Low Ancestry

This episode has it all--brave adventure, pirates, abuse of power, etc, etc. Today we talk about Kim's eighth-great-grandfather, Nicholas Yager, and the surprising twists and turns of his life as he attempts to migrate from the war-torn Palatinate to a new life in Pennsylvania only to be thwarted by a scheming ship captain and a corrupt Virginia governor. You don't want to miss it. Support the sho...

We're back talking about the always-exciting, never-dull Wix family of Missouri. This week we look at the family's political ambitions through a one Clark Wix, and we uncover a messy family feud over politics--a tale as old as time. Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get podcasts. You can also find us at our websit...

In lieu of a new episode this week, we're throwing back to one of our favorite episodes from last year. We hope you enjoy, and we'll see you next time! In a very special Bonus Episode, Low Ancestry talks to Roots and Routes genealogist Michael Ruby. Join us for a discussion about the myth of the presidential common genealogy conspiracy, what low ancestry means in our personal family trees, and why...

This episode has it all. Squatting, Frontier Life, the Civil War, Reconstruction Politics, and most importantly...MURDER! Kim's family was sure doing a lot out there in Missouri, and we'll dive into what their story says about the national conversation at the time and now. Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get pod...

Low Ancestry is getting a Patreon!   Every month, we will be putting out one episode for subscribers of a new series we're calling High Ancestry where Kim takes the reins. In our very first episode of High Ancestry, Kim talks to us about the history and psychology of astrology, and then we do the critical work of comparing ancestors we've talked about from Season 1 of Low Ancestry to their sun sig...

In this very tough episode, we dive into Kim's very southern family by looking at the life of her fourth-great-grandfather and Confederate officer, Joseph Ezra Gillette, and we get real about what it means to have family that benefitted from enslaving others and why it's so important to talk about. Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget to rate, review, and subs...

The interview you all have been clambering for.   We switch things up a little as Kim takes the lead and interviews host, Karyn, about her process, life, history, and how it all ties together to right now. We'll be back next episode with another look at Kim's ancestry!  Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get podcas...

This episode is about MJURDER! That is, murder. Turns out that Kim's 3rd-great-grandfather, John O'Donnell, was a man who contained multitudes--involved in crime, scandal, and maybe romance? Set in the hills of northwest Virginia, join us as we unravel the 1869 murder of Port Republic. Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe whereve...

You ever think you're really good at your newfound hobby and then get humbled real quick. Yeah me either.   Just kidding, this episode is all about how I believed that Kim was related to Jim Beam and was a whiskey princess, but it turns out that I was wrong and now there is egg on my face. But Kim doesn't need mediocre whiskey to tell her that she's somebody. Join us for the kick off of Season 2 a...

It's been a minute, and we've got some exciting updates about Season Two--not the least of which is that it's releasing on March 17. *gasp* It's nice to have something to look forward to! Especially for your charming and genealogy-loving host, Karyn, who has had an especially wild (read: bad) year so far. We get into some personal updates--a passing family member, losing a job at USAID, and a twis...

Wishful linking is a genealogical crime, and this episode, I become one of the criminals. Join us as we talk about what links me to the Vikings, and then keep joining us as we promptly disprove it.  Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get podcasts. You can also find us at our website www.lowancestry.com . And you ca...

We’re doing something a little bit different this episode. We sit down with friend of the podcast, Kathleen Larsen and dive into a story from her family tree. Together, we learn about one man’s gutsy, one-way trip across the ocean, the new life he makes in America, and the legacy his family left behind. Through his story and the story of the people who came after him, we piece together all the lit...

It's a special Thanksgiving episode! We dive into the fraught history of our Mayflower ancestors with friend, Micah Pick, who also happens to share a famous Pilgrim ancestor with host, Karyn. Join us as we talk about the life of the Mayflower colonists, and we attempt to pick at the threads of the American mythology that surrounds them.  You can find our guest Micah Pick on Spotify and Instagram ....

