My sister Debra and I at the entrance of The Leiden American Pilgrim Museum in the Dutch city of Leiden.

My search for a Mayflower ancestor began in jest! My sister told me to find her a pilgrim!

Let me back up to the beginning. My journey in genealogy began when I was about four years old and was curious as to why I only had one grandfather and two grandmothers.  So I started asking questions and my father told me that he did not have a father. My response was, “Oh, Grandmother Jones never married.” My parents quickly decided that I should be told the whole story before I announced to the world my grandmother’s lack of a husband. To make a long story short – although my grandparents did not divorce, my grandfather abandoned his wife and four small children.

My passion for genealogy has grown over the years and my sister’s request was a huge challenge.

“It is reported that currently there are over 10 million living descendants of the 51 Mayflower Pilgrims who had children.” http://www.sail1620.org/history/notable-mayflower-descendants/90-notable-descendants.html