Hi everyone. Like me, you may have wondered about your ancestors, where they lived, and their occupation. My name is Rachel Dunkley and I absolutely love genealogy – as you probably gathered!!! This passion led me to create this website.
I have been researching my genealogy for over 20 years and can honestly say I have not found a more rewarding – or sometimes frustrating – hobby.
I have definitely been on a roller coaster of emotions since the day my Dad told me his father Frederick William Dunkley came from Roade in Northamptonshire.
I have, however, recently found a lady I have known for a long time is in fact related to me – you may find a similar circumstance applies to you.
My love for family history and history in general inspired me to undertake a history degree at Oxford Brookes University in 2014, which is something I never thought I could or would ever do!
I found that I wanted to know more about day to day life and events both in the United Kingdom and worldwide that may have shaped my ancestor’s lives – for instance, who knows if my ancestor Thomas McJannett would ever have met my ancestor Jane Botterill if he had not been invalided out of the Army having been injured in the Battle of Waterloo!!!
That being said, if you had told me 10 years earlier that I would even contemplate doing a history degree, I would not have believed you!! I ended up graduating with first class honours in 2017, and it was one of the best things I have ever done.
The reason I created this website is to help other people to research their own genealogy and gain the same enjoyment and pleasure I have done over the years.