The Legacy of Humor Lives On – aka – Having a Baby in the Back of Bob’s Van

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Roberta Estes

Five years ago, when I was on an archaeology dig on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, I received a phone call that a friend, Dianne, had suddenly died. She was too young to die, and hadn’t been sick, so to say it was a shock was an understatement. I had known Diane for more than 30 years.

When I first moved to Michigan, I met Dianne and Bob, her husband. We were all volunteers with the local Humane Society. Then one day, the conversation turned to genealogy. One thing led to another, and to the Family History Center, where Bob and Dianne were volunteers for over 30 years.

Did you notice that word? Were? Yes, Bob followed Dianne’s example and a couple of weeks ago, at the church, keeled over and died. The only consolation in all of this is that they are together now, and their last rescue cat died of old age just two weeks before Bob. Neither of them suffered.

It’s really difficult when these doors close for us, especially when they slam so unexpectedly. Thirty five years is a generation. We knew each other’s children when they were pre-schoolers, grade-schoolers – and then terrible teens – and then somehow blossomed into decent human beings.

But this isn’t about Bob and Dianne’s untimely deaths – it’s about their lives, the fun we had and the memories we made. I’m going to reminisce and share a bit with you – because, well, there are just some great stories. And you see, Bob never did get even with me…..

Yes, it was a dastardly thing I did to him….but I wasn’t alone…I had help. And yes, I probably should be ashamed of myself, but well….I’m not.

Bob and Dianne were both known for their sense of humor, and Bob for his never-ending practical jokes. Everyone loved both of them, and they were always together in whatever they did. Not to say there wasn’t an occasional eye-roll, but they were truly a well-matched, loving couple.

Bob and Dianne loved Halloween parties. Ok, Dianne loved Halloween parties and Bob knew what was good for him.

They decorated their house and property and planned for weeks every year. They sent you an invitation, and if you didn’t answer, Dianne would call you and remind you and hound you until you agreed to attend, solely out of self-defense.

In 1993, my life hit a major milestone, a quite unwelcome roadblock when my former husband had a massive stroke. To say my life changed in an instant is an understatement. I’ll spare you the details, but suffice it to say that I didn’t see Bob and Dianne very much for quite some time. I didn’t have time for genealogy or anything else. Dianne, good friend that she was, continued to keep in touch.

Then, one year, she called me again and pestered me to come to the Halloween party. I had lots of excuses, but none of them cut the mustard with Dianne. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so I decided it was the perfect opportunity for some mischief.

Dianne, and everyone else, knew the circumstances in my personal life – so I told Dianne that I couldn’t come because I was pregnant, and embarrassed about the situation. Dianne bent over backwards to assure me that no one was going to be judgmental or anything else terrible and I really needed to come – regardless. I finally agreed after much arm-twisting.

Do you know how difficult it is to get a pillow to stay put without a belt around your waist? And I didn’t have any stretchy pants, so I went to Goodwill to find maternity clothes. It was a pretty cheap Halloween costume. And I must admit, the very best one ever.

When I arrived at the party, I let Dianne’s best friend, Cathy, in on the secret, and we decided that I needed to go into labor, in the bathroom. Dianne became very worried and “talked me into” letting Bob take me to the hospital after my water broke.

Cathy and I and a nurse who was also at the party got into the back of Bob’s van and headed for the hospital several miles away over very rough dirt roads – except – well – we didn’t make it. The nurse told Bob to pull over, that she couldn’t deliver a baby on the bouncy dirt road, in the dark and she needed the overhead light on.

We could see Bob white-knuckling the steering wheel as the gals “delivered” the baby amongst much screaming and carrying-on. We deserved an Academy Award for that performance:) The baby was one of Dianne’s life-like baby dolls from her collection that we had kidnapped from the house. Cathy told Bob he had to help and hold the baby, so she shoved this blanket with the baby doll in Bob’s lap. After a minute or so, she told him to check it’s breathing – when he looked in the blanket and discovered that it wasn’t breathing, and he had been….well…..had.

Bob whipped around and looked at the three of us – which he had very graciously avoided doing while we were “delivering” the baby – and let’s just say he had a couple choice words for us as we all three bursted out laughing – the laughter we had been stifling all along. His indignant anger lasted about 10 seconds, and you could just see the light bulb of opportunity click on.

