August 1, 2025

AF-1129: Prohibition, Moonshine, and the Law: Tracing Bootleggers in the Family Tree


During the 1920s and early 1930s, a jug of illegal whiskey could change a family’s fortune—or tear it apart. Whether your ancestors ran stills deep in the woods or simply served homemade brew at a quiet kitchen table, Prohibition touched nearly every community in America.

The records left behind by this period—if you know where to look—reveal a time of defiance, desperation, and secret enterprise. And if you’ve got Southern, Appalachian, Midwestern, or even urban roots, there’s a good chance someone in your family tree ran afoul of the law during this dry era.

Let’s take a closer look at the legacy of Prohibition, how moonshining worked, why so many people got involved, and how to uncover those stories in your own family history.

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/prohibition-moonshine-genealogy/

Ancestral Findings Podcast:

https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast

This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups:

https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups

Genealogy Giveaway:

https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway

Genealogy eBooks:

https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks

Follow Along:

https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings

https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings

https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings

Support Ancestral Findings:

https://ancestralfindings.com/support

https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal 

#Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips


Check out this episode!