The last person then repeats what he or she has heard aloud, and it is compared with what the first person said. Usually, the resultant piece of information has become so distorted that it is almost unrecognizable when compared to original message. This happens with family stories, too. Over time, facts about our ancestors and their events become distorted with the repeated retelling of stories. In other cases, however, details are lost over time.
Memories become dim, and verbal accounts become more and more fuzzy.
In this way, family myths are generated and perpetuated. Straight One of the major challenges genealogists and family historians face is finding evidence that supports family stories. The first step often involves making a record of a family story. Ask several relatives who are familiar with the story to tell it to you. Take copious notes, or make an audio tape recording.