In a very special Bonus Episode, Low Ancestry talks to Roots and Routes genealogist Michael Ruby. Join us for a discussion about the myth of the presidential common genealogy conspiracy, what low ancestry means in our personal family trees, and why J. D. Vance’s comments about his genealogy on the campaign trail do not hold up.  Find Michael on YouTube and TikTok ! Support the show! Connect with u...

In this very special Halloween bonus episode, Low Ancestry is thrilled to collaborate with Cat Curtis from Haunting History Podcast ! Together, we unravel the gripping story of my third-great-granduncle, Edward Hargrave from his birth in London’s rough Shoreditch neighborhood to his teenage years as a Union soldier in the American Civil War. While at war, Edward is imprisoned by Confederate soldie...

Season 1 is over, but we've got some exciting stuff on the horizon! Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get podcasts. You can also find us at our website www.lowancestry.com . And you can now join our Patreon !   LOW ANCESTRY CREDITS Created, Written and Produced by Karyn Harding Cohosted by Kim McMasters Sound...

Carrie White led a life marked by profound tragedy, losing her brother and both parents within a year, followed closely by the death of her infant daughter. When Carrie shows signs of deteriorating mental health and involuntary movements, she disappears from her family and is later found in a Binghamton hotel where she had taken her own life. Her family only identifies her days after the incident,...

In this episode, we dive into the complex lives of an everyday American family during and after the Civil War. Helen and Frank Dewey were a happily married couple who survive the war, have ten beautiful children, and stay together through all of life’s hardships. But when Frank passes away, Helen has to grapple with her late husband’s secretive past.  Through Helen, we learn of the hardships that...

Through the incredible journey of my tenth-great-grandfather, Pierre Chastain, we uncover the harrowing plight of the Huguenots as they fled relentless persecution in 17th-century France. Forced to navigate a hostile Europe in search of safety, their story takes us through waves of hardship until they finally find refuge in Virginia. As we dive deep into their struggle, we confront the cyclical na...

Part two of our journey through the lives of the Kilmer family– Binghamton’s medical tycoons at the turn of the 20th century–shows us a powerful family in scandalous turmoil in the aftermath of a devastating factory fire. The Kilmers find themselves navigating a public family feud, arson accusations, lawsuits, and a bitter rivalry between newspapers all while coming face to face with the decline o...

This episode, we journey through the origins of the Kilmer family legacy in Binghamton, New York, starting with the intriguing story of Dr. S. Andral Kilmer and his infamous, homeopathic remedy, Swamp Root, which took the 19th-century patent medicine industry by storm. However, behind the rise to household medicine fame lies a tale of family drama, corporate betrayal, and the blurred lines between...

In this episode, we dive into the enigmatic life of Angeline, my third-great-grandmother. Angeline's story, largely overshadowed by the men around her, begins in 1863 when her young husband, Elisha, leaves to fight in the Civil War. Left behind with their unborn child, Angeline's life unfolds in the margins of historical records, filled with gaps and contradictions. Through years of persistent res...

In this episode, we dive into the challenging history of Bartley Corbin, whose story is deeply entwined with the darker chapters of America’s history of racism, genocide, and slavery. We’ll grapple with the harsh realities of American expansion and the removal of indigenous people and discuss the role that genealogy can play in confronting uncomfortable truths about our past and understanding pres...

In this episode, we delve into the riveting journey of the Dhyne family from Belgium to America. As the story unfolds, we explore not just a coming-to-America tale but also a tale of complicated family dynamics and the challenges they faced. Along the way, we will reveal some surprising twists and turns throughout their lives and find out how easy it is to pass along generational trauma, and we le...

This episode we delve into the challenges and uncertainties of the childhood of John Connis (my 3rd-great-grandfather). After being admitted to a 19th century New York City orphanage, John’s life becomes a story about resilience and new beginnings, and through John, we see how love passes down from generation to generation. The bibliography and additional resources for the episode can be found at:...