In this episode, we're going to hear from a gentleman who reached out to us with an old family story.

It's an intriguing tale that's been passed down on his father's side for roughly 375 years.

But it's never been backed up with any proof, and for that reason, our guest has never really believed it. So first, we're

going to hear the story. And then we'll see if we can help him find the answers he's looking for.

I'm Lloyd Lockridge. And this is Family Lore.

Okay, so to start, could you tell me your name and where you're from?

My name is Mike Hinman. I live in the Bronx. I did grow up in Western Pennsylvania.

Mike Hinman is a native of a small paper mill town in Western Pennsylvania, a town with a population of about 2,000 people. His father was a railroad welder, and his mother worked different odd jobs to support the family.

It was just a quiet, you know, growing up in the mountains of Pennsylvania, really.

I mean, you're not near anything.

So you're just surrounded, you know, by the Appalachian really. I mean, you're not near anything. So you're just

surrounded, you know, by the Appalachian Mountains. It's kind of the Allegheny stretch there. In the fall, it's so beautiful. But in the spring and summer, when the leaves are all full, and you're driving through these roads. And I mean, I'm going back to visit in a couple of weeks. and I just love going back.

I haven't lived there in 30-something years, couple of weeks. And I just love going back.

I haven't lived there in 30-something years, but, you know, but it's still home.

Did you growing up spend much time with your grandparents, particularly your dad's parents?

No.

So my dad's a bit older.

So my dad is in his 90s now.

And so his parents died when I was pretty young.

I think I was probably four or five or six years old.

I wasn't very old.

They didn't really talk about stuff so much.

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