A Phone Call From Heaven (with Jenny Ashcraft) | Episode 36

12/05/24 • 28 min

2 Listeners

When Jenny Ashcraft joked with her dying father about needing a 'cell phone call from heaven' to start family history... that's exactly what she got. Just days after her father's funeral, a mysterious package arrived from a stranger who felt compelled to send her family records after reading her father's obituary. Follow Jenny's journey from a reluctant beginner to becoming part of the Ancestry team, including an incredible series of discoveries in Pennsylvania that proved family history is full of divine coincidences. This episode shows how even those who feel intimidated by family history can find themselves drawn into a puzzle more rewarding than they ever imagined.

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Previous Episode

Sometimes You Don't Like the Answer (with Lisa Elzey) | Episode 35

Two genealogists discover they might share a Mayflower connection - but there's a twist.
In this special Thanksgiving episode, my producer Lisa Elzey and I explore our connection to America’s founding story, take a memorable trip to Plymouth Plantation, and learn that sometimes uncovering the truth means letting go of cherished family lore. Through our journey, we reveal how the real power of family history lies not in the famous names on our family tree, but in the authentic stories we uncover along the way.
Curious about the truth behind your own family legends? Find guidance and story prompts inspired by this episode at CristaCowan.com/blog.

Next Episode

Finding Heroes (with Wayne Abbott and David O'Keefe) | Episode 37

Have you ever wondered if there are forgotten family heroes in your past? In this episode, documentarians Wayne Abbott and David O'Keefe reveal how combining historical records, artifacts, and family research can bridge generational gaps and uncover powerful family stories. Through their work on Ancestry's "Finding Heroes" podcast, they share emotional moments of families discovering ancestors they never knew – including a son who finally connected with the father he never met through a simple military artifact. Their work shows how even the smallest historical discoveries can transform family relationships and create lasting legacies for future generations.

💭 Which of your ancestors' stories are waiting to be discovered in your family tree?
Watch Wayne & David's latest podcast episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQbfCatul_w

Stories That Live In Us - A Phone Call From Heaven (with Jenny Ashcraft) | Episode 36

Transcript

Jenny Ashcraft00:00:03.004

I'm living proof that if you've been intimidated and you think this is not for you , you can do it . If I can do it , you can do it

Jenny Ashcraft00:00:11.723

and my family . When my family gathers at Christmas , we love to do puzzles . If you are a person that loves to do puzzles , there is no better puzzle than family history .

Crista Co