He asked, “Does Dianne know?” “No,” we answered, shaking our heads in unison, and off we went, to prank Dianne. Bob was in his prime – in his glory. The prankee became the prankor.

Our prank on Bob became legendary, because Bob was always the prankster, never the other way around. In fact, people were talking about it at his funeral, even though that baby would be about 20 years old now – had it been real. Someone I didn’t know walked up to me at the luncheon after Bob’s memorial service and said, “I know who you are and what you did.” I started laughing, and hoped they would elaborate so I didn’t have to guess! It seems, in retrospect, Bob liked that prank almost as much as we did and told the story regularly. “Did I ever tell you about the time they delivered a baby in the back of my van???”

A few years later, I was standing in WalMart and Bob walked up to me, out of noplace, and said, “I still owe you and you never know when I’m going to get even,” and just walked off. Left me chuckling, all over again.

One day, my phone rang, and someone told me that they had picked up my business card and had some DNA questions for me. Now, this is kind of odd because my card doesn’t have my phone number on it and I do not give out my phone number because I don’t like to talk on the phone. But I wasn’t going to be rude. Finally, they got to the point (which is part of why I dislike phone calls) and asked me if one of their cats was peeing on the floor if they could collect the urine and have the DNA sampled to see which of their cats was peeing.

There was finally silence on the other end of the phone then, and all I could think of to say was, “Did Bob give you my phone number?” The sudden outburst of laughter on the other end of the line was all the answer I needed.

That wasn’t the first or only time we were involved in some kind of ruckus.

One night in the Family History Center, I found a name in something I was reading that caused me to laugh. Libraries now may not be quiet zones, but they were then, and I finally had to get up and go outside to laugh. A laugh is kind of like a sneeze and if you try to stifle it, it just gets worse and makes you snort. And who wants to snort.

Dianne came out into the hallway to see if I was OK and more importantly, to find out what was so funny. I told her the name and she started laughing too. Then she started telling me some funny names she had found. Before long, we had a list and other people at the FHC were adding to it too. We would all send our findings to Dianne and we all enjoyed taking an occasional look at the list – and having a good laugh. Some probably weren’t church-appropriate – which – of course made them all the funnier.

When Dianne passed away, and I found another name, I suddenly realized that there was no one to send it to. No one to share with. No one to laugh about it with. It’s the little things that get to you.

Bob sent me Dianne’s list, but it wasn’t the same as Dianne and I doing it together. And so, it languished, until today. And today, I decided that I really needed to pass it on and share the humor with you. So, I went and found Dianne’s list and I have since added a DNA component, of course. Would you expect any less from me?

