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Fennell Genealogy
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Joanna Cicely Fennell, M.A.G.I., is a multi-lingual Irish genealogist with a passion for travel and photography. Her personal research interests include British India, South Africa and the Caribbean. Joanna has been a full-time professional genealogist since 2012, having discovered a talent for genealogy three years earlier when, inspired by family lore, she began to document her own family history. By exploring her family’s dramatic past, which crossed continents, social divides and religions, Joanna uncovered connections to Florence Nightingale, Clive of India and King Charles III, to name just a few of the famous individuals on her family tree.

Joanna has since conducted research for hundreds of clients with ancestors from all parts of the globe, in a variety of languages. As well as client and probate research, she has extensive experience researching for television shows such as Who Do You Think You Are? and My Family Secrets Revealed. After several years as a freelance genealogist, Joanna spent four years working for AncestryProGenealogists in Dublin, where she expanded her research skills to include DNA analysis, which she has used to great effect in solving adoption and unknown parentage cases in Ireland and abroad over the years.

Joanna has written articles for Families in British India Society, Irish Genealogical Research Society, Ancestry and Accredited Genealogists Ireland. In 2013, she completed her first privately-commissioned book The Pitman Family, available in selected libraries worldwide. She has presented on a variety of topics at family history events, such as ‘Back To Our Past’ in Dublin and ‘Who Do You Think You Are? Live’ in London.

Research Specialities:

Adoption, British India, Caribbean, DNA, Genetic Genealogy, Gentry, Irish Abroad, Irish Citizenship, Italian Citizenship, Quakers, Merchants, Military, Nobility, Probate Genealogy, Unknown Parentage

Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts, English and Italian (University College Dublin, 2004)

Master of Arts, Film Studies (University College Dublin, 2007)

Postgraduate Certificate in Genealogical Studies (University of Strathclyde, 2011)

Member of Accredited Genealogists Ireland (2015)

