The Story Behind Skeletons in the Closet
My journey into genealogy began decades ago, long before online records and DNA tests made family history easily accessible. After immigrating to Canada from Scotland in the mid-1980s, I was often asked about my heritage. My answer was always simple: “I’m Scottish — and so were all my ancestors!”
The truth, however, was that I knew very little about the people and places that shaped my family story. Curiosity quickly took over, and I began searching for answers.
My late Aunty Joyce — my dad’s sister — became my greatest inspiration. She shared a handwritten family tree along with generations of stories that had been passed down through the family, including the tale that we were connected to the infamous Rob Roy McGregor. I was immediately hooked.
At the same time, my mum quietly warned me to be careful about digging too deeply because “you never know what skeletons you might find in the closet.” Years later, that warning would inspire the name of my genealogy business.
What started as a hobby soon became a lifelong passion. Over the years I spent countless hours researching records, chasing clues, and disappearing down genealogical rabbit holes — often with far more enthusiasm than organization! Eventually, I decided it was time to learn how to research properly and professionally.
In 2020, I enrolled with the International Institute of Genealogical Studies and began working toward the Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies, specializing initially in Scottish records and later expanding into Canadian research. This extensive program includes 40 courses, and I am now nearing completion.
Fittingly, part of my education was funded using money left to me by Aunty Joyce, the very person who sparked my love of family history. It felt like the perfect way to honour her memory.
Today, Skeletons in the Closet was created to help others begin their own family history journey in a more organized, structured, and confident way than I did all those years ago. My goal is to guide people through the early stages of genealogy research, helping them understand records, stay organized, and build a strong foundation for discovering their family stories — one branch at a time.
And yes… sometimes you really do uncover a few skeletons along the way.