Lukasz Szwaj/Shutterstock Your ancestors got you to where you are today, whether or not you know who they are. There are entire industries with resources to help you locate your ancestors, making it easy to piece together your family history. Author Matt Crossman tracked down his ancestors in Italy — his tips include using experts, referring to family stories, and being prepared for the unexpected. One Day in October I drove into the Alps of Northern Italy to a teensy village called Camposilvano.