Unusual Names

Baby Lone Lane (WI Draft)
Andrew Baldy
Bang
Barefoot
Bery Dredful (1869 Cherokee West Census)
Bituminous Coleman
Blizzard
Boner
Boo
Brat
Butlicker – 1880 census
Buttugger
But Isaac (WWI draft registration)
Chicken, Young
Churchyard, Oliver – Pastor
Comfort Castle – found in 1830 Columbia County, NY.
Constant Chase – found in 1830 Boston, Suffolk Co, MA.
Colliflower, John
Cotton Tufts – found in 1830 Weymouth, Norfolk Co, MA.
Crapster
Crow, John married Olive Bird
Cucumber Pickell
DeCay
Devils Ramrod (Seneca, War of 1812)
Dickensheets
Dodge Fatty (Seneca, War of 1812)
Douthit Bible
Easter
Easter, Darkass (I think this was the original entry that I found that was so funny)
Elizabeth Martin Bird Crow Robin Buzzard (married several times)
Fanny Rumble
Fanny Slappy
Farry Jacobs (male, on his draft registration)
Fight Thompson
Firestarter
Fix
Flowerdew
Forest Hunt
Frost Snow – found in 1920 Reed Island, Pulaski Co, VA.
Fudge
Bethia Furbush
Gassaway Sellman
Getting Down (1869 Cherokee West Census)
Gloomy Jones
Gotcha
Green Peter Dam & Resevoir
Green Fields
Guts Diver (1869 Cherokee Census)
Hardon
Hazzard & Hore Law Firm
Hoig, Harry (WWI draft registration)
Fannie Hickey
Fanny Heiney who married her Heiney cousin making her Fanny Heiney Heiney
Fanny Pack
Fanny Packer
Finder Binder – female shot in the arm in Randolph Co., AL
Hank Squared
Hardin Short
Harry Badass – 1885 Nebraska census
Harry Dick and then Harry Dick Jr.
Henry Henry
Hohos
Honor Hill married Mr. Mountain and became Honor Mountain
Hott
House marries Davenport
Huckleberry Birdchopper
Hugh Askew
Hugh Pugh
Icy Frost
Icy Louise P. Green
Ima Hogg (wife of the governor of Texas)
John Deady, funeral director, Philadelphia
John, Saucy
John Will Hunt
Joy Noel
Joy Rider – found in 1930 Bennington, Morrow County, OH.
Jinks Mistaker (Onandoga, War of 1812 roster)
Justin Quiring
Kitchen Faucett
Kittle, Big
Knipple
Larry A. Holle
Laughter
Lawrence Horney m. Elizabeth Burns
Leafy Plant (female)
Leak Locklear
Lemon and Orange, twins of Lemon Pitcher, Great Melton, Norfolk, England 1736
Long, Peter
Lovie McAtee marries Willoughby Loveless
Lovely Hooker
Mabee
Mabe Sampson
Malehorn
Mercedes Mouser
Milder Currey
More Badass (1920 census NY)
Mr. Cobb weds Miss Corn – El Paso, TX
Mrs. Graves lived on Cemetery Road
Mumper (given name)
Mycock
Nathaniel Bacon marries Hannah Mayo
Nicewanger
Noble Crapper – found in 1790 Worcester Co, MD.
Oldfather
Olive Green
Orange Field – found in 1930 Miller County, GA.
Otta B. Weaver
Outerbridge Horsey Jr.
Owen Owen Owens
Oyster
Page Turner – found in 1880 Putnam County, GA.
Pecker
Peter Putterhead
Phlegm
Cucumber Pickell – 1860 Michigan census
Pink Woods
Pleasant Cox
Poole, Gene
Potter Plant
Preserved Fish
Purchase
Purple Winter
Rex A. Lot (Driving Instructor)
Rhoda Jones married Joe Buffalo becoming Rhoda Buffalo
Roach, Pet
Robin Redwing
Rock Fields
Roten Locklear
Runaway Swimmer
Rusty Bell, a redhead
Sandy Beach
Sandy Box
Savior
Shewasa Griffin (think about this one)
Silence Belcher
Smoker Hunter
Snowball
Snow, Frost and
Snow, Ice and
Snow, Deep
Snow White (a man)
Soggy Hill (WWI service registration)
Soggy Youngbird (WWI service registration)
Songs
Songster
Stair Walker
Strange Backhouse
Suchadoll
Susie Tinkle
Swallow, Birdie
Sweatt, Fanny May
The Geezinslaws
Thankful Mills married Oliver Lord, making her Thankful Lord
Tiny Little – found in 1930 Chatooga County, GA.
Tobacco, Chaw (Seneca, War of 1812 roster)
Trick
Truebody
Turley Curd
Turnipseed
Ulickham, Henry
Useless Love
Violet Tulip
Wealthy Case
Wilden Wooley
Will Billy
Worst
Yankee
Yawn
Young Booger
Young Fry

