Comments on: Truth or Fiction, Family Stories Abound!

By: Moultrie Creek

Moultrie Creek — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:48:44 +0000

Chasing down these stories can be a real challenge, but in my case was well worth the effort. Not only did I find the truth behind the story, but I also met three cousins who provided a tremendous amount of information about that branch of the family.

By: Miriam

Miriam — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:41:21 +0000

Keep digging, Ken! I’d love to hear how you’ve confirmed or debunked these family myths!

By: Terry Thornton

Terry Thornton — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:29:05 +0000

Ken, Interesting family lore! Don’t give up on the Babe Ruth story — if a 17-year-old girl, Virnett Beatrice “Jackie” Mitchell, could strike out Babe Ruth in Chattanooga TN in 1931, then your grandfather playing baseball with the Babe in TX might not be so farfetched! Keep digging on that story.

It is always fun to run into these stories that members of the family agree are true simply because they have always held the story to be true — or as you put it “just kind of nod their head in agreement. It’s like they know it to be true but no one has any evidence to back it up.”

Thanks for sharing an interesting look at your family.

Terry Thornton
Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi

By: Craig Manson

Craig Manson — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 02:01:35 +0000

I would include them. I agree with Janice–note who you heard them from and note also that you’ve found no documentation of them. Not every family story will have record documentation, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true or that it doesn’t have value in understanding the family’s history.

By: Apple

Apple — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 21:55:24 +0000

I would definitely record your family stories. You or someone else may be able to prove or disprove them sometime in the future. Could playing baseball with Babe Ruth actually mean playing against Babe Ruth? I’m sure that teams must have traveled. Or maybe a publicity tour?

I have struggled with which of the bad or unpleasant stories I want to record. Sometimes I think it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie but most feel it is right to record all history.

By: Janice Brown

Janice Brown — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 17:53:20 +0000

You ask a lot of good questions. Would I include such stories in my family history YES! Just be sure to mention that they are just that… stories passed down, and that you have not been able to find documentation to prove or disprove them.

Janice