This episode is based on the family history research for
three individuals who know almost nothing of their fathers’ origins.
First enters author Stephen King. His father left when he was two years old and
never came back - a tough situation for any kid. King expressed some uneasy feelings, wondering what he might find in his ancestry.
As Gates and King begin speaking about King's family, Gates asks the author right
off (with a laugh) “Where do you think those dark stories come from my man?” King responded by saying that he grew up
interested in scary stories, nightmares and things that go bump in the night,
and that his mother read him stories from Fate Magazine, filled with tales of
flying saucers and other eerie stories. Gates and King continued talking about King's mother, and Stephen shares that he felt he had a happy childhood with just his mother, growing up in Maine.
Fate (magazine) en.wikipedia.org
On viewing a photo King had never seen of his father, he learned that the surname King, is not the original family
name (surprise! How many of us have had this same experience, especially when immigration is involved?). Pollack was the actual surname of King's father and there was never an official name change to King.
King’s 4th great grandfather is then revealed as
an Irish immigrant who survived the terrible frost of 1741, the “year of the slaughter,”
which decimated the Irish people, killing the food supply and leading to mass
starvation. One fifth of the Irish population perished in the ensuing
famine. Many left Ireland during this
time-period (my Irish ancestors left between 1819-1833).
King’s 4th great
grand father became a minister in Pennsylvania after immigrating, and King stated he’s always felt an affinity to
traits common to Irish people, such as his imagination and fanciful belief in
fairies and such.
King’s 2nd great grandfather is then shown in a
civil war regiment document to have fought on the union side against slavery - along with 5 brothers in Tennessee - unusual for the area, where most fought for
the Confederate side. King was highly interested in these southern roots he had never considered before. Further family records show the
family leaving Tennessee, most likely apposing slavery, and wanting a
fresh start in Indiana.
I love king’s statement at this point, he said he felt like he was standing on a stage where someone was turning on spot lights in different areas, allowing him to see things he couldn't before..
DAVID LAMELAS, 1967
Actress Gloria Reuben is featured next. Gloria grew up in Canada in a mixed-race home, born to her father when he was
73 years old. Her father died when she
was very young, and her mother didn't even know her father’s parent’s
names. She’s always had a lonely feeling
in her heart wondering where she came from.
Gloria suspected for a long time that her Reuben surname had Jewish
roots, but Gloria’s father left behind almost
no paper trail.
The first marriage of Gloria's father took place in Jamaica and Gloria is thrilled at the sight of her father’s birth certificate, showing the names
of her grandparents whom she had never heard of (the best feeling ever!). Additional Reuben ancestry birth certificates, listed in the records
of a Jamaican synagogue, confirm Jewish roots for Gloria’s family, and she is
elated! Jamaican roots of the Jewish
people start back in the late 1400s. Spain at this time gave the Jewish population three options, affirm belief in the Roman Catholic church, endure exile, or execution. Many Jews fled (uh, yeah).
Gates then took Gloria's ancestry to her mother’s side and
her 3rd great grandparents listed as slaves in a Jamaican slave
registry. Almost no African Americans
are so lucky to establish who their original African Ancestor was (unbelievable). Gloria was overwhelmed
emotionally as Gates presented her a large chart of her family tree.
Actor Courtney Vance is up next.
Vance grew up in a close-knit family in Detroit, but knew nothing of his
father’s roots. His father was a
foster child and hadn't wanted to talk about his origins Tragically, he committed suicide
when Vance was 30 years old, and took what family knowledge he did have, with him. Vance's dad was his
hero.
Many questions about his birth family had always haunted Vance. Gates then presented the birth certificate of Vance's father showing the mother’s name - and no father. Vance's mother was only 17 when he was born, according to the birth certificate.
Puzzled that there was no trace of
Vance's mother in Census records, a clue was revealed in a newspaper
clipping, showing a story that Vance's mother, named Ardella, had accused a pastor of fathering her child. The case was closed; however, as the dates didn't
match up (one of the best elimination clues for any research). Additional records showed this poor girl bouncing around between families, and that she had a previous baby at only age 15. I loved the compassionate response Vance expressed during this revelation.
The proximity of the home of Vance’s birth mother, and home
of his adoptive parents, was shown at this point on a map, as just blocks apart. Vance’s pain is clear on his face here, and he expressed what he was feeling as he wondered if his
father may have known his mother, as an acquaintance maybe.
Gates then takes Courtney on a journey on his mother’s side,
exploring the slave ancestry back to the Black population of Maryland, 40 %
slaves at the time, 60 % free. Vance has an ancestor shown in a newspaper add as a runaway slave, whose owner was
searching for him. And, Vance's great great
grandfather is listed in an incredibly famous book - The Underground Railroad, where a
portion of the story concerning his slave owners is shared, as well as a physical description.
The slave act of 1850 required northern citizens
to return slave runaways. Then the emancipation proclamation gave black men the
right to fight in the United States colored troops. A muster roll shows Courtney’s great great grandfather as serving
in the civil war, in a colored troop, and that his infantry unit marched in the
funeral procession of President Lincoln (Vance's mouth is understandably hanging open at
this point, as he views the photo!).
Gates then presents Vance with a
chart of his family tree, while Vance states that his head is spinning, but that his back feels a little straighter knowing where
he came from (LOVE IT!).
Now enters the Genetic Genealogy - and all three individuals had
agreed to take the tests.
King laughed out loud when his ancestry showed he is 99 %
European. King tells Gates he is the whitest man Gates has probably ever seen (too funny!).
Gloria is surprised to see her ancestry showing 59 %
European and 38 % African. She states that she is basically a Jewish girl in Black body (hahaha more funny).
Vance’s results on the unknown paternity case of his grandfather, show that the accused Reverend Warren was NOT his grandfather.
Then, Y-DNA test results show a perfect match with a man named Dr. James
Arrington, in Arkansas (Vance's mouth hangs open again, priceless!). Gates states that there were a lot
of Arringtons living in Chicago when his mother lived. Vance expressed his sadness that his
father is not alive to see these results.
In conclusion...
Well, if this first episode is any indication as to how enthralling the next episodes will be... hang on for a great ride!
Connecting with our past can be personally transformative –
Henry Louis Gates Jr.
References
Fate (magazine) en.wikipedia.org
http://www.spruethmagers.com/bilder/works/lamelas_00055.jpg
Photo by Elise Amendola
Photo by Mark Feinsand, New York Daily News http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/jeter-announces-facebook-14-season-article-1.1611531
Photo from Los Angeles Hall of Fame Gallery
