Thanks fieldmarshaldj.
Posted on 08/05/2013 2:19:06 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
In Easton, Md., an untold story of free African-Americans is being discovered through bits of glass, shards of pottery and oyster shells.
Piece by piece, archaeologists and historians from two universities and the community are uncovering the history of The Hill, which they believe is the earliest settlement of free African-Americans in the United States, dating to 1790.
Treme, in New Orleans, is recognized as the oldest free black community in the nation, dating to 1812. But researchers say that could change based on findings from the Easton dig.
"It's not just a black story. It's an American story," said Dale Green, a Morgan State University professor of architecture and historic preservation.
Former slaves founded such settlements, where they enjoyed early emancipation and the chance at property ownership and commerce. Slaves who had bought their freedom and others freed by Methodists and Quakers on the Eastern Shore likely formed The Hill, which historians say could have been the largest community of free blacks in the Chesapeake region.....
(Excerpt) Read more at montereyherald.com ...
*ping*
I understand they have already dug up dirt and found old pictures of Jessie Jackson and his followers there.
What an AMAZING discovery!
Along the Palisades overlooking the Hudson River we had one of these settlements in NJ (started around 1800). It was called “Skunk Hollow” (I believe because skunk cabbage was everywhere there); today all that remains are a few stone walls (it is part of Palisades Interstate Park).
Interesting history.
Are they allowed to still say "American" at Universities?
Maryland PING!
Interesting. Easton is not all that far from where I live.
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