Whether you’re starting a family tree, investigating an elusive ancestor, or gathering records for an application, I can help you find answers and uncover your family’s story.
I’m Scott Tribble, a professional genealogist and historian based in Columbus, Ohio. I combine historical records and, where appropriate, DNA analysis to explore family relationships and reconstruct ancestors’ lives.
Family Trees & Ancestor Biographies
Discover where your family came from and the lives behind the names.
I can build a family tree from your starting information, extend branches you’ve already researched, or investigate the life of a particular ancestor. Depending on your goals and the surviving records, that might mean tracing immigration, exploring an ancestor’s occupation and community, or understanding their role in events such as the Revolutionary War.
My research can bring together records such as birth and marriage certificates, census entries, passenger lists, land deeds, wills, and newspapers to tell a documented family story.
Common projects include:
- Starting a family tree or expanding an existing branch.
- Tracing a family’s origins and movements between countries.
- Developing an ancestor biography or a family-history gift.
Brick-Wall Research & Unknown Ancestors
Sometimes the next generation is missing, records contradict one another, or a familiar family story doesn’t fit the evidence.
I can review your existing research, identify gaps, and investigate additional sources. A project might focus on distinguishing people with the same name, locating an ancestor before a move, or finding evidence of a parent-child relationship.
Common projects include:
- Identifying an ancestor’s parents or birthplace.
- Investigating name changes and conflicting records.
- Testing a family story against historical evidence.
When records alone leave questions unresolved, DNA analysis may provide another avenue to explore.
DNA & Genetic Genealogy
DNA results can help investigate family connections that historical records alone haven’t resolved.
I analyze DNA matches alongside family trees and documentary evidence to explore shared ancestry and possible biological relationships. Projects may involve an adopted ancestor, an unfamiliar group of matches, or a missing connection between family branches. What we can establish depends on the available matches and supporting evidence.
Explore my DNA analysis services →
Lineage Society Research & Application Support
I can assess an existing family tree, research missing links, and gather records supporting an application to organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, General Society of Mayflower Descendants, and family societies.
Common projects include:
- Evaluating a family tradition of Mayflower or Revolutionary War ancestry.
- Documenting parent-child relationships across generations.
- Finding evidence to address gaps in an existing lineage.
Citizenship-by-Descent Research & Documentation
If you’re exploring citizenship through an ancestor, establishing the family connection and locating the relevant records can be an important part of the process.
I can investigate your ancestral line and help locate and obtain historical records relevant to your application. Depending on the project, these may include birth, marriage, immigration, and naturalization records.
Common projects include:
- Identifying an ancestor’s original name or place of birth.
- Tracing the family connection across generations.
- Locating records and investigating discrepancies in names or dates.
Research Specialties
My research experience spans historical records from the United States, the British Isles, Canada, and continental Europe.
Countries:
- United States
- England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom)
- Ireland
- Canada
- Germany
- Italy
- Poland
- Austria
- Hungary
- Lithuania
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
Time Periods:
- American History: 1600s – 1900s
- European History: 1500s – 1900s
My historical research has also covered immigration and naturalization, adoption, the lives and family histories of enslaved people and Indigenous peoples, and regional and community histories.
What to Expect
Start by telling me what you hope to discover and sharing any research, records, or DNA testing you already have. I’ll review your information and provide a free estimate for a defined research project.
Research engagements include a summary report and copies of the historical records collected. For family tree projects, I also provide an online tree you can access and share.
VIEW MY PROCESS, RATES, AND FEES
Ready to explore your family’s past?