Luke Mouland

Dorset, one of my favourite counties in England, is home to Luke Mouland of Kith and Kin Research. I have been following Luke online at Twitter and appreciate his tweets about the genealogy scene in "The Mother Country". I was thrilled when he replied promptly to my request for a profile for GeniMates.

Thanks, Luke, for telling us about your involvement with genealogy.

Date  4th June 2011
Name  Luke Mouland
Hometown  Sherborne, Dorset, England

Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Professional Genealogist

What is your day job? Genealogist, historian and writer

How long have you been chasing ancestors?  Six years

How did you get hooked on genealogy?  I inherited two family portraits - one depicting my 2x great-grandparents and the other my 3x great-grandparents. These having fascinated me thorough my childhood, I soon decided to find out more about the people featured.

What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research?  The State & The Poor in Britain, 1830-1939 (GCE Advanced Level)

What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy?  I spend much time placing the lives of ancestors against the wider social and historical context in which they lived. Background research is vital to understanding our ancestors' lives in perspective.

Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups. 
- Founder Member of London Historians
- Member of the Sherborne Historical Society
- Dorset Online Parish Clerk (Lillington & Longburton)

What are the lands of your ancestors?  England, Ireland, Malta, Australia, Canada

What Family Names are you Researching?  Main lineages of interest: Arnett, Budd, Carn, Lillington, Maidment, Mouland, Newman, Wareham

Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? I have great admiration for my 2x great-grandmother, Gertrude, who left her humble origins behind to enlist into the Salvation Army. She dedicated much of her life to the cause, eventually becoming an officer.

What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why?  Floriana in Malta. This is where my great-grandmother was born, so I would very much like to visit the building where she spent the first few years of her life.

What is your favourite resource for genealogy? Poor Law records are particularly fascinating to research but I also like to delve into probate documents, which can be equally wonderful. But, with those aside, census records never loose their appeal, either!

Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer?  Yes

What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree? Family Tree Maker

Do you have your tree posted on the internet?  No

What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?  Ancestry, Facebook, Genes Reunited, LinkedIn, Twitter

Do you have a blog?  Yes
What are your blogs' URLs?  http://kithandkinresearch.posterous.com/

What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?
- Cycling
- Walking
- Reading
- Writing

What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Cycling

What is your favourite (non genealogy) book?  The Blackest Streets by Sarah Wise

What is your personal philosophy in a few  words ?  Life is short. Seize every opportunity.