About me
Family history is about far more than names on a tree, it is about people, relationships, and the lives they lived.
I have been researching family history for over 18 years, beginning with my own family before going on to work professionally with clients over the past seven years. During that time, I have helped uncover not just lines of descent, but the stories that sit behind them.
My background in social and economic history, gained through my degree at the London School of Economics, shapes the way I approach every project. I later completed professional training with the Institute of Heraldry and Genealogical Studies, gaining the Diploma in Genealogy in 2021, and in 2022 I returned as a tutor.
This combination of academic training and practical research experience allows me to approach each project with both analytical rigour and a clear focus on producing meaningful, well-supported conclusions.
I am a member of the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives and listed on the Register of Qualified Genealogists, and my work is grounded in careful, evidence-based research.
What drives me is the process of discovery, taking fragments from parish registers, probate records, deeds, and court material, and building them into a coherent, meaningful narrative. By placing individuals within their historical context, I aim to go beyond simply identifying ancestors, and instead reveal how they lived, worked, and connected to the communities around them.
Clients come to me at different stages of their research. Some are starting from the beginning and want a fully researched family or house history. Others arrive with a specific problem to solve, a missing link, a confusing line, or a long-standing “brick wall”. In every case, the outcome is a clear, fully referenced report, often accompanied by a carefully drawn pedigree.
Based in Somerset, I work extensively in regional archives including Bath, Bristol, Taunton, Exeter, Chippenham, and Gloucester, as well as in London repositories such as The National Archives, British Library, Guildhall Library, Westminster Archives, and the London Archives.
Pollyanna Bristol-Murphy, Genealogical Researcher