors, working on topics as diverse as WW2 prisoner of war escape attempts; tracing a 19thC clockmaker working in London (for a county history); WW2 RAF squadron logs and diaries and researching a family who left London to run a business in a neighbouring county. I am currently producing a handlist of useful resources for the Crime Writers’ Association.
Current/recent projects for individual clients have included researching WW2 bombing of Camberwell; searching London livery company records; tracing seamen in early ships’ musters; searching WW2 RAF records for a crew lost on operations in 1942; researching various 19thC inmates of London workhouses, asylums and institutions including children at Central London District School; tracing the career of a late 18thC ship’s captain; tracing a grave mentioned in an early 20thC will; researching licensed victuallers (publicans) in Surrey and Middlesex as well as searching for specific events in parish and will registers throughout London, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex (and also at the British Library for events in 18th-early 20thC India).
If you feel I may be able to assist with your research, please e-mail details of your enquiry for a free initial assessment.
Please provide in your e-mail any information you feel is relevant. I regret that I cannot provide a free initial assessment if I'm asked to visit a website to locate information from your published family tree.
By post (for a free initial assessment please provide a return e-mail address or s.a.e.):-
Patricia O'Neill, 6 Mansergh Road, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 6YN
I regret that I am unable to respond to enquiries for general information
Coming to England to find your roots? See my OVERSEAS VISITORS SERVICE which can help you get the most from your visit, use your time efficiently and ensure you visit the correct archive for the records you need.
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Feedback (reproduced with clients' kind permission):
"Thank you so much for this – and for all your kind efforts. You seem to have gone more than ‘the extra mile’ and I’m grateful. Thanks, again, Patricia, you have been a pleasure to deal with." RT, Kent (Feb 2012)
“Have read through the reports you sent me - very happy with them. Thanks for the service you have done for me am very satisfied with the results obtained." JHL, Spain (Feb 2012)
"I seem to get less and less time to work on family history so I really am grateful for all your work or some months very little would be done at all." SK, Chelmsford, UK (Jan 2012)
“I would like to thank you very much for the outstanding effort you have made to help me trace the various branches of my family throughout the year. I have really appreciated your efforts to find new material and to think laterally about other possibly relevant material rather than just locating the minimum.” AW, Victoria, Australia (Dec 2011)
“I was thrilled to receive your email with the news about ……..’s grave. I knew it had to be there somewhere even if sadly forgotten and neglected …… so much is possible if you can just get the right person who has enthusiasm and initiative.” LE, NSW, Australia (Nov 2011)
“You are amazing! Thank you so much for your patience and continuing detective work. ” LA, NSW, Australia (Mar 2011)
“Thank you so much for all your hard work. I have as you suggested sent a letter to …, and will keep my fingers crossed. Once again you have given us a lot of hope, and we will do as you have suggested. You really have done a magnificent job.” CH, UK (Jan 2006) ......&.. “I have pleasure in attaching a photo of the first reunion in August 2006. There were 26 of us there that day. It was wonderful and Mum is now in correspondence and phone contact with them. What with the reunion and another one coming up at the end of September, life has been somewhat hectic lately” CH, UK (Sept 2006)
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