Maryland governor Wes Moore has frequently shared a dramatic family story about his great-grandfather fleeing South Carolina in the 1920s to escape the Ku Klux Klan, claiming the family narrowly avoided a lynching and sought refuge in Jamaica. This narrative has been central to Moore's public persona and political messaging, especially as he positions himself for a potential presidential run.

However, extensive historical records and church archives contradict Moore's account. Documents show that Moore's great-grandfather, Rev. Josiah Johnson Thomas, made a public and orderly transfer from South Carolina to Jamaica in 1924 to succeed a prominent pastor, with no evidence of Klan threats or secretive flight. Contemporary newspaper reports and Episcopal Church records do not mention racial conflict or activism, nor do they support claims of a hurried or dangerous departure.

The investigation also highlights other discrepancies in Moore's personal history, raising questions about the accuracy of his public statements. While racial terror was a real part of Southern history, the specific story Moore tells about his ancestor appears unsupported by available evidence.