Weddings

Annus-Biter Wedding
Bair-Teets Wedding
Bate-Bass Wedding
Beaver-Aiken Wedding
Beaver-Benders Wedding
Beaver-Weaver Wedding
Bird-Bath WEdding
Blue-Berry Wedding
Bone-Husband Wedding
Breast-Mash Wedding
Broker-Knuckle Wedding
Bushy-Johnson Wedding
Butt-Driver Wedding
Butts-Fudger Wedding
Catlip-Legg Wedding
Cockman-Dickman Wedding
Coke-Head Wedding
Crap-Beer Wedding
Creamer-Utter Wedding
Daylong-Johnson Wedding
DeLong-Boner Wedding
DeMoney-Hyder Wedding
Devine-Ho Wedding
Dick-Tulek Wedding
Dooher-Christopher Wedding
Drilling-Cousin Wedding
Duer-Early Wedding
Eaton-Titlow Wedding
Eubanks-Mounts Wedding
Ferguson-Crotchfelt Wedding
Fillerup-Standing Wedding
Fine-Bousum Wedding
Fite-Staab Wedding
Flem-Greene Wedding
Flynt-Stone Wedding
Fuller-Beers Wedding
Funk-Kee Wedding
Fur-Burns Wedding
Fox-Goose WEdding
Gentle-Bange Wedding
Gin-Bourbon Wedding
Godown-Gross Wedding
Good-Lauck Wedding
Goosie-Gander Wedding
Gory-Butcher Wedding
Granny-Mount Wedding
Gross- Pantti Wedding
Gross-Tingley Wedding
Hang-Wright Wedding
Hay-Sailors Wedding
Hog-Paradise Wedding
Holder-Moore Wedding
Hole-Drilling Wedding
House-Recker Wedding
Houser-Annas Wedding
Hunt-Peck Wedding
Johnson-Feast Wedding
Johnson-Hummer Wedding
Johnson-Wacker Wedding
King-Bishop Wedding
Knapp-Sack Wedding
Knott-Bow Wedding
Kroetch-Crater Wedding
Large-Tinkey Wedding
Long-Ouch Wedding
Looney-Ward Wedding
Lotsa-Peter Wedding
Lusting-Johnson Wedding
McMaster-Bates Wedding
Manley-Pickle Wedding
Makin-Peeples Wedding
Maus-Knapp Wedding
Moore-Bacon Wedding
Moose-Greaser Wedding
Muff-Masterman Wedding
Must-Reamer Wedding
Nutter-Boner Wedding
Partee-Moore Wedding
Peters-Sohre Wedding
Piccirilli-Pecorelli Wedding
Pickle-Ryder Wedding
Puls-Johnson Wedding
Outhouse-Burns Wedding
Poon-Fisher Wedding
Ramsbottom-Moore Wedding
Rather-Grim Wedding
Reamer-Oiler Wedding
Ruff-Goings Wedding
Sawyer-Cherry Wedding
Sawyer-Hiney Wedding
Schmitt-Head Wedding
Seaman-Sample Wedding
Sell-Schmel Wedding
Sharpe-Payne Wedding
Sheepshanks-Ramsbottom Wedding
Small-Husband Wedding
Small-Knob Wedding
Smelley-Farkas Wedding
Speedy-Zieper Wedding
Staples-Bottom Wedding
Steel-Iron Wedding
Steele-Kage Wedding
Strange-Slappy Wedding
Stranglen-Johnson Wedding
Stoker-Dailey Wedding
Swift-Kalonick Wedding
Tinker-Butts Wedding
Toole-Burns Wedding
Tune-Narup Wedding
Van Halen-Prince Wedding
Wannamaker-Popp Wedding
Wang-Crumpler Wedding
Wang-Holder Wedding
Weiner-Frost Wedding
Whyde-Hole Wedding
Widener-Moore Wedding
Wooden-Coffin Wedding
Wrinkle-Johnson Wedding

DNA (Ancestry search)

Dna Day (new holiday)
Dna For (what?)
Dna Marvel
Dna Waters
Dna Gropper (trying to get DNA from your date:)
Dna Ray (kind of like the death ray, but different)
Dna Wisdom
Dna Miner (swab harder….)
Dna May (answer your questions)
Dna Bone
Dna Regester
Dna Center
Dna Dume (new game)
Dna King
Dna Brothers
Dna Call
Dna Rush (what you get when your relative agrees to test)
Dna Edge (what people whose relatives will test have over those whose relatives won’t test)
Dna Scatt (another way to obtain DNA for the very desperate)
Dna Seaman (not touching this one – no way, no how)
Dna Valentine (oh, now there’s an idea…..)
Dna Conn
Dna Heller (what we do with DNA conns)
No Goo Dna
Dna Ball (new geeky toy)

Yes, I know these DNA entries are probably misspelled or mis-transcribed, but they are fun anyway and that’s what Dianne’s list was about in the first place. Having fun.

It’s sad, truly sad, for both Dianne and Bob to have left this earth too soon, with so many more years to offer – but their legacy is a wonderful one. They made a lifetime of difference to each and every one of the many animals they rescued over the years.

Their 30 years of service to genealogists is unparalleled and their entire three decades was delivered with a smile and laughter. They brightened everyone’s day. That is their legacy. I hope Dianne’s list has made you smile a bit too and brightened your day. Feel free to share.

Oh, and as for Bob getting even with me…my phone has been ringing half a ring with no caller ID two or three times a day, for days now. I do believe Bob is testing his wings. I shudder to think….

