Finding out families

Discovering family history is a passion for Mike and Jo Coad and now the couple is helping other people find out what lies in their past and helped create the present.

Having started to delve into their own family lines, it all fell into place when the 1901 census was made public and they suddenly had access to the lives of their grandparents in a way that had not been possible before, having relied on birth, marriage and death certificates.

Mike said: "That was a good starting point for us. We already knew where our grandparents were born but by looking at the 1901 census we could find out where their parents were living, who else was living in the house, such as brothers or sisters, and their occupation."

Any piece of information is a possible route to discovering more about a past relative, and they are now looking forward to the release of the 1911 census which will provide more detail and character to the past.

"The census was taken every 10 years. In our case our grandparents were born between the 1901 and 1911 census. You can actually look up 1911 now, but you have to pay. In 2012 it will be up online, and then we get to find out where our grandparents were in 1911.

"It seems strange to anyone not doing family history, but a baptism date or anything like that is interesting when you find it out.

"It is another fact you know about your ancestor. And if you are stuck it will get you back another generation. For so many people, their grandparents died before they were even born, so they really don't know anything about their early life. We were fortunate - we both know our grandparents and got information from them...but so many don't, so the census is very important."

The couple were living in Sevenoaks until they decided to sell up and move to Bexhill in Spring 2007. They backpacked in Asia for six months then returned to their new home in De La Warr Parade to start a new future and turn their hobby into their business.

Since turning professional the couple have already worked for a number of clients and found that while some want a full family history, others need just one relative researched, or want to know what an ancester did during the First World War.

They are advertising in Australian and American magazines in the hope of attracting potential customers who have ancesters in this country but are not able to come themselves to investigate further.

"Of course you can do a lot online," said Mike.

"But a lot of people rely on that too much. You can find information but you have to go and check a source if you want to know more.

"It is very time consuming - which is one reason we hope we will have success. A lot of people don't have the time when they are working to do it properly, which is why everyone doing it seems to be a certain age and they take it up as a hobby when they retire, but by then it is too late and everyone that could have helped them has died."

To find out more visit their website on www.thefamilyhistorians.com, or email them on info@thefamilyhistorians, or telephone on 01424 224790 to find out details of the work they do or how much it will cost to hire them.