AD | Local Genealogist Helps Families Unlock Their Past
For over 15 years, Sarah Smith has been helping individuals and families uncover their Scottish ancestry, breathing life into long-forgotten stories. Unlock your Past is based in Kinross and Sarah is the go-to expert for anyone curious about their ancestry or eager to learn more about where they come from.
Sarah’s journey into genealogy began with a personal quest to learn more about her own family history after the death of her father in 2002. “I knew nothing beyond my grandparents and didn’t know how to begin. The internet is a great source but not everything is online”.
Sarah discovered after a few years’ of research that her paternal great-grandfather had been in a hospital in England. She found the information from an indexed page on Ancestry. So, she travelled to Staffordshire and visited the archives. Once there, the case notes were waiting for her with a photo of her great-grandfather. “There was an incredible sense of familiarity”.
That determination, combined with a knack for solving puzzles, led Sarah to immerse herself in genealogical research. “I knew that to become a professional genealogist, I needed formal qualifications. I enrolled in the University of Dundee’s Master’s programme in Family and Local History, and after 5 years of study, I graduated with distinction. I then gained accreditation from the Association of Scottish Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (ASGRA).”
One of the most exciting parts of Sarah’s work is sharing new information with her clients. “I often receive requests from overseas clients wanting to trace their Scottish roots, which can be as challenging as asking, ‘How long is a piece of string?’"
One memorable case involved a client preparing for a trip to Scotland, hoping to discover the birthplace of his 4x great-grandfather. He had some theories but lacked concrete evidence, so he turned to Sarah for help. Through a process of elimination, the birthplaces that the client had identified were ruled out. Sarah then turned to her attention to his ancestor’s neighbours in America, also Scottish, which led to a breakthrough. Two neighbours came from neighbouring farms near Milnathort. With further investigation, she identified the exact location of his ancestor’s birthplace, also outside Milnathort.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to help people discover not only their ancestors but also the stories behind them,” Sarah explains. “Genealogy is like detective work, but instead of solving crimes, I’m solving family mysteries. With each new family I research, there’s always a unique puzzle to tackle."
Sarah’s work is also about preservation. “So many stories are lost over time,” she says. “I feel a responsibility to help families preserve these stories for future generations.” Whether she’s creating detailed family trees, writing biographies of each generation, researching ancestral social histories, or simply answering questions, Sarah is passionate about helping people unlock their past.
For those starting their genealogical journey, Sarah offers simple advice: “Start with what you know and be open to surprises.”
Whether you’re looking to trace your ancestry, uncover family stories , or preserving your family’s story for future generations, Sarah can help you.
For a unique and meaningful gift, Sarah offers family tree packages. These packages are a wonderful way to give the gift of family history, with each one tailored to your needs. Whether it is a family tree, an illustrated family history book, or research into a specific branch of a family, Sarah’s packages are a perfect way to celebrate a special occasion or simply share the past with loved ones.
For more information, on how Sarah can help with your family history research, contact her at sarah@unlockyourpast.co.uk or visit www.unlockyourpast.co.uk.
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