Phil Brown
I am passionate about family history and helping others to fill in the past about their own ancestry.
I hold the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies (IHGS) Diploma in Genealogy which enables me to practise and help clients with well founded skills as a highly qualified Professional Genealogist.
My knowledge base is broad and wide ranging, My research mainly covers England, Wales, Ireland and North America. I have a special interest in finding Notable Ancestors and Landed Gentry, Heraldry, Seafarers, Quakers and Huguenots, as well as identifying families from names on Military Medals and old Wills or from places on old Maps. I can readily trace back a family branch, provide a report about a specific ancestor or attempt to break through those challenging brick walls.
Despite the digital age, many records of our forebears can only be found in County Record Offices or other Archives. I visit many of these mostly in the South of England, including The National Archives at Kew and especially within Hampshire at the County Records Office, Winchester, the Portsmouth History Centre (great for Royal Navy) and Southampton City Archives (great for Merchant Seamen).
I am comfortable with pre-Victorian research which may be an issue due to a sparcity of records before General Registration and the Census records that can lead to a road block.
Recently, more people take a DNA test to find out their ethnicy, find and meet cousins and prove the accuracy of their documented family history. I help clients understand their DNA results, attempt to resolve mysteries and validate or extend their traditional paper genealogy and pedigree trees.
Please contact me for an appraisal of your requirements and a quotation. I take great pride in my work and satisfying my clients with value added research and my problem solving approach.
"Good afternoon Phil
What you have sent is really terrific, and it surpasses anything I had hoped for, really excellent work yet to be fully analysed and digested. It really is superb!
It has been a great experience all this, I know it will be hugely appreciated by my wife and other family."
Note: Stephen Savage wished to research his wife’s family as a birthday present, some records were found at Portsmouth History Centre
Stephen Savage (UK 15th Mar 2024)
"Phil, I apologize for taking so long in responding to your report.
I think your report on the Fishmonger’s Hall was amazing. I will send you $xxx today. Thank you. I think we finally nailed Robert Keyes coming to New England. That single record showing that Robert Keyes Junior became a freeman and Master Fishmonger on 27 Sep 1619 through patrimony, did it.
I am still interested in working with you as we have made considerable progress."
Kent Messamore
Kent Messamore (USA, 4th Sep 2019)
"Thanks again for taking me on the fantastic family journey that we have been on who would have thought how interesting and involved it was going to be e.g illegitimate births a child dying in suspicious circumstances etc. I am extremely pleased that you were able to find the true story and family of my Mum.
Phil you are an extremely talented and diligent researcher and I have enjoyed working with you and I would have no hesitation in recommending you."
Note: having taken a DNA test, Colin wanted help to find who his late mother's birth parents were.
Colin Ellis (Hampshire, 21st Jan 2024)
Specialities
- Heraldry, Gentry and Visitations
- One to One Research Advice
- Hampshire Research
- DNA and Genetics
- Military & Naval Research
- Occupations
