How much does a genealogy expert cost?
The British Society of Genealogists explains that there are three reasons why you might want to hire a professional genealogist. These are 1) for the advice, 2) for special skills, and 3) for the speed and economy of having a professional do the job.
The advice is helpful when you run into a snag. For example, my maternal ancestors came from Yorkshire in 1817. One of their sons was named Isaac. He was born in 1803 or maybe it was 1811. I found records for two Isaacs with these two different dates.
Then I found Isaac’s marriage records, but they didn’t make sense. The Isaac born in 1803 might have been old enough to marry in 1820. Almost. The more I delved into the mystery of which birth date was correct for Isaac, the more I began to realize that there were two Isaacs. maybe three.
This was early in my genealogical career and it took me years to discover family relationships. So many things influence the situation. Sometimes when a child dies, a subsequent child is given the same name. Sometimes there are big differences between the oldest child in a family and the youngest. The youngest son may be younger than the eldest son’s own children.
A good genealogist can help you unravel these kinds of mysteries in your family tree. He or she can also provide the special abilities that will help you delve into the past. They may know the history of an era that can explain why their ancestors made the move they did.
When I first discovered the ancestors who left Nantucket Island for Prince Edward Island, I assumed they were loyal to the United Empire and had moved north to remain loyal to the British. I later found out that they moved north in 1763. This made understanding the reasons for their move much easier.
By 1763, the Seven Years’ War was winding down and attention was turned back to the rumble of the 13 Colonies. Caught between the British Navy interfering with his fishing around Nantucket Island and the need to support a family of eight children, the ancestor took up British advertisements announcing that land was available on Prince Edward Island.
It is a long and complex set of events that motivates such dramatic moves as uprooting a family and moving it from one place to another. Knowing the history of the time helps to build the framework that could have motivated the movement.
As for the economy and speed of hiring a genealogical researcher, think about how much it can cost you to go to another country and spend days or weeks in a dusty file. Not only do you have travel expenses, you also have to find your way around archives and libraries. A local researcher will already be well acquainted with those files and sources.
The big question is: How much will a genealogy expert cost?
The cost of hiring an investigator varies. The typical rate is about $50 an hour, and you can often hire someone for a block of time and get a reduced rate. Some will charge more and maybe some will charge less.