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Angie Harmon – Who Do You Think You Are – “Mutiny”

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Roberta Estes

This week’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are features Angie Harmon, probably best known for her role in the television series, Law and Order.

Angie Harmon, Courtesy TLC

Angie’s adventure begins at her kitchen table in Charlotte, NC, with a package she receives from her father, Larry, that includes a photo of her great-grandparents. Like many people, up until this time, Angie only knew the names of her grandparents and not much more.

Angie becomes deeply curious (I think the genealogy bug bit her) and she sets out on her adventure to discover her ancestry.

Unlike many of us, Angie started her adventure close to home, meeting professional genealogist, Joseph Schumway at the Genealogy Library at Charlotte Museum of History. Thanks to Joseph’s magic wand, Angie’s tree was able to magically grow to reveal her 5x great grandfather Michael Harmon. I want one of those magic wands….just saying.

Angie discovers that Michael was the first immigrant ancestor on the Harmon side, and to her surprise, from Germany, arriving on December 23, 1772. Of course, then Angie needs to visit a different location to continue.

Angie arrives at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to meet with Colonial Historian Jim Horn. Angie pours over the immigration document and finds an entry that details a transaction binding Michael Harmon as an indentured servant! Jim explains that a primary motivator for a poor young man like Michael to agree to servitude would have been the potential opportunity to eventually buy land, which was near impossible in his homeland. Looking through the details of the agreement, Angie sees that Michael was required to assist a tanner for 5 years and 7 months, which was grueling work. Angie then deduces Michael would’ve been released from servitude in 1778, right in the middle of the Revolutionary War! Angie discovers an online record that shows Michael enlisting with the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment on May 10, 1777. Jim suggests she meet with Scott Stephenson, a Revolutionary War Historian, to learn about her ancestor’s time in the war.

I actually found this part very interesting because it delved a bit into how indentured servitude in the US worked. That is a much-overlooked method of immigration. Many indentured servants didn’t survive, so we don’t know about them today. Those that did simply went on with their lives after their indenture and didn’t seem to dwell on that time. It’s a piece of oral history that hasn’t made its way to current for many lines. It was simply a means to an end. One way to end a servitude early was to enlist to serve in the war – although I’m not so sure that wasn’t akin to jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

Furthermore, I didn’t realize that there were additional records for indentured servitude in at least some cases. Angie may simply have been very lucky, but I need to go and check on my own indentured servant ancestors.

At the Free Library of Philadelphia, Scott Stephenson tells Angie that Michael entered the war at an unfortunate time; the British had just captured Philadelphia, America’s capital at the time. After that, things didn’t get better for the Patriots. Scott hands Angie a paystub for her 5x great grandfather that is marked “Camp near Valley Forge, May 7, 1778.” Angie is excited to discover that her ancestor camped at Valley Forge under the command of George Washington! Scott explains that Valley Forge is the site of a winter encampment that was one of the lowest points for the Continental Army during the war. He suggests that they visit Valley Forge for themselves.

I could tell by Angie’s demeanor at this point that she didn’t know what “Valley Forge” meant historically – what those men suffered through. But she would shortly.

At Valley Forge, Angie gets a feel for what her ancestor endured as she and Scott visit the site on which Michael Harmon lived. Inside a hut that replicates where Michael would have stayed through that treacherous winter, Scott explains the brotherhood that formed during those very trying times, with little food and clothing and disease rampant, but that by Spring a remarkable renewal happened. General Washington brought the acclaimed General von Steuben to Valley Forge to develop a unified code and train the men so they would be capable of going toe to toe with the British.

I found George Washington’s commentary to the men enlightening: “The fate of millions unborn depends on what we do here today.” I don’t know if Washington was visionary or simply trying to inspire his cold, hungry men, but regardless it worked and it was indeed, prophetic.

It was at Valley Forge that I could tell that Angie truly felt what her ancestor was felling, as best we can across more than 200 years. She said, “I can step in the same steps he did.” Yes, Angie, you can.

Angie wants to know what happened to Michael after Valley Forge. Scott sends her to the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg, PA, which houses many of the soldier’s records for the Revolutionary War.

Angie meets with Historian Major Sean Sculley, where a letter from a General that reveals Michael and his entire Pennsylvania line mutinied! – that was unexpected! Things are getting juicy now!

