Every Family has a story to tell……….Welcome to mine
When we begin exploring our family history, we often start with the basics, simply collecting names, dates, and records. A tidy pastime, perhaps. A way to give shape to the past and connect us to our ancestors. What we don’t always realise at the outset is that genealogy has a habit of quietly rearranging the … Continue reading We Are Not Always Who We Think We Are: What Family History Teaches Us About Identity
It recently occurred to me that many of you might not know that I write a regular column in Family Tree magazine here in the U.K., called ‘Dear Paul’. What is ‘Dear Paul’? Well, it’s a genealogy miscellany column, a bit of a treasure chest, really, where I get to share some of the quirky, surprising, moving, or … Continue reading ‘Dear Paul’ Where The Genealogy Magic Happens
Discover the dark tales of the past in my brand-new series: "Stories From The Grave." Some family history stories announce themselves quietly, while others arrive and take hold of the heart. The story of Little Merrit Beardsley belongs to the latter. It is brief, tender, and heavy with the kind of love that refuses to let … Continue reading When Love Shines Through: The Story of Merrit Beardsley
In the summer of 2025, I travelled to the battlefields of the Western Front to pay tribute to three members of my extended family who gave their lives in the First World War. The experience was both moving and deeply humbling, walking among the countless white headstones, each one marking a life ended too soon … Continue reading In the Shadow of the Great War: Remembering William George Curtin
Genealogy is an exciting journey of discovery, but it’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of the chase. With the explosion of online tools and databases, anyone can start creating their family history instantly – but how many of us pause to ask: does my tree have solid roots? It’s tempting to go … Continue reading How Strong Are Your Tree’s Roots?
Ever had one of those skeletons from the past come knocking at your door? Should you answer? I guarantee that every family will have secrets, some might call them 'skeletons in the cupboard' but it amounts to the same thing. Something was kept hidden from the family, for what at the time, appeared to be … Continue reading Whose Truth Is It Anyway?
Something a little bit different from me this time..........whoever said history was boring? Somebody recently sent me a very interesting story regarding the origins of some well-known phrases associated with graveyards and burials and as you can imagine, this piqued my interest a little. I have more than a passing interest in the past and … Continue reading Never Let The Truth Get in the Way of a Good Story….
After recently moving house, I was absolutely delighted to discover that there is a vast amount of history that surrounds the market town of Nantwich in Cheshire, where I live, and as someone with a keen interest in local, as well as family history, I felt compelled to tell you about “The Battle of Nantwich” … Continue reading The Battle of Nantwich
Sometimes we discover a story that's so remarkable that even though it's not a member of your own family, we feel compelled to make sure that the story is told. The photograph of the young boy standing outside the White Star Line offices in London, holding an Evening News poster announcing ‘Titanic Disaster Great Loss … Continue reading The Boy Behind the Titanic Photo: The Story of Edward (Ned) Parfett
Updated and Revised Version (April 2026) In many ways, being a family history researcher can feel like being a ‘detective’, hunting for clues to solve the latest ‘mystery’. You may have a few uncorroborated facts that you have pieced together, but it is that one piece of ‘critical evidence’ that is missing which prevents you … Continue reading How To Become A Family History Detective Using My ABC Guide
The Chiddicks Family Tree 