Barbara VornDick was researching the fifth U.S. president’s daughter. It turned into a years-long odyssey that cast her into the roles of sleuth, genealogist and more.

The Virginia delegate may have spoken those words on March 23, 1775, but some historians doubt it. And at least two other men deserve credit for the rest of it.

He was top editor at Roll Call, a Capitol Hill publication, before holding high-level editing jobs at The Post.