The Dead Sleuth

The Dead Sleuth Ancestral Hawkshaw. Research Fiend and Genealogist for Hire as THE DEAD SLEUTH. Sleuthing YORK and Beyond. Sometime Speaker and Storyteller. Church Crawler. Hello!

Jobbing Grave Hunter as THE GRAVEYARD SQUIRREL. THE – determiner. Denoting a person that is already or about to be mentioned. DEAD – adjective. No longer alive. SLEUTH – noun. A person who investigates mysteries. Is there a mystery within those gnarled branches and fallen leaves of your family history tree? Are you intrigued or perplexed about the history of your ancestors? Or are you in search of that final resting place of an ancestor within Yorkshire and beyond? My name is Tee and I am your genealogist, writer, and grave hunter here at THE DEAD SLEUTH. THE DEAD SLEUTH is a registered company located in the City of York offering professional genealogical services for those looking to solve the riddles and absurdities of their own family history. With access to a wealth of local repositories and archives throughout York, Yorkshire and beyond – I work with those who need an experienced and dedicated history sleuth by their side as they embark on a fascinating journey to uncover the lives of their ancestors. From genealogical advice, family history research, probate transcription, archive retrieval, to photography, lineage reports and ancestral storytelling – THE DEAD SLEUTH offers a rich menu of research services. And as every research commission is as unique as the person who is requesting it – I offer a FREE initial thirty minute consultation to ensure that I am the perfect sleuth for my client. THE DEAD SLEUTH also offers bespoke ancestral tours for visitors who are curious about understanding their family history in the context of location and would love to walk in the footsteps of an ancestor, visit the place they once called home or stand at the foot of their grave in a quiet churchyard. And, if I’m not in search of a missing ancestor or poring over the details on a newly discovered death certificate or trawling through the parish records in search of a burial entry – I’ll be wandering among the tombstones somewhere with notebook and camera in hand. As a enthusiastic taphophile with an interest in tombstone symbolism – I also undertake grave hunts with the use of parish records and newspapers as the location and image capture of the resting place of our ancestors can be a poignant piece of the jigsaw. In the absence of a marked grave I can also research, and photograph the surrounding vicinity in which an ancestor rests. I share the tales and triumphs of family history and of my wanderings among the tombstones in search of the unquiet dead as THE GRAVEYARD SQUIRREL. I am also a public speaker and am happy to chat with eager ears and curious minds about the tales of Victorian criminality, tombstone tourism, sleuthing those elusive ancestors and fallen women. Passionate about the benefits of Ancestral Healing – I also work alongside those who are seeking to understand, reveal and free inherited grief and trauma from their family histories. And with my love of family history, storytelling and Victorian crime – I am the founder of THE POLITE TOURIST which offers unique walks through the unquiet streets of York, Scarboro’, Leeds and beyond. You can find me at the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the Genealogical Speakers Guild. See YOU on the other side?

Decisions. Decisions! In honour of   - should I opt for blush pink, sky blue, sunshine yellow or go au naturel?         ...
30/03/2026

Decisions. Decisions!

In honour of - should I opt for blush pink, sky blue, sunshine yellow or go au naturel?

🔍

If Tuesday was captured in an expression, then carved in stone and topped with moss?⛪ Parish Church of St Oswald. Fulfor...
24/03/2026

If Tuesday was captured in an expression, then carved in stone and topped with moss?

⛪ Parish Church of St Oswald. Fulford. York. UK.

🔍

QUESTION:“How should haberdashers & that sort of folk be judges of the qualifications of a tutor!!”Alas, the answer is N...
23/03/2026

QUESTION:

“How should haberdashers & that sort of folk be judges of the qualifications of a tutor!!”

Alas, the answer is NOT to be found within this delightfully irreverent missive from the pen of one William Gray in 1837 and scion of Grays Solicitors of York, one of the oldest law firms within the UK.

