Paid Research

[valg]

This week I filled in an application to British Ancestors to get an assesment and quote for research into the whereabouts of my GG Gran Eliza Jackson..( I have a current post running re searching for her) I filled in as much info as I could inc all efforts I had made to date.
I got a reply from them last night and it read...
If you lost Eliza how do you know she didnt marry?
Now this was not the reply I expected after asking them for a quote, if I knew she married I wouldnt be prepared to spend good $$$$$ asking them for help..
Am I being correct in being a bit gobsmacked with this reply..?

[Waitabit]

As a 'quote' I hope you find it didn't fall within your means financially. Sad, really sad. Are they listed as a 'professional company'?

[valg]

Was a site called British Ancestors, offering a free quote for researching Ancestors...I have used researchers before, but last time was a little disapointed as I paid big $$$ and they couldnt find the the mother of the 4 children I listed in my post, I eventually found her myself after ordering a few dud birth certs...But Eliza has eluded me now for several years, just want to "close " her off on my tree!

[Jan1954]

What a strange reply!

Why not have a look here to see if one of them could help you.

[jac65]

Hi

I suspect that the only type of quote you will get from any researcher would be along the lines of an hourly rate plus expenses (travel, purchases etc) and they may suggest you nominate a maximum amount.

Having looked through your topic I would suggest you find someone to check any surviving Workhouse & Poor Law Records at the Chester Archives for Eliza and her children to see if there are any clues.

In recent times Familysearch have added a number of Cheshire databases that might be worth checking, also Findmypast have images of Cheshire Parish Registers and some other databases online

Andy

[valg]

Thanks Andy have already checked with Chester Archives re workhouse records...no luck there.I think I have exhausted all online records in my search which is why I thought maybe someone on the ground over there may have more luck..you are right the last researcher I used was an hourly rate and I had to nominate a max amount for search...did the same thing with Irish records trying to find a baptism for my G Gran once again same story lots of $$$$ no real luck and eventually found her baptism myself for just a few $$$ but Eliza has eluded me now for some time..wish I could travel back in time for just a short time..

[Mary Anne]

A very odd (and flippant) response.

If you are considering paying someone for research, I would start with members of a professional association, such as The Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives. Their website lists members and their areas of expertise. You can then correspond directly with the researcher who is knowledgeable about your area, and get a quote from them. If you are very specific about what you want, then you should be able to minimize the "damage" (so to speak!), and they may be able to tell you where the records may not exist, or at least not cover the information you want, to save you further looking.

Then, one day, the person you are searching for will just pop up, when SHE has decided that you are ready to find her!!


Mary Anne

[valg]

A very odd (and flippant) response.

If you are considering paying someone for research, I would start with members of a professional association, such as The Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives. Their website lists members and their areas of expertise. You can then correspond directly with the researcher who is knowledgeable about your area, and get a quote from them. If you are very specific about what you want, then you should be able to minimize the "damage" (so to speak!), and they may be able to tell you where the records may not exist, or at least not cover the information you want, to save you further looking.

Then, one day, the person you are searching for will just pop up, when SHE has decided that you are ready to find her!!


Mary Anne

Thanks Mary Anne, I know what you mean about popping up when they are ready,, this has become an obsession I even dreamed about Eliza the other night..concidering I have no idea what she looks like this was very strange!
I will look for a researcher with experience in the Cheshire area as I am abt 99.9% sure this is where the answer lies..

[jac65]

Hi

I think it is worth having a close look at the Poor Law records and see if there is any reference to not just Eliza but the children as well just in case there is a clue.

http://archives.cheshire.gov.uk/what...guardians.aspx

Unfortunately the records are not accessable between July & Sept 2012.

Add Info. Chester Archives offers a research Service that might be worth looking into.

http://archives.cheshire.gov.uk/how_...r_records.aspx

Andy