Timbuctoo and the First Emancipation of the Early 19th Century

​Previously unpublished details about the lives of antebellum free Black people in southern New Jersey will be presented in this discussion about Timbuctoo, a community of formerly enslaved and free Black people in Burlington County.  Settled in 1826, this community included at least two churches, a cemetery, two schools, and a benevolent organization. Guy Weston, the descendant of an early homeowner in Timbuctoo, has researched the community for many years and will describe its rich history. During his talk, he will identify the documents and archives available to uncover both personal family stories and community. These sources give life to the historical record with first-hand accounts of people and events of the time.