Bowsher, Liz

Description

I am not currently providing a research service for clients.  I am a PhD candidate with the University of Portsmouth, researching 18th century life assurance.  The working title for the PhD is: The Motivations of Early Customers of the Equitable Life Assurance Society (1762-1835).

I’m an experienced professional researcher and genealogist. My interest in family history grew from childhood, listening to my grandma’s stories and browsing through family albums. People, their families and their place in history are fascinating and I bring my passion for research to every project. I have a particular interest in 18th and early 19th century research (pre-civil registration).

After taking a law degree I joined the Department of Health (England) and worked in high profile and complex policy areas for more than 20 years. Leaving the civil service meant I could pursue my love of genealogy.  As well as doing a lot more work on my own family history I started working as a researcher in genealogy. I gained the MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies (Distinction) from the University of Strathclyde in 2018.

I carry out bespoke professional family history research, providing a full range of genealogy and research. My research is presented in clearly written reports, with genealogical charts and supporting information.

Based in the Midlands, I’m within easy reach of a wealth of archives and record offices, including those in Birmingham, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire.  I’m also conveniently placed for a wide range of national and other archives.

My areas of practice and expertise include:

• Family history and genealogical research
• Complex genealogical problems
• Property and house history
• 18th and early 19th century research (pre-civil registration)
• Biographical research
• Archival research – local and national
• Archival record retrieval
• Photography – local places, monuments, graves and archival documents
• One-to-one research advice
• Support to investigation and legal teams

I’m particularly interested in 18th and early 19th century records and research (pre-civil registration).

Dissertation

• Bowsher, Elizabeth. (2018) What is the Value of the Equitable Life Assurance Archive, 1763-1835?  A Genealogical and Demographic Study.  Unpublished MSc Dissertation, University of Strathclyde.

Articles

• Bowsher, Liz (2023) ‘City Surprised’: the first women Fellows. The Actuary. www.theactuary.com/2023/09/07/city-surprised-first-women-fellows
• Bowsher, Liz. (2023) Walter Pudge (1835-1912), Reading Greengrocer – A Life in Newspapers.  Berkshire Family Historian. September 2023.  Volume 47. pp. 14-16.
• Bowsher,E. (2023) Eighteenth Century Birmingham Bell Ringers: A Genealogical Perspective. The Journal of Genealogy and Family History. Vol. 6, No. 1. pp. 74-90. http://dx.doi.org/10.24240/23992964.2023.1234542
• Bowsher, E. (2021) Elizabeth Culwick and the Queen’s Bounty.  Shropshire Family History Society, Journal. 42 – Part 4, pp. 166-168.
• Bowsher, E and Joseland, P. (2021) Meeson House, Albrighton: A History of the House and its People. Copies deposited with Albrighton & District Historical Society and Shropshire Archives.
• Bowsher E. (2021) Searching for the Foundlings. Journal of One-Name Studies, Vol: 14, issue 4, pp. 22-25.  www.one-name.org/guild-journal/
• Bowsher, E. (2019) Assessing the genealogical value of a potential new source: the value of the Equitable Life Assurance Society archives, 1762–1835. The Journal of Genealogy and Family History, 3(1), pp. 41-51. doi:10.24240/23992964.2019.1234521

Presentations

• With Paul Joseland, to the Albrighton & District Historical Society, 4 October 2021:  Meeson House, Albrighton: A History of the House and its People.

Other

More information on a few other projects I’ve been involved in:

• John Caunter, Vicar Choral, Lichfield Cathedral.
• Henry Johnson, St Martin’s Guild of Bell Ringers Birmingham.
• Meeson House, Albrighton – page 1, Talk about Talks