Major Sculley explains that the troops were fed up with the lack of food and clothing – and they weren’t receiving promised payment, either. Not to mention, they weren’t being allowed to leave when their enlistment was up AND the new recruits were being paid more, plus an enlistment bounty. It’s no wonder they were unhappy. According to a letter from that timeframe, the soldiers “had suffered every kind of misery.”

Courtesy TLC

Angie’s curious to know how it played out, and Sean hands her another letter. Angie discovers that British spies offered to meet their demands and take Michael’s line over to their side! Angie’s dying to know if Michael changed allegiances and Sean explains that the soldiers were merely fighting for their rights and had no interest in switching sides. Eventually the U.S. army met their terms, and the soldiers were able to leave service if they chose. Reading a compiled regiment list, Angie finds that Michael’s war service ended after the mutiny.

Angie reflects upon not only his military service, but his servitude and coming to the colonies knowing he would be sold into servitude. She says that she has always wondered where her personal resiliency came from, and now she knows. And of course, I’m left wondering if there is a resiliency gene. Are those traits passed from generation to generation genetically, culturally, or are they simply forged in the fire of the moment?

Angie wants to know what her ancestor did after leaving the army, so Sean passes her a tax record. In it, Angie discovers that in 1795, Michael owned 130 acres of land at Doctors Fork in Mercer County, Kentucky! Angie wonders how he finally became a land owner? And of course, Sean suggests she go to Mercer County to find out.

Angie arrives at the Harrodsburg Historical Society in Mercer County, Kentucky to meet with local historian Amalie Preston. To find out about Michael’s life in Kentucky, Angie searches for his will, and of course she finds one and miraculously, the will book is laying right on the table. In it, she discovers that Michael owned multiple plantations, had married and named 7 children in his will! Wondering how he got the money for the land, Angie looks into Michael’s inventory list, which shows that Michael appears to have used the skills from his indenture to open a tanning business. Angie then finds her ancestor’s land on an old map, and Amalie tells her she made arrangements with the current owners if she would like to see it. Angie agrees and heads out to see her ancestral land.

Courtesy TLC

Angie and her daughters who have joined her for this part of the journey pull up to a farmhouse where the current owner… are you ready for this…another Harmon, greets her. Amazingly, this land is still in the Harmon family 200+ years later. Angie’s cousin invites her to take a look around the land to see where it all started. Angie heads up a hillside to fully survey all that Michael Harmon accomplished. One must admit, it’s a beautiful, traditional fall Kentucky farm scene.

Courtesy TLC

Standing on Michael’s land, Angie says, “All of that fighting, all of that suffering, all of that hardship – was for this.” Yes, Michael got his land, although he didn’t live terribly long and died with underage children. Yet, he clearly accomplished the American dream…land…a family…freedom – a legacy he literally passed to his descendants.

Angie’s commentary about how whole this process made her feel really rang a bell with me. I was glad to hear her say, “This gives me new light into the rest of my life and how I’m going to live it.”

My one regret with this episode was that there is an absolutely perfect opportunity for Y DNA testing. I realize that Ancestry is sponsoring this series, and that they no longer offer Y DNA tests, but DNA testing is an important part of genealogy today. In fact, having Michael’s Harmon Y DNA proven through two lines, Angie’s father and Angie’s cousin, could help secure Michael’s descendants membership in organizations like the DAR and SAR. I hope that even though DNA testing isn’t part of the episode, that someone explains this opportunity to Angie and her Harmon cousin.

Who will enjoy this episode? Anyone who is interested in the Revolutionary War, and in particular, if your ancestor was at Valley Forge, you won’t want to miss this episode. If your ancestor served in the Pennsylvania line between 1777 and 1781, this is for you. And of course, if you have a contact with Mercer County, KY, this is a wonderful opportunity to see a lovely hilltop view of Mercer County in the fall. It’s a great feel-good genealogy story.

Would you like a sneak peek?

Watch the full episode Sunday, March 22, 2015 at 10/9c on TLC.

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Josh Groban – Who Do You Think You Are – “A Desperate Need”

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Roberta Estes

Courtesy TLC

Josh’s new World Premier Video says it all – “I can’t regret what I did for love.”

Before you watch Josh’s TLC episode, I really encourage you to watch the trailer for Josh’s new album, Stages, in the lower right hand corner of this link. You’ll see why.