🔍

Amid slivers of cloud and as mossy gravestones stand proud under a dappled warm afternoon sky - the aged trees cast no s...
22/03/2026

Amid slivers of cloud and as mossy gravestones stand proud under a dappled warm afternoon sky - the aged trees cast no shadow over an iconic church spire.

⛪ Parish Church of St Olave. York. UK.

🔍

Framed by doric pilasters and decorated columns as elaborate cornicing, cherubs and extravagant swags hover protectively...
21/03/2026

Framed by doric pilasters and decorated columns as elaborate cornicing, cherubs and extravagant swags hover protectively - a gorgeous window awaits the curious visitor.

⛪ Parish Church of Holy Trinity. Leeds. Yorkshire. UK.

🔍

One beautiful March afternoon I introduced my fellow sleuth at the York Family History Society to the occupant of a favo...
19/03/2026

One beautiful March afternoon I introduced my fellow sleuth at the York Family History Society to the occupant of a favourite grave whose poignant story can now be discovered within the pages of the MARCH publication of The Yorkshire Dalesman magazine

⚰ Churchyard of St Stephen. Acomb. Yorkshire. UK.

🔍

Heigh Ho! 'Tis to the archives I have come today as I sleuth the life of one man of the cloth and of his torrid tenure w...
18/03/2026

Heigh Ho! 'Tis to the archives I have come today as I sleuth the life of one man of the cloth and of his torrid tenure within the City of York.

And if you would like The Dead Sleuth to haunt an archive on your behalf within Yorkshire or beyond - drop me a line at tee@deadsleuth.com or cast your eye over the Research Services on offer at deadsleuth.com.

🔍 Borthwick Insititute for Archives

Is there a mystery within those gnarled branches and fallen leaves of your family tree?Are you intrigued or perplexed ab...
17/03/2026

Is there a mystery within those gnarled branches and fallen leaves of your family tree?

Are you intrigued or perplexed about the history of your ancestors?

Hello! My name is Tee and I am your genealogist, and grave hunter here at The Dead Sleuth

The Dead Sleuth is a registered company located in the City of York offering professional genealogical services for those looking to solve the riddles and absurdities of their own family history.

Curious Much?

🔍

Under the palest of blue skies and wrapped up against a biting March wind - I've managed to squeeze in a moment or three...
15/03/2026

Under the palest of blue skies and wrapped up against a biting March wind - I've managed to squeeze in a moment or three for a little church crawling and tombstone sleuthing before lunch en famille.

💒 The Parish Church of St Mary Bishophill Junior. York. UK.

🔍 with The Graveyard Squirrel

"Still I can't contradict, what so oft has been said.Though women are angels, yet wedlock's the devil." ~ Lord Byron (17...
24/02/2026

"Still I can't contradict, what so oft has been said.
Though women are angels, yet wedlock's the devil." ~ Lord Byron (1788-1824)

Within the pages of the FEBRUARY publication of The Yorkshire Dalesman magazine - I muse upon memories of my love of weddings, and the fall-out of a matrimonial scandal from the year 1874.

🔍

Heigh ho. Heigh ho. It's off to the archives I now go!Monday. The view from my perch as I grab a quick lunch before thos...
09/02/2026

Heigh ho. Heigh ho. It's off to the archives I now go!

Monday. The view from my perch as I grab a quick lunch before those archives beckon once more.

🔍

Hidden from view behind an old buttress and framed by a unique stone door frame - a charming and beautifully adorned cha...
05/02/2026

Hidden from view behind an old buttress and framed by a unique stone door frame - a charming and beautifully adorned chancel door beckons to the curious.

⛪ The Parish Church of St Oswald. Fulford. York. UK.

🔍

Address

Heslington
York
YO10 5DD

Website

https://graveyardsquirrel.com/, https://teetomb.com/, https://www.apgen.org/users/tee-bylo, htt

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Dead Sleuth posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to The Dead Sleuth:

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category