Evidence-Led Genealogical Reconstruction

Most genealogical systems assume continuity of records.

For African Caribbean ancestry, that continuity does not exist.

Evidence-Led Genealogical Reconstruction is a structured framework for interpreting fragmented, disrupted, and reclassified records across British, Caribbean, and transatlantic systems.

Why Standard Genealogy Fails

  • Assumes continuous naming systems
  • Treats records as neutral rather than administrative constructs
  • Ignores forced identity resets (enslavement, emancipation, migration)
  • Breaks at key historical thresholds (e.g. pre-1834, pre-1870)
  • Over-relies on linear family structures
  • Prioritises completeness over interpretive accuracy

These are structural limitations, not user errors.

What This Framework Does

Reinterprets Records as Systems, Not Events

Records are analysed in relation to administrative, legal, and economic systems rather than as isolated entries.

Identifies Structural Breakpoints

Focus is placed on moments where identity, naming, or legal status is reset or redefined.

Uses Cross-System Evidence Alignment

Multiple record types are evaluated together to establish continuity where no single record provides a complete answer.

Distinguishes Recorded Identity from Lived Identity

The framework recognises the difference between imposed identities within records and lived or inherited identity across generations.

What This Is Not

  • Not a beginner’s guide
  • Not a database or list of records
  • Not a step-by-step method
  • Not dependent on a single archive or dataset
  • Not based on assumptions of continuity

Where This Applies

  • British colonial administrative records
  • Caribbean post-emancipation records
  • UK migration and settlement records
  • Transatlantic record systems

Relationship to Talks and Case Studies

This framework underpins all talks, case studies, and advisory sessions.

Public sessions demonstrate outcomes and applications of the framework without disclosing the full research process.

→ Explore the talks: /talks/
→ View case studies: /case-studies/

Accessing the Framework

  • Talks demonstrate how the framework is applied in practice → /talks/
  • Case studies show outcomes produced through this approach → /case-studies/
  • Consultations provide structured, evidence-led interpretation of individual research cases → /consultations/