Genealogy Success Stories
Last Seen ads are a crucial tool for genealogists tracing family lines into slavery. Before 1870, enslaved people were not named in the census; genealogists refer to the time before as “The Wall.” Read accounts here of how the Last Seen project is reuniting people with their ancestors, beyond “The Wall.”
Beverly Y. Smith found Moriah, her great-great-grandmother, and Minerva, her great-great-aunt
Beverly Y. Smith created Last Seen Wearing, a series of quilts that reflects the passion of searching for her ancestors.
Ellecia L. Gant found Elsie, her first cousin, five times removed
Ellecia Gant found her first cousin, five times removed, in an Information Wanted ad placed in the Christian Recorder on September 22, 1866.
Joseph Roby's search for his Fauquier County, VA ancestors
Joseph Roby is searching for the people his Dulany ancestors enslaved at their Oakley Plantation in Fauquier County, VA.
Kellye Hawkins found a family in New Bern, North Carolina
In two separate ads, Daniel Rouse of New Bern, NC, asked for help finding his ten year old son, General, who disappeared from Market Wharf three days earlier.
Reginald James, Sr. found his great-great-great-grandmother, Henriette Seymour
Reginald James, Sr., a retired teacher, found his third-great-grandmother, Henriette Seymour, in a Lost Friends ad placed in the Southwestern Christian Advocate on April 29, 1880.
Reverend Mark Kelly Tyler found his great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, Rev. Jesse Devine
Using information his grandmother passed down to him, Reverend Mark Kelly Tyler, pastor at Philadelphia's Mother Bethel AME Church, found his great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Rev. Jesse Devine. Rev. Devine signed on to an ad in which he was helping formerly enslaved people find each other.
Taiwo Kujichagulia-Seitu found her great-great-great-grandfather, Edward Taylor
Taiwo Kujichagulia-Seitu found her great-great-great-grandfather, Edward Taylor. Finding her family in these ads, Kujichagulia-Seitu says, is part of the process of "putting our family back together."