Mary Jo Adgate

I offer family history research and mentoring services, specializing in Michigan and the Great Lakes region. My rate is $50/hour plus expenses.

I began my family research 25 years ago when my family was given a letter my grandmother had written about my father's family history. I excitedly bought some beginner genealogy books and tried to use them to start building my family tree. Unfortunately, I was quickly overwhelmed by the task and put it aside. I would pick it back up many times over the years and try again. When Ancestry came out, it seemed like the task was finally going to get manageable and I would be unraveling family secrets in no time. I did not find it that easy, however, and like many people, I justified my monthly subscription fee as it gathered dust. I took a couple of "research" trips. I managed to find the town square in Norwich, Connecticut where the first Adgate was a founder, but I never really felt sure of myself to know the best use of my time when I was there. Sound familiar?

Speed forward to two years ago when I decided to take the plunge and signed up for the online Principles of Genealogy course at Boston University. It has changed my research completely. So much so that I went on to take their Practicum course and finally received their Certificate in Genealogy Research. I no longer chase my tail trying to find new information on my ancestors and my tree is finally growing. In the beginning, my focus was to race to get back to as many countries of origin as I could find. Since taking the courses, though, I have learned to slow down and stop just collecting names and dates of birth, death and marriage. I now relish in taking the time to study and learn about each family and they have come alive in my imagination, from their first land purchases in a new state to the fights in probate to decide what to do with their estate once they are gone. They start to feel like what they truly are: my family. If you choose to work with me, that's what I can offer you. Stories you can cherish about your family and what they might have gone through in order for you to be here, the joys and the dramas!

My family comes from both Ireland in the early 1800's and stretches back to Colonial America in the 1650's. Like many families settling the Midwest in the early to mid-1800's,  they moved from the East Coast states into the farm country of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, and I've been able to track them as they made their journey. I've helped others unravel mysteries in their family trees, and I look forward to helping you do the same.