Award-winning stage, film, and television actress Allison Janney traces her maternal family tree and uncovers a remarkable story that ties her to some of America's first British settlers. She discovers that her 10x great-grandmother, and her 11x great-grandfather, were born in England but died in Massachusetts in the mid-1600s. As she seeks details about their lives, she learns that the family's journey to North America almost ended in tragedy.

Actor and political activist Bradley Whitford meets with a genealogist to learn about his grandmother's heritage, discovering why his ancestors immigrated to the United States in 1846. His journey takes him to Washington, D.C., where he learns that his 2x great-grandfather, along with his siblings, fought in the Civil War. Bradley partners with a historian to learn if his ancestors survived the brutal warfare.