Languages

Italian, French, German

Soufriere Cemetery in the shadow of Petit Piton. The names on the extant gravestones reflect the overwhelming impact of early French colonisation on St. Lucia
Soufriere Cemetery in the shadow of Petit Piton. The names on the extant gravestones reflect the overwhelming impact of early French colonisation on St. Lucia
First stop on my recent research trip to St. Lucia was the town of Soufriere, home of the Pitons. Pictured is the charming Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption located on the east side of the town square
First stop on my recent research trip to St. Lucia was the town of Soufriere, home of the Pitons. Pictured is the charming Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption located on the east side of the town square
Exploring the ancestry of Cicely Tyson, whose parents were born in Nevis, using the parish registers of Saint Thomas Lowland Parish
Exploring the ancestry of Cicely Tyson, whose parents were born in Nevis, using the parish registers of Saint Thomas Lowland Parish
View towards St. Kitts from Cottle Church (1824). Established by one-time President of Nevis, Thomas John Cottle, on his estate at Round Hill, this church was attended by Cottle and his family, as well as the enslaved people who lived and worked on t
View towards St. Kitts from Cottle Church (1824). Established by one-time President of Nevis, Thomas John Cottle, on his estate at Round Hill, this church was attended by Cottle and his family, as well as the enslaved people who lived and worked on the plantation
Phone box at Independence Square (formerly Pall Mall Square), a reminder of St. Kitts’ colonial past at the corner of what was once Basseterre’s slave market
Phone box at Independence Square (formerly Pall Mall Square), a reminder of St. Kitts’ colonial past at the corner of what was once Basseterre’s slave market
Late afternoon sun over the ruins of Paradise (also known as Bowrin’s Estate)
Late afternoon sun over the ruins of Paradise (also known as Bowrin’s Estate)
Lá Fhéile Pádraig #saintpatricksday #paddysday #caribbean #ancestry #heritagetourism #genealogy #caribbeanancestry
Lá Fhéile Pádraig #saintpatricksday #paddysday #caribbean #ancestry #heritagetourism #genealogy #caribbeanancestry
Exquisite grounds of The Hermitage, Nevis. The estate’s 17th century Great House is the only surviving ‘earthfast’ structure in the Caribbean. The building’s longevity is credited to the use of indigenous lignum vitae, or iron
Exquisite grounds of The Hermitage, Nevis. The estate’s 17th century Great House is the only surviving ‘earthfast’ structure in the Caribbean. The building’s longevity is credited to the use of indigenous lignum vitae, or ironwood #hermitagenevis #saintkittsandnevis #heritagetourism #ancestry #genealogy #familyhistory #caribbeanancestry
Chapel Street, Charlestown, looking east towards the Methodist Church, with the stunning Nevis Peak in the background #nevis #saintkittsandnevis #heritagetourism #ancestry #ancestrydna #genealogy #caribbeanancestry
Chapel Street, Charlestown, looking east towards the Methodist Church, with the stunning Nevis Peak in the background #nevis #saintkittsandnevis #heritagetourism #ancestry #ancestrydna #genealogy #caribbeanancestry
One of my favourite places to relax in the Caribbean - the poolside bar at the old Montpelier plantation. The estate is most famous for hosting the marriage of Horatio Nelson and Fanny Nisbett in 1787
One of my favourite places to relax in the Caribbean - the poolside bar at the old Montpelier plantation. The estate is most famous for hosting the marriage of Horatio Nelson and Fanny Nisbett in 1787
Keeping cool in the winter sun! #fsnevis #nevis #caribbean #travel #wintersun #charlestown #nevisnice #stkittsandnevis #caribbeanancestry
Keeping cool in the winter sun! #fsnevis #nevis #caribbean #travel #wintersun #charlestown #nevisnice #stkittsandnevis #caribbeanancestry
Street mural in historic Charlestown #nevis #nevisnice #streetart #caribbean #westindies #genealogy #ancestry #familyhistory #ancestrydna #heritagetourism #caribbeanancestry
Street mural in historic Charlestown #nevis #nevisnice #streetart #caribbean #westindies #genealogy #ancestry #familyhistory #ancestrydna #heritagetourism #caribbeanancestry
One of the many astonishingly well-preserved and ornate 18th century headstones in the Old Burial Ground, Delgany. The memorial inscription records the date of death of one Jonathan Eves (c.1686-1748). I can’t believe it has been more than 10 y
One of the many astonishingly well-preserved and ornate 18th century headstones in the Old Burial Ground, Delgany. The memorial inscription records the date of death of one Jonathan Eves (c.1686-1748). I can’t believe it has been more than 10 years since I visited this unique graveyard, which also features the ruins of a 13th century church and the remnants of c. 9th century high cross. It’s easy to overlook the historical treasures on your own doorstep sometimes!
Salem Methodist Cemetery on the volcanic Caribbean island of Montserrat. Check out the link in the bio for a sneak peek of my new collection of Caribbean gravestones #genealogy #ancestry #caribbeanancestry
Salem Methodist Cemetery on the volcanic Caribbean island of Montserrat. Check out the link in the bio for a sneak peek of my new collection of Caribbean gravestones #genealogy #ancestry #caribbeanancestry
Vera’s Plaza Mayor, flanked on the right by the stunning 16th century Iglesia de la Encarnación. The church’s fortress-like appearance was typical of the the time period, when coastal Andalucían towns were under constant thr
Vera’s Plaza Mayor, flanked on the right by the stunning 16th century Iglesia de la Encarnación. The church’s fortress-like appearance was typical of the the time period, when coastal Andalucían towns were under constant threat of attack by pirates. #andalucia #almeria #spanishhistory #spanisharchitecture #spanishtravel #heritagetourism #historicaltourism #caribbeanancestry
Interested in family history? Check out my recap of last week’s @wdytya featuring British-Caribbean actor @naomieharris #caribbeanancestry. Visit https://bit.ly/2yNtrgM to read my review of this moving episode