Oh Josh, you couldn’t have known about your ancestor, JZ, when you filmed this new song ….could you? Did you?

It’s only fitting that Josh, one of the world’s most inspirational musicians with a voice powerful enough to touch the souls of the dead…it’s only fitting that his ancestors would be so….so….so….committed. Devoted…and fittingly, a musician, among other amazing things.

I have to make a confession, right here and now. This episode of Who Do You Think You Are is my favorite – ever – hands down – bar none. And that includes any other similar programs too.

And now I have another confession to make – I’ve seen the episode already – yes – in full.

It’s a press courtesy provided by TLC to those in the media. The good news is that I receive some pre-release info and I can share it with you.

So, when I tell you this is a wonderful can’t-miss-it-episode, take my word for it – it really is. If you can’t see it, record it.

Josh starts in LA, where he was born, of course, but it doesn’t take long for him to find his ancestor in Pennsylvania. You know how that works with these shows – Josh’s pedigree chart magically grows by 3 or 4 generations like a vine on steroids. However, Josh’s Pennsylvania ancestor in question was a she, and she had young children with her when she immigrated, alone. Where was her husband? What happened?

The answer is – should I tell you????

Maybe not.

But, let’s say this….Josh traveled back to Germany, tracking his ancestor to the village of Bietigheim, sat in the pews of the very church where his ancestor preached. Yes, preached. Stood at that very lectern….oh my, the history.

Courtesy TLC

I can see Josh’s ancestor, singing, passionately singing in that church….and I can see Josh, singing the historical songs from his new album, Stages…the song from Lez Miz. Sharing that same passion, more than 330 years and several generations removed – but still so unquestionably connected.

Then Josh climbed the rickety wooden stairs to the top of the church tower where that same ancestor, also an astronomer, saw and measured the passing of Haley’s Comet on the cold night of November 23, 1682.

Courtesy TLC

Josh’s ancestor trod these same steps on that fateful night – as he climbed to his destiny.

Courtesy TLC

That night changed his life – and the fate of Josh’s family. It was that comet, that darned comet, that would unravel his mind…..

Josh visited the University where his ancestor studied, not for 4 years, but for 8 – because at that time in Germany, theology was the foundation for higher skills and studies, like math and astronomy…and music. But God, and the church, were the foundation for everything in life.

Math and astronomy were believed at that time to be a better way of understanding God. And music, we know it feeds the soul and was heavily incorporated into churches at that time.

But Josh’s ancestor didn’t understand God in the same way everyone else did, certainly not like the Lutheran church of the time did. He became a rather free thinker. And Josh’s ancestor interpreted the comet and other events to predict a rather grim future…that of cataclysmic doom.

You see, he was, what what we would call today, a “seer,” and he wrote under a pen name as such.

But then, his activities came to the attention of the church hierarchy……

If you like religious history or just a good mystery, if you had ancestors from Germany in the 17^th century, if they became pietists, if you are interested in astronomy, if you love old churches – and especially, if you are a Josh Groban fan…this is a must see.

You can see and feel this ancestor in Josh today.

I think my favorite scene in this entire episode was the one where Josh was holding the actual music book his ancestor taught from. I don’t know if Josh wanted to cry, but I surely did.

Courtesy TLC

This made Josh very happy, gave him cold chills.

“I’m so excited to know that he was passionate about music….that he was a music teacher at the time when there were no music teachers.”

Courtesy TLC

Josh, you definitely found your ancestor. I wonder if there is a music gene. You have clearly both excelled and bring the same depth of passion to everything you do.

What did Josh have to say about all of this?

Upon embarking on his journey: “I’m excited, a little scared, but excited.”

“My imagination is going wild.” Mine was too at that point, Josh. Whoever would have guessed???

“A desperate need.” Things were getting dicey!

“It is a little strange, isn’t it.”

Uh, yes, to put it mildly…..that part gave me cold chills. Wait until you see what happened in 1693, the year of the prophecy of doom.

I wonder if Josh’s ancestor ever regretted his decisions. You’ll have to let me know what you think. Would you like a sneak peak? Here you go.

One thing is for sure, if JZ can see Josh today, he can see that same love of music, passion and strength of character – and he could never regret the steps that he took that led to Josh.

Don’t forget, TLC, Sunday, March 15^th, at 10, 9 central.