Madeleine Dickens
I have been a member of AGRA for 20 years. I have the Higher Certificate and the Diploma in Genealogical and Heraldic Studies (with distinction) from one of the foremost nationally-accredited organisations – the IHGS (Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies). I have an honours degree in French and speak fluent French and German.
Over all my years of being a genealogist and hundreds of clients I have never lost my passion for helping those who entrust me with the task of building their family trees and bringing their family histories to light. A majority of my clients over the years have wanted to explore England-based family research questions in particular Sussex - my home county. Research requests have however, been many and varied and I have carried out research for art historians and experts, podcasters, documentary makers and authors.
With my skills in DNA-based research working in combination with traditional methods I have also enabled clients, who are often but not always adopted, to find lost family connections. Clients also contact simply for assistance in penetrating the mysteries of their DNA results.
With my knowledge of French and German I have carried out commissions in France (including research into Huguenot ancestors), Germany and Switzerland. I have organised research in such countries as Ireland, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia - working in tandem with professional colleagues in the relevant countries. I have been instrumental in a number of clients obtaining EU citizenship. These commissions have on occasion involved research into Jewish ancestory both Sephardi and Ashkenzi.
Research has sometimes taken us worldwide to such countries as Jamaica, South Africa, Argentina, Egypt and India where I have worked in collaboration with local genealogists. Many research requests have also come the other way with clients from Australia, New Zealand, the US among other countries.
Whatever your research interest I very much look forward to hearing from and working with you.
Wow, this is huge! I am lost for words! I broke the news to dad this morning and he is absolutely blown away! He is yet to read the full report but he has been very emotional and said it “feels like my birthday”, so I cannot thank you enough for providing all of this for him and I. I spoke to P over the phone yesterday. She was amazing and very helpful. She is really willing to help us and she is going to find all the pictures with J this weekend and then we are going to arrange a meet somewhere between Brighton and Cambridge with her siblings. All down to you Madeleine. Can’t thank you enough for what you have done for my dad and I. Super emotional stuff.
Davies
It was an extremely fortunate day when someone suggested I contact Madeleine Dickens of Past Generations… I am a book publisher and wanted to find a collection of ‘lost’ watercolours that had originally been exhibited in London in the 1930s. All the buyers had passed away, so who better to help in this quest than a genealogist. The results were remarkable. Madeleine was a pleasure to work with and her detective skills were second to none. Highly recommended and I cannot wait to work with her again on our next project!
Mainstone
I just thought I would update you with our visit to the D’s. We took my dad to High Wycombe yesterday and had an amazing time. They proved to be such lovely people and we all got on really well. The conversation flowed between all of us and there was no awkwardness at all. It is strange going to someone’s home that you don’t know and I was a little anxious that it would go well. I shouldn’t have worried. Dad and K had a lovely chat and many photographs and memories were produced. K was able to give dad some aerial shots of the docks where dad used to work which was lovely.
This was all thanks to you Madeleine. Thank you again
Bradley
Specialities
- Sussex Research
- Family History
- Family Trees
- Living Persons
- DNA and Genetics
- European Ancestry
- Emigration and Immigration
- House History
- Nonconformity
- Poor Law and Workhouse Records
