Episode 172 - Woman Sold At Birth Discovers Origins / Missouri Researcher Ties To Old West Story

 

It’s a “Best of Extreme Genes” episode!  Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org.  They exchange tales of recent finds.  Fisher talks about his discovery that he has a connection to the Major Deegan for whom the “Major Deegan Expressway” is named.  David talks about learning that the adoption of his wife’s great great grandmother. As it turns out, she wasn’t French-Canadian… she was Irish!  David then talks about how Wisconsin Indian burial grounds are in jeopardy.  Hear what lawmakers in that state have in mind for these historic grounds. Next, David shares the news of an exciting new digitization project. David then gives you a great tip on how to find mug shots of your “black sheep” ancestors.

 

Fisher then shares his 2014 interview (starts at 11:09) with Heather Leathergood who was SOLD at birth by an unscrupulous woman who claimed to be a doctor. Heather talks about what she learned about her origins, what she was worth (!), her journey to find birth family, and her long sought after breakthrough which resulted in the connection with two half-brothers!  You’ll want to hear this one!

 

Next (starts at 24:47), Martha Noland Bergstrom of Independence, Missouri talks about her research which tied her into the tragic shooting in the mid-1800s. The story involves a posse, a robber, and a little girl. Here how Martha learned of her connection and what she has done to memorialize the victim. Finally, Fisher visits with Tom Perry, the Preservation Authority from TMCPlace.com about a photograph brought to him during this year’s “Roots Tech” conference. As he explains, he “wanted it bad!” What was so unique about the photo and what arrangement was reached? Listen to the podcast and find out!

 

That’s all this week on Extreme Genes, America’s Family History Show!