In the fall of 2010 I found myself in a forgotten cemetery in the middle of a soybean field in Williams Port, Ohio with my adoptive parents, Robert and Carolyn Gerard. We were searching for grave markers for ancestors of my father who served in the Revolutionary war. Little did I know that day would change my life forever.

Knowing that I was adopted at birth set me on a journey to locate my birth family. I've always known they were out there but curiosity simply got the better of me. Since that day, I have found my mother, older Half-sister and Half-brother, and several cousins separated by up to 4 generations and many migrations.

My research has taken me on an eye opening journey, discovering that my mother had also been adopted. With her death certificate in hand, I turned to Missouri court records to get her birth information only to be told "you will need a court order to open the records". I hired an attorney who was also denied access.

I got involved in the wonderful world of DNA, that puts an end to family secrets and lies. Using this method, I have found my mothers paternal family, the Tomlinsons. Using DNA testing the results keep pouring in to solidify these relationships. I have been able to identify a set of great grandparents from Linn County, IA.

The most startling discovery is that I am related to some 25 adoptees that are also searching for their family. What is true for me, stands to be true for everyone even if we do not know them personally. I have become an advocate for Adoption reform to allow all adult adoptees obtain their original birth certificates and encourage all to take a DNA test as everyone is related to several adopted persons. This information will help them tremendously. Adoption affects 8 million persons, and many more when you consider children adopted by step parents. I have created www.AdoptionFamilyFinder.com to help adoptees and their family find each other and become involved with www.AdoptionAlarm.com to change legislation because it is our civil and constitutional right.

It is for these people, future generations, and the many more that I do the research that I do.

The Ridels that I am finding are not as closely related to me as I had originally thought. Therefore, most of these memorials that I have created are available for transfer to a closer member of the family.

If you have a change request, please send a support ticket, do not post it as a message on my page. Thank you.

In the fall of 2010 I found myself in a forgotten cemetery in the middle of a soybean field in Williams Port, Ohio with my adoptive parents, Robert and Carolyn Gerard. We were searching for grave markers for ancestors of my father who served in the Revolutionary war. Little did I know that day would change my life forever.

Knowing that I was adopted at birth set me on a journey to locate my birth family. I've always known they were out there but curiosity simply got the better of me. Since that day, I have found my mother, older Half-sister and Half-brother, and several cousins separated by up to 4 generations and many migrations.

My research has taken me on an eye opening journey, discovering that my mother had also been adopted. With her death certificate in hand, I turned to Missouri court records to get her birth information only to be told "you will need a court order to open the records". I hired an attorney who was also denied access.

I got involved in the wonderful world of DNA, that puts an end to family secrets and lies. Using this method, I have found my mothers paternal family, the Tomlinsons. Using DNA testing the results keep pouring in to solidify these relationships. I have been able to identify a set of great grandparents from Linn County, IA.

The most startling discovery is that I am related to some 25 adoptees that are also searching for their family. What is true for me, stands to be true for everyone even if we do not know them personally. I have become an advocate for Adoption reform to allow all adult adoptees obtain their original birth certificates and encourage all to take a DNA test as everyone is related to several adopted persons. This information will help them tremendously. Adoption affects 8 million persons, and many more when you consider children adopted by step parents. I have created www.AdoptionFamilyFinder.com to help adoptees and their family find each other and become involved with www.AdoptionAlarm.com to change legislation because it is our civil and constitutional right.

It is for these people, future generations, and the many more that I do the research that I do.

The Ridels that I am finding are not as closely related to me as I had originally thought. Therefore, most of these memorials that I have created are available for transfer to a closer member of the family.

If you have a change request, please send a support ticket, do not post it as a message on my page. Thank you.