Everyone grows up with family folklore. These are stories that popup in every family gathering. No Thanksgiving or Christmas or Fourth of July cookout is complete without that story about Dad’s refusal to ask for directions or Mom’s turkey disaster.

Sometimes these stories revolve around family history – great great something grandfathers and cousins numbered and removed. My mother seemed to have an endless capacity to remember all aunts and uncles and cousins, both on her side of the family and dad’s as well. I often struggled to remember the name of the cousin sitting next to me. Mom had a phenomenal memory but, years later, I also realized that she made up a lot. Her family recollections were liberally embellished.

After mom passed, I decided to start my own investigation into the truth of our family record.