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Janice Heppenstall Msc (Econ), LLB, BA, PGCE

Hello, I'm Janice Heppenstall, a qualified and experienced professional genealogist, family and house historian.

I specialise in English ancestry
But provided there is a UK link, this can extend to research in other parts of the world – for example, when working with DNA matches, or migration of ancestors to or from the UK.

Based on the Isle of Wight
Although much research can be done online, some records are available only in local archives. Convenient for the Isle of Wight County Record Office I can access all surviving local records that are not available online. This is particularly important for pre-1837 research.

Genetic genealogy (DNA) research available if required
I advise where such a test would be appropriate, and what the benefits might be.

I offer House History research for the Isle of Wight only
This research is very heavily dependent on documents lodged with local archives.

Talks and presentations available in person or via Zoom
Tailored to the needs of your group

**Please Note that I do not provide a living person search service**

QUALIFICATIONS
Pharos Family History Skills & Strategies Intermediate qualification (Distinction)
Pharos / Society of Genealogists Advanced Certificate (Distinction)

Bachelor of Laws (LLB 2:1) Including Family Law, Land Law, Trusts and Criminal Law, which have turned out to be unexpectedly handy for researching ancestors!

Masters in Politics (MSc Econ) I love researching the stories of ‘ordinary people’. My Masters degree developed an understanding of the social and political background to our ancestors’ lives. Drawing upon local, social and political history and the law, what fascinates me is the impact on the many of those big, important decisions made by the few.

Bachelor of Arts: Modern Languages (French & Spanish, BA Hons First Class) Sociolinguistics knowledge helps me work through spellings in the context of accent and dialect: for example how a clerk in Yorkshire might ‘hear’ and write down a place name from Devon, or in the context of immigration at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries. Producing essays in three languages really developed my research, writing and strong analytical skills.

Post-Graduate Certificate and Post-Graduate Diploma in Education From my time as a lecturer, and very much at the root of my talks, presentations and writing.

Professional Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Housing Achieved during my previous careers in local government, housing and lecturing, this included: the History of Housing Policy and Social Policy – very useful for understanding of the living conditions of our ancestors’ lives – particularly urban living conditions during the Industrial Revolution; Housing Law, Planning, and Building Construction – all essential for House History research.

MEMBERSHIPS
Member of the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA) I am also a member of the Board of Assessors for AGRA
Member of the British Association for Local History
Member of the Society for One Place Studies with two registered Studies

Contact Janice Heppenstall

Thank you, your enquiry has been sent

Shanklin
Isle of Wight

Janice did an absolutely outstanding job for me, tracing one side of my family back over several hundreds of years. She was painstakingly meticulous in her research, communicating regularly about her progress and unswayed by the mistakes previous (family member) researchers had made, which could so easily have led down false routes. She backed up her findings with prints of relevant documents, and the photographs she unearthed of previously unknown ancestors were a thrilling bonus. Personally, I particularly appreciated the ‘sense of place’ she managed to convey, with both old and contemporary photographs of the houses where my antecedents had lived. She collated all her findings into an easily accessible family tree, but in the end what I loved the most was how she then wove all these dusty documents into a flowing narrative that brought all these long-dead people back to life for me, and with that gave me a little insight into who I am and how I have been shaped by those before me.

Cheryl W

My mother was adopted as a small child but often recalled memories of her birth mother including going to her funeral. With so little information to go on I was amazed when Janice started her painstaking research and gradually found not only the story of what happened to my grandmother, but also whole generations of a family I never knew existed. With clear, detailed, concise updates I eagerly looked forward to reading about these new relations and I am still stunned by how much she has uncovered.

It has all been so well presented and I will be forever grateful to Janice for all the hard work she has put into this.

I can definitely recommend her to anyone wishing to research their family. In my opinion you won’t find anyone with a better dedication. I just wish mum could have read about these wonderful relations she never knew she had.

Sheila L

I’ve grown up not knowing what or who I am or where I belong. I was left in the care system shortly after birth and brought up in foster homes, but was able to track down my mother through birth and adoption papers. Having then started this journey to find my father’s birth blood line over forty years ago, I’ve tried unsuccessfully to use DNA to find out for myself. In contacting Janice and with what she has been able to find out … sorting the wood from the trees … so much clear and accurate information, family links and ultimately … Success! Janice has used DNA test results and wider research and has uncovered my birth father’s blood line and family. For me to know that I came from a root of a line that goes back generations … I now belong to someone. Thankyou with all my heart Janice.

John M H