Ussing's ancestors are all Danish. The main branches are from the North of the Jutland pensinsula and the islands of Sjælland, Fyn and Lolland. Up until the industrial revolution most of his ancestors in each line were farmers, with a healthy handful of blacksmiths thrown into the mix for good measure.

The majority of Vanessa's ancestors are English, but one group consists of Scottish immigrants, and there's also a single Irish line. Many of her ancestors arrived to Australia during the colonial period either as farmers or convicts. Others immigrated as late as the 20th century. 2 of her great grandfathers fought in the First World War (AIF).

In the autumn of 1865 married couple Frands and Jensine Høstmark Grundtvig of Copenhagen were traversing the plains and hills of Wyoming on board a Mormon wagon train bound for Salt Lake City, Utah. On the morning of September 22nd the emigrants were breaking camp at Cottonwood Creek when fate intervened

"I have, not once, but several times achieved summoning a so-called spirithand". Over the course of 15 years, Lars Jensen explored proof of the afterlife at seances in his Ollerup home, ranging from moving tables, automated writing, to the complete materialisation of his late wife.