A warm welcome to Heather Evans Family History
I’m Heather Evans, a genealogist, family history researcher and provider of a friendly, high-quality and professional genealogical research service. I am a lifelong resident of the attractive Thames Valley.
I have a broad knowledge of genealogical sources for English family history research from around 1650 onwards. I use these in combination with meticulous research and problem-solving skills, local and social history knowledge, natural curiosity, and patient detective work.
Whether you would like support via online consultations as we collaborate on your own research, or you would like me to carry out research on your behalf, I can help. Experienced in both online and archival research, I am well-placed to visit archives in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. I am also within reach of the London archives and libraries.
Qualifications and memberships
- I am holder of the Pharos Family History Skills and Strategies (Advanced) certificate, awarded with distinction in 2021.
- I am an Associate of AGRA, the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives and will abide by the high standards of professionalism within their Code of Practice and Ethics
- I am a member of the Society of Genealogists and a regular volunteer with their Events Team, helping co-host and facilitate online genealogical talks and courses. I have occasionally featured on the ‘panel of expert volunteers’ on their quarterly online sessions addressing members’ genealogical problems.
- I am also a fellow of the Huguenot Society, and belong to the Family History Societies of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
Before genealogy…
My academic background is in Librarianship in which I hold a BA Honours degree, incorporating a specialism of History and Local Studies. After graduation, I worked for a number of years as a College Librarian, during which time I became a Chartered Librarian.
A career change saw me move into the field of medical information for around ten years, and I became a skilled and accurate medical summariser.
My personal family history research has been ongoing for nearly forty years, with many of my ancestral roots going deep into Thames Valley towns and villages, as well as further afield across England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and France.
Genealogy and me: the story of how it all began
It all started in those long ago pre-internet days back in the 1970s, the day my older brother came home from school with a project—draw your family tree.
I remember the excitement as letters from elderly relatives dropped through the letterbox in response to the plea for information. Old photographs and forgotten family mysteries came to light and my childish interest was piqued by the idea of being part of a long line of shadowy forebears who had lived in years gone by, who had shared my surname and from whom I was descended.
That early exposure to the joys of family history was fanned into enthusiasm when I attended a series of lectures on genealogical research as part of my degree course. The touchpaper was well and truly lit; still a teenager, my first visit to the old Berkshire Record Office followed that summer.
Shortly afterwards I had the pleasure of visiting two sprightly and talkative cousins of my great-grandmother. Both in their eighties, they were guardians of an old ship’s chest which had belonged to their great-grandfather, a lieutenant in Nelson’s navy. This contained a veritable treasure trove of family history papers and letters dating back to the beginning of the nineteenth century. Who could fail to be fascinated by such riches?
Little did I know that when I started the journey into researching my own family history all those years ago, I would be taken on an absorbing exploration through historical records of the UK and France. I discovered my own heritage is peopled by a rich back-story of individuals from all walks of life. Many were ordinary folk, just quietly going about their business; but a few carved out a more exciting and memorable existence for themselves. After so many years of obscurity, I have found it a privilege to explore and rediscover their lives and times.
And throughout this time I have never stopped learning—about societal changes; the devastating effects of war, poverty and disease; Victorian justice; illegitimacy; rural societies; religious intolerance; London life; and so much more. I have deciphered old letters and wills and have read long-forgotten newspaper reports. I have visited towns and villages where my ancestors lived, occasionally standing at the gate of an ancestral home, or more often at the door of the church which witnessed the main events of their lives—their baptism, marriage, and often their final resting place.
So many long-lost family stories have come to light over the past forty years. It has been a truly fascinating journey I’ve undertaken thus far—and it’s wonderful to know that the journey doesn’t end here; there are always more discoveries to be made.