Comedienne Katherine Ryan was left speechless on Monday’s episode of BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are (September 18) after discovering the tragic fate of three of her ancestors.
The stand-up comic, who hails from Canada but lives in the UK, had been on a journey back in time when her travels led her from snowy Nova scotia to the eastern-most point of the region – Newfoundland.
After discovering that her 5x great grandparents were cod traders in the area, a local historian revealed experts that told a harrowing tale of their fate.
READ MORE: Shirtless Samuel L Jackson jabbed with needles as 16 cups stuck to red-raw back
The mum-of-one can be seen reading a documents that reveals her ancestor died while at sea escorting precious, valuable cargo back to his parents.
(Image: BBC)
Both he and the cargo were lost, and the tragic incident led to the collapse of the family’s fishing business and left them “in ruin.”
Even more tragic, Katherine then learned that her ancestor’s father has just just weeks later “of a broken heart” with his other son tragically passing away just days after that.
Clearly stunned by the tale, Katherine admitted her too would have died from a broken heart, as the historian claimed that one downed ship was all it took to leave the family with nothing.
(Image: BBC)
“he had such a tragic end losing his son then losing his livelihood and then losing his own life,” she said, as she paid a visit to his grave.
But things took a lighter turn as she soon discovered that he ancestors had moved to Canada from Dorset, England, to pursue their career as fishermen.
“I knew I was English,” Katherine beamed, claiming she always felt this was her “real home.”
(Image: BBC)
Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here.
Katherine, who’s daughter Violet was born in England, claims she is on a mission to discover some English ancestry in her background that Violet will respect.
“My daughter violet gives me a hard time about no being English. Well now I can tell her I’m English!
“She’ll say, ‘I’m so sorry about my mummy, she’s Canadian,” Katherine told viewers.
Katherine learns he was descended from her 8x great grandfather, Nicholas Cobb, a well-to-do publican in the village of Corfe Castle, who turns up in records as once speaking “fraudulous and scurrilous words” about two local magistrates.
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
