Unearth the Past; Embrace the Future
A unique opportunity for those with
Colonial or Revolutionary ancestry
Your past could hold the key to someone else’s future
My Story
It wasn’t until 2020 – shortly after my 51st birthday – that I discovered my ancestors were enslavers. I’d seen a social media post that summer, suggesting that anyone who knew that their family history extended back 150 years or more should find out whether their ancestors enslaved people: Did they, or didn’t they? Just look, the post said, so you’ll know the truth.
So I did … and I found confirmation (more on that later) … and then I had questions. I didn’t know anyone else who knew this about their family.
Who can I talk to about what I found?
What do I do with the information now?
The short version is … I did find other descendants of enslavers, grappling with the same thing. Right after that, I discovered Reparational Genealogy.
Reparational genealogy is a unique type of genealogy research
It is a living demonstration of the complexity of family history in the United States.
It involves going beyond the typical vital records (birth, marriage and death information) and digging deeper into the lives of our forebears, understanding their businesses or trades, societal roles, and how they made their living. Sometimes that included enslaving African people, sometimes it didn’t.
More importantly – and at its heart – this work is about family, pure and simple.
There is no shame or blame here. We are not responsible for our ancestors’ actions – and, we descendants of enslavers have a critical role to play. We can choose to help repair the damage caused by their actions.
- Your family’s ancestry may hold pieces to the puzzle of another American family whose ancestors were enslaved.
- We can’t change the damage our ancestors may have done – but we can do our part to put the pieces back together.
- Like a box of family heirlooms found in a house we just moved into, the information simply needs to be returned to the rightful owner.
Reparational Genealogy in the News
As seen in Pasadena Weekly
”Repairing the Knowledge Tree: Making our orchards grow” | PasadenaWeekly.com
By Ellen Snortland, from our interview in January 2024
February 8, 2024
E Pluribus Unum: “Out of Many, One” | DAR
An Initiative of the Daughters of the American Revolution
February 16, 2024
”When kin of slaves and owner meet” | CNN.com
By Wayne Drash, about Betty Kilby Baldwin and Phoebe Kilby, authors of Cousins
May 20, 2010
Stay Up-To-Date With the Latest
Think your Revolutionary or Colonial ancestors
might have participated in slavery?
Mine did – and I can help. Let’s talk.
What I Do For My Clients
I research a specified family line (or lines), from 1870 back to 1619 or immigrant ancestor, whichever comes first.
As completely as possible, I work to identify:
- Any enslavers along the specified family line/s
- Any names of enslaved people and their family members
I then add the enslaved family’s information to the worldwide family tree on WikiTree as part of my volunteer work with the US Black Heritage Project, making the information accessible to Black genealogists working on their family trees.
Some of the Benefits to You
Deeper Connection to Family History and Purpose
- You’ll have new information to share with everyone in your extended family, that can be handed down to the younger ones as they grow
- You will honor other American families, just by having the courage to look at your own
Peace of Mind
- You’ll have a better understanding of the role those ancestors played in slavery, if any
- You will have done your part to unearth and make accessible any information about enslaved people to those who have been searching for it
Some of the Tools We’ll Use
- Family Bibles
- Published family histories
- Documentation from membership in lineage societies, such as Sons or Daughters of the American Revolution
- Online repositories including FamilySearch, Ancestry, WikiTree, state and county archives, local historical societies, and many more
What Your Family Will Receive
- A new or updated digital family tree
- A genealogical summary of the line/s researched
- A full research report, complete with all source information, articles, and links to images