Interested in family history? Check out my recap of last week’s @wdytya featuring British-Caribbean actor @naomieharris #caribbeanancestry. Visit https://bit.ly/2yNtrgM to read my review of this moving episode
As this year’s Culturama festival draws to a close in Nevis I thought I’d post this video I took of a Masquerade troupe on 7 August 2018 #nevis #charlestown #saintkitts #saintkittsandnevis #stkittsandnevis #culturama #culturama45 #masquerade #caribbeanvacation #caribbeanancestry #leewardislands #caribbeandance #heritagetourism
The new season of #WhoDoYouThinkYouAre? has begun! Check out my recap of the #BBC series’ moving second episode, which explores the fascinating #Caribbean roots of @naomieharris. Click on the link in my bio to read the full review! #caribbeanan
The new season of #WhoDoYouThinkYouAre? has begun! Check out my recap of the #BBC series’ moving second episode, which explores the fascinating #Caribbean roots of @naomieharris. Click on the link in my bio to read the full review! #caribbeanancestry
A perfectly-posed quartet of wild donkeys near Jack Boy Hill on the wild Atlantic coast of Montserrat, also known as the ‘Emerald Isle of the Caribbean.’ #montserrat #caribbean #caribbeantravel #heritagetourism #britishwestindies #leeward
A perfectly-posed quartet of wild donkeys near Jack Boy Hill on the wild Atlantic coast of Montserrat, also known as the ‘Emerald Isle of the Caribbean.’ #montserrat #caribbean #caribbeantravel #heritagetourism #britishwestindies #leewardislands #lesserantilles #donkeys #donkeysofinstagram #ancestry #genealogy #caribbeanancestry
A snap of the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel from my last trip to London. Formerly the Midland Grand Hotel, this beautifully-restored Gothic Revival building adjoins St. Pancras Railway Station. The atmospheric hotel bar, known as the Booking Office,
A snap of the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel from my last trip to London. Formerly the Midland Grand Hotel, this beautifully-restored Gothic Revival building adjoins St. Pancras Railway Station. The atmospheric hotel bar, known as the Booking Office, was once a part of the station itself #stpancrashotel #stpancras #londonhistory #railwayhistory #gothicrevivalarchitecture #heritagetourism #caribbeanancestry
Soufriere Cemetery in the shadow of Petit Piton. The names on the extant gravestones reflect the overwhelming impact of early French colonisation on St. Lucia First stop on my recent research trip to St. Lucia was the town of Soufriere, home of the Pitons. Pictured is the charming Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption located on the east side of the town square Exploring the ancestry of Cicely Tyson, whose parents were born in Nevis, using the parish registers of Saint Thomas Lowland Parish View towards St. Kitts from Cottle Church (1824). Established by one-time President of Nevis, Thomas John Cottle, on his estate at Round Hill, this church was attended by Cottle and his family, as well as the enslaved people who lived and worked on t Phone box at Independence Square (formerly Pall Mall Square), a reminder of St. Kitts’ colonial past at the corner of what was once Basseterre’s slave market Late afternoon sun over the ruins of Paradise (also known as Bowrin’s Estate) Lá Fhéile Pádraig #saintpatricksday #paddysday #caribbean #ancestry #heritagetourism #genealogy #caribbeanancestry Exquisite grounds of The Hermitage, Nevis. The estate’s 17th century Great House is the only surviving ‘earthfast’ structure in the Caribbean. The building’s longevity is credited to the use of indigenous lignum vitae, or iron Chapel Street, Charlestown, looking east towards the Methodist Church, with the stunning Nevis Peak in the background #nevis #saintkittsandnevis #heritagetourism #ancestry #ancestrydna #genealogy #caribbeanancestry One of my favourite places to relax in the Caribbean - the poolside bar at the old Montpelier plantation. The estate is most famous for hosting the marriage of Horatio Nelson and Fanny Nisbett in 1787 Keeping cool in the winter sun! #fsnevis #nevis #caribbean #travel #wintersun #charlestown #nevisnice #stkittsandnevis #caribbeanancestry Street mural in historic Charlestown #nevis #nevisnice #streetart #caribbean #westindies #genealogy #ancestry #familyhistory #ancestrydna #heritagetourism #caribbeanancestry One of the many astonishingly well-preserved and ornate 18th century headstones in the Old Burial Ground, Delgany. The memorial inscription records the date of death of one Jonathan Eves (c.1686-1748). I can’t believe it has been more than 10 y Salem Methodist Cemetery on the volcanic Caribbean island of Montserrat. Check out the link in the bio for a sneak peek of my new collection of Caribbean gravestones #genealogy #ancestry #caribbeanancestry Vera’s Plaza Mayor, flanked on the right by the stunning 16th century Iglesia de la Encarnación. The church’s fortress-like appearance was typical of the the time period, when coastal Andalucían towns were under constant thr Interested in family history? Check out my recap of last week’s @wdytya featuring British-Caribbean actor @naomieharris #caribbeanancestry. Visit https://bit.ly/2yNtrgM to read my review of this moving episode
As this year’s Culturama festival draws to a close in Nevis I thought I’d post this video I took of a Masquerade troupe on 7 August 2018 #nevis #charlestown #saintkitts #saintkittsandnevis #stkittsandnevis #culturama #culturama45 #masquer
The new season of #WhoDoYouThinkYouAre? has begun! Check out my recap of the #BBC series’ moving second episode, which explores the fascinating #Caribbean roots of @naomieharris. Click on the link in my bio to read the full review! #caribbeanan A perfectly-posed quartet of wild donkeys near Jack Boy Hill on the wild Atlantic coast of Montserrat, also known as the ‘Emerald Isle of the Caribbean.’ #montserrat #caribbean #caribbeantravel #heritagetourism #britishwestindies #leeward A snap of the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel from my last trip to London. Formerly the Midland Grand Hotel, this beautifully-restored Gothic Revival building adjoins St. Pancras Railway Station. The atmospheric hotel bar, known as the Booking Office,