HELLO, I’m David

My interest in genealogy and history began almost as early as I can remember. Family portraits and photographs looked down from the walls, while letters and papers were tucked into box files and folders. My maternal grandmother who inherited the research baton from my grandfather, spent many years poring over indexes at St Catherine’s House. She lived long enough to see the release of the 1901 Census, and it was at that moment my own passion was sparked.

In many ways, this fascination runs deep in the family. Our ancestors were already making enquiries at the College of Arms and the Public Record Office in the 19th century. For me, genealogy has always been about more than dates and names: it is about journeys, connections, and the stories that shape who we are today.

I believe that by understanding the past, we build a firmer foundation for the present, and perhaps even make a little more sense of the future.

I am an independent genealogist and historical researcher with over twenty years’ experience in private research, and a strong record of public contribution. My work includes developing one-name and one-place studies, publishing articles, voluntary transcription for national archives, and professional research consultancy. I combine genealogical research with experience in education, qualitative analysis, and writing for both specialist and public audiences. My research interests include:

  • Family, local and social history in England and Wales

  • One-name and one-place studies as a means of understanding community and local history

  • Archival research and interpretation of parish registers, parish records, census returns, wills, newspapers, civil records, and associated documents.

  • The relationship between education, culture, and historical practice

I have spent over two decades tracing multiple family lines across England and Wales, and working extensively with parish registers, wills, census returns, newspapers, and civil records as far back as the 16th century. I have undertaken voluntary transcription contributing to large-scale historical resources through work for Ancestry and the Society of Genealogists.

I have experience of archival work, cataloguing and preserving a substantial collection of family material, including documents, letters, photographs, negatives, artworks, and personal artefacts, applying professional archival standards.

I bring 25 years’ experience as a self-employed educator and writer, with extensive experience in independent research, curriculum development, and communication of complex ideas to diverse audiences.

Through school and beyond, my fascination with and appreciation of the value of history, has remained undiminished. I currently combine my own family history research with my Pringuer one-name study and Longstock one-place study. I write about genealogy and history over on my blog, The Archive, as well as in a range of journals and publications, including Local History News and the Journal of One-Name Studies. Outside of genealogy and history, I have spent 25 years teaching music and running David Barton Music, as well as writing and creating content over at A Life More Creative and Rediscover · Reconnect · Re-Emerge. I completed a PhD at the Royal College of Music in 2020.

With a 25-year background working in the arts and education, I am currently studying The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies’ (IHGS) Higher Certificate in Genealogy Course, and am in my final year of the Pharos Advanced Certificate in Genealogy course, run in conjunction with the Society of Genealogists. I am an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I am a member of the Society of Genealogists, the Guild of One-Name Studies, the Society for One-Place Studies and the British Association for Local History (BALH), and the Fellow of the Huguenot Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

    • PhD, Music Education, Royal College of Music, 2020

    • MEd, Education, The Open University, 2010

      • PGDPSE, Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Studies in Education, 2010

      • PGCPSE, Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies in Education, 2009

    • BA (Hons) Open Degree, The Open University, 2008 (2:1)

      • Interdisciplinary programme with modules in the social sciences, archaeology, literature, and business

    • DipLCW, Diploma in Literature and Creative Writing, The Open University, 2008

    • IHGS Higher Certificate in Genealogy (currently studying)

    • Pharos Advanced Certificate in Genealogy (currently studying)

    • Pharos Intermediate Certificate in Genealogy, 2024 (awarded with Distinction)

    • Standalone Pharos courses, including: Professional Genealogist - Become One, Become a Better One; Critical Thinking Approaches for Genealogy; and Advanced One-Name Studies (2016-)

    • Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree, University of Strathclyde/FutureLearn, 2016

    • Additional research training: AHRC Cultural Engagement Training (2016); courses in qualitative analysis, educational research, information and literature searching, and academic writing (2014).

    • Member, Society of Genealogists

    • Member, Society for One-Place Studies

    • Member, Guild of One-Name Studies

    • Member, British Association for Local History

    • Associate Fellow, Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)

    • Fellow, The Huguenot Society of Great Britain and Ireland.