Ep 1. Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker goes on a journey in the first episode of Who Do You Think You Are? Season 1 to discover her family history. The iconic actress digs deep into her past to reveal the secrets of her ancestors and to discover their stories.

Starting off with the name of her paternal ancestor, Parker begins exploring his life through historical records and receives help from professional genealogists. She uses census records, marriage certificates, passenger manifests, and other public documents that she can find to get a better idea of her ancestor's life.

As she delves deeper into her ancestor's past, Parker learns about his time in the Civil War, and she follows his journey as a soldier during the conflict. She visits the Battle of Franklin and tour Civil War graves to see where her ancestor might have been buried. Parker learns about the sacrifice that her ancestor's generation made to the country, and she is touched by the idea that he was fighting for freedom.

But Parker's journey doesn't end there, as she moves onto the maternal side of her family and discovers her relationship to witch trials that took place in Salem in the late 1600s. She learns about one of her ancestors, Esther Elwell, and how she was accused and put on trial for witchcraft. Parker visits the site of the Salem Witch Trials and learns about the events that led to the infamous hangings, and how it must have felt like to be in the position of her ancestor.

Parker discovers that Esther Elwell's accusers were later charged with perjury after the witch trials ended, and she is filled with emotion after visiting their gravesite. This experience helps her to connect to her ancestors in a more profound way, and she feels more connected to her roots.

The episode closes with Parker having a newfound appreciation for her family's history, and she credits the experience with helping her to be grateful for her existence and the sacrifices that her ancestors made. She realizes that without their struggles and survival, she wouldn't be here today, which makes her feel grateful for the past.

Overall the show moves through Parker's journey with great storytelling and attention-grabbing facts about her past. The first episode of Who Do You Think You Are? Season 1 is a must-watch for anyone who loves genealogy and wants to learn more about history. It is thrilling and engaging, and the conclusions Parker comes to are touching and heartwarming. The episode is a deeply personal dive into Parker's ancestral history that is both informative and entertaining.