Who Do You Think You Are? Episode 1.04 Matthew Broderick

Matthew was born and raised in New York City and had a very close relationship with his parents, especially his mother, who passed away in 2003. However, Matthew doesn't know much about his father, who died when Matthew was only 20. Now, Matthew is on a mission to uncover the many mysteries of his paternal roots. Matthew followed in his father's acting footsteps, but his father was quiet about his past and Matthew's paternal grandparents died before he was born. Matthew hopes to find connections to his family so he can carry the story down to his children and his children's children.

Matthew begins his journey in Jersey City, New Jersey to visit his older sister, Janet. Unlike Matthew, Janet remembers their paternal grandparents, Mary and Joe. Janet says that Mary was born in Connecticut and that her maiden name was Martindale. Matthew learns that his grandfather, Joe, was a quiet man but was rumored to be ill-tempered. Also, Matthew learns that Joe was a postman and was a World War I soldier. According the Matthew's sister, their grandfather was involved with the Germans, although she's not sure to what extent. It is believed that he either captured German soldiers for the Americans or that the German soldiers gassed him. Matthew and Janet's mother had said that Joe received money because he was gassed during the war. But neither of them can be too sure of the truth.

Matthew makes his way to the National Archives and Records building in New York City where he has been told he can find the military documents of his grandfather, Joe Broderick. Matthew learns that his grandfather, officially named James Joseph Broderick, enlisted on June 20th, 1916 in the United States Army and was a Private 1st class MD (medic) in the 102nd Infantry of World War I. He was transferred to France in the medical department, but the document doesn't give any more information on what Matthew's grandfather did overseas. Matthew's next step is to visit France to see what he can uncover.

In France, Matthew meets with Peter Barton, a World War I historian and author, on the Meuse-Argonne Battlefield. It is here that Matthew learns that his grandfather's job in this historic battle was to take on the German defenses at the top of the ridge. Peter explains that in order for Matthew's grandfather to get to the German trenches, he had to battle his way through a stream of machine gun bullets. Peter tells Matthew that Joe's duty on the field was to follow the Infantry into battle and assist with any injuries--he was there to save the lives of his fellow soldiers. Peter tells Matthew that every soldier in that company was dependent on Joe to save his life if he were hit by a bullet. Matthew's grandfather was only 22 years old when he fought in the war. As a medic he had to battle both friendly and enemy fire--something that probably affected him for the rest of his life.

There's more to discover in France when Peter shows Matthew that James Joseph Broderick was awarded the Purple Heart when he was wounded in action on October 27th, 1918. Matthew is touched and wonders just how badly his grandfather was hurt. Matthew never knew that his grandfather had a Purple Heart. Although Matthew's grandfather survived the war, many of his comrades did not--and Matthew and Peter pay their respects at the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery. It is the final resting place for over 14,000 American soldiers in Europe: most of them died during the battle of Meuse-Argonne. Peter shows Matthew some of the graves of the men who were part of Joe's division and actually died the same day that Joe was wounded. Matthew reads aloud that Joe also received a Distinguished Service Cross, which is the second highest award for gallantry that a soldier can receive. Matthew figures that his grandfather was probably such a quiet man because of his horrific experience during the war.

For Matthew, learning about his grandfather has now filled in something that he "didn't know was blank." Now, he turns his attention to his grandmother, Mary Martindale, and travels to her home, Hartford, Connecticut. Matthew researches at the State Archives and meets with historian and genealogist, Richard Roberts. Richard suggests that they do a search on Ancestry.com to find out more about her. Using the 1910 census, Matthew finds out that his grandmother grew up in an orphanage. Matthew and Robert use the coroners' records to find out what happened to Mary's parents. Mary Martindale (Matthew's great-grandmother and Mary's mother) died of a liver ulcer and her husband, (Matthew's great-grandfather) William Martindale worked for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company. In 1908 he was tragically killed in a timber spill. Matthew is amazed that his grandmother was an orphan and wonders if Mary ever shared her orphan childhood experience with anyone in his family.

Matthew decides to dig deeper into the Martindale side of the family with the help of Mel Smith, an archivist at the Connecticut State Library and Archives. Using the 1870 census, Matthew finds the names William Martindale and William's mother, Charlotte (Matthew's great-great-grandmother). But the census does not have Charlotte's husband. They use the 1850 census for William's father and they find Robert Martindale--Matthew's great-great-grandfather. However, in the 1860 census there is no documentation of the Martindales and by 1870 there is no record of Robert Martindale anymore. Suddenly it starts to come together that Robert Martindale was most likely part of the Civil War.

In 1861, the Civil War began and went on for four years, resulting in over 600,000 deaths. Using an index for individuals who served in the war, Matthew finds his great-great-grandfather, Robert Martindale. Using other Civil War records, Matthew finds Robert's 1862 enlistment document: he was 38 years old, had brown hair, gray eyes and was 5'5", which is much more than he expected to find out. Matthew never expected to have a relative in the Civil War. He reflects on the role he played as Colonel Robert Shaw in the movie, "Glory," which coincidentally is the first name of his great-great-grandfather.

Using Muster rolls (a register of officers and men in a military unit), Matthew learns that Robert fought in the Battle of Gettysburg and survived it. Robert Martindale's story doesn't end there; the trail leads next to Atlanta. Matthew talks to Gordon Jones, the curator of the Atlanta History Center and Civil War Exhibit. Gordon takes Matthew on the trail where Robert fought and then shows him the document that tells the tale of what happened to Robert on July 23rd, 1864. He was put on skirmish (guard) duty and was shot with a musket ball through the head. Gordon tries to console Matthew by saying that although it would have been a bloody death--it would have been quick and painless. Matthew is saddened by the news, but wants to continue on the journey to find out what happened to his great-great-grandfather's body.

Matthew meets with Brad Quinlan, a Civil War historian, to help him find out what happened to Robert and where his grave is. Matthew is led to train tracks which now cover the ground where soldiers created makeshift graves to bury the dead from battle. This is where Robert's body was buried. However, from 1866-1867, men came down to the makeshift cemeteries to move the bodies into a national cemetery. Matthew and Brad visit the Marietta National Cemetery (established after the Civil War) to see if Robert's body was finally laid to rest there. Of the 10,000 Union soldiers buried in this cemetery, 3,000 Marietta graves still remain unidentified. However, there is only one unknown soldier from Connecticut's 20th Infantry, and by cross-referencing documents, Brad and Matthew have found that the unmarked grave belongs to Robert Martindale.

Matthew is left speechless and visits the unmarked grave of his great-great-grandfather Robert Martindale. He wishes that his whole family could be present to see it. Matthew is touched and amazed at his journey and feels fortunate that he never had to make the kinds of choices his grandfather and great-great-grandfather had to make. After everything, Matthew is thankful that he can now share this gift of history with his own family and fill in the missing blanks he never knew about.