Chicago woman’s quest to learn about her family uncovers more than she expected

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A Chicago woman's trip to Canada to find where her great-great grandfather was buried led to other surprising discoveries about her family's history.

Robin Moore of Chicago's South Side was researching her family tree. She knew her great-great grandfather had migrated to Ingersoll, Ontario in the 19th Century.

With help from a historian at Ontario's Western University, Moore discovered her great-great grandfather was buried in an unmarked grave in a "Potter's Field," a section of a cemetery for people who couldn't afford their own headstones or burial plots.

Then she learned at least seven other members of her family were buried at the cemetery.

“We also were able to determine that the other people buried there are actually my great-great grandfather who married a woman and, and her family is also buried there. So my great-great grandmother's family.”

Moore says the discoveries are also of historical significance because that branch of her family arrived in Canada via the Underground Railroad, which helped enslaved African-Americans escape to freedom.

Moore says she hopes her story will encourage others to learn more about their own family trees.

“It was a really, really interesting discovery, very surprising for my family. You know, quite a few family members were pretty shocked about that. But, you know, everybody's really excited that we're able to kind of add this information to the tree.”

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