I am a new researcher (about a year), and having a great time finding stories on my families. I have an ancestor who had to flee a state to prevent his daughter from being stoned to death. A ggggandmother who never married and was reported to be a "madam", a ggggrandfather who was hung during the 1700's, another who was beheaded in the 1600s, and I love it. It brings to life the ancestors and their problems that they faced in their time. While talking to other researchers I have found all of them to have at least one "colorful" ancestor. I think about todays problems and they seem to be overwhelming sometimes, then I find a ggg grandmother who was not allowed to wed in a "white church" because her husband to be was a Native American, had a son, took her to another state, left her and never showed up again. I wonder how I would have handled this with no phones, not much mail (she couldn't read or write anyway), no family or friends back in the woods she lived to help her. All I can say is WOW! These people must have been tough. I have found that there are treasures to be found in alot of places online and free. I have learned that you never give up, and you always look into tidbits the family may have. Church records are a place I had never looked until lately and wow more information on family. Plus they are a neat place to see the problems from way-back. Happy hunting to all and remember: NEVER GIVE UP!