Break Through Your Brick Walls
Every genealogist eventually hits a “brick wall”—a frustrating roadblock where records seem to disappear. Our Brick Wall Breakthroughs service is designed to tackle those exact challenges. With years of experience in early American and German-American research, we use creative strategies, advanced search techniques, and sometimes genetic genealogy to uncover hidden connections.
Common problems we solve include:
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Identifying unknown parents or ancestors in the 18th and 19th centuries.
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Untangling families with common surnames or confusing records.
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Locating elusive immigration, naturalization, or land grant records.
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Reconstructing families that moved frequently or left limited documentation.
If you’ve been stuck for months—or even years—this service provides the professional expertise to finally push your research forward.
You’ll Receive
Research Report – A narrative summary of the problem or question, context about which records were examined and why, and a discussion of any conflicts, uncertainties, or alternative possibilities. This report helps you understand both the progress made and the challenges that remain.
Copies of Original Records – Digital images of documents such as census pages, probate files, deeds, church registers, or passenger lists that were found during the search. Each document is fully cited so you can trace the evidence yourself.
Analysis of Findings – A professional evaluation of what the evidence shows, how it relates to your brick wall ancestor, and where the strongest leads lie. This analysis highlights what can be considered reliable, what remains uncertain, and what gaps still need to be addressed.
Recommendations for Next Steps – A clear outline of additional strategies to pursue, such as further record groups, locality-based research, or DNA testing. This section also provides a time estimate for continued work and an honest assessment of the likelihood of uncovering more information.
Pricing
At RootSource Research, I keep pricing straightforward and transparent so you know exactly what to expect.
Preliminary Research Package – $100
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3 hours of research dedicated to investigating your brick wall problem.
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A research report summarizing the question, records consulted, and initial findings.
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Copies of original documents (such as census records, probate files, deeds, or passenger lists) with full source citations.
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An analysis of findings explaining what the evidence shows, where uncertainties remain, and what gaps are left to fill.
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Recommendations for next steps, including additional time estimates and an honest assessment of the likelihood of uncovering further information.
Additional Research – $50/hour
If you’d like to continue beyond the initial three hours, additional research is billed at $50 per hour.
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All additional work will be guided by the time estimate provided in your evaluation report.
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Research will never exceed the agreed-upon time limit without your prior approval.
Ready to Uncover Your Family's Story?
Embark on a journey through time with RootSource Research. Discover the rich tapestry of your ancestry and preserve your family’s legacy. Contact us now to begin your exploration.