Isaac Mason’s Escape Site Joins the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom

A Legacy of Self-LiberationIn May 2025, the U.S. National Park Service named the Isaac Mason Escape Site to its National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program, one of only 31 new listings nationwide. This is a powerful acknowledgment of the courage of Isaac Mason, a man born enslaved in Kent County who self-emancipated from slavery and later published his story here in Worcester, MA in … Continue reading Isaac Mason’s Escape Site Joins the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom

Cheryll Toney HolleySeptember 14, 2025Leave a comment

Black Indigenous History & Genealogy

Who is a Pegan?

I keep hearing folks claim to be descended from the Pegan Band of Nipmuc Indians, the forebears of the current Chaubunagungamaug Band. Many that claim that ancestry are simply not Pegan and I admit to being confused at the sudden popularity of my ancestors. Here is a brief rundown on what currently existing Nipmuc families descend from the ancestral Pegans. To begin, Pegan was what … Continue reading Who is a Pegan?

Cheryll Toney HolleyMay 28, 2024May 28, 2024Leave a comment

Black Indigenous History & Genealogy

Vergennes

This post has been sitting in my draft box for ages. I want to write about Vergennes from the point of view of my ancestors that lived there in the late 18th to late 19th centuries. But I never seem to get around to it. Recently, I saw a BETA test of an AI app in Ancestry.com. So I tried it and below is the … Continue reading Vergennes

Cheryll Toney HolleyApril 13, 2024April 13, 2024Leave a comment

Black Indigenous History & Genealogy

Mason Family Bible Pages

I visited the National Archives last month and was able to see Lafayette Mason’s Civil War pension file in person. Although I have a copy of the bible pages, I had not before seen the actual pages that were torn from my ancestors’ bible for the pension application. I took photos (lots of photos) of the two pages and here they are below- Beautiful, aren’t … Continue reading Mason Family Bible Pages

Cheryll Toney HolleyMarch 13, 2024March 12, 20241 Comment

Black Indigenous History & Genealogy

Lafayette Mason

**My family and I owe a debt to researcher Greg Furness for much of the information that we have about Lafayette and his family. Thank you Mr. Furness!** My 4th great-grandfather was Lafayette Mason. Born in Ellenburg in Clinton County, NY on March 20, 1827 to William Mason and Diana Robinson. In 1846, at age 19, he married Mary E. Wheeler from Willsboro in Essex … Continue reading Lafayette Mason

Cheryll Toney HolleyDecember 7, 2023March 2, 20241 Comment

Black Indigenous History & Genealogy

Hattie and Walter

This is a StoryMap about my Anderson and Bostic ancestors. Both families originated in the Maryland/Delaware/Pennsylvania triangle pictured below. They made their way out of enslavement in Delaware and Maryland to freedom in Pennsylvania. Both families then moved north – ending up in Worcester, MA. Here is their story (click the photo below)- My uncle Tony told me the story of how Hattie and Walter … Continue reading Hattie and Walter

Cheryll Toney HolleyNovember 14, 2023December 6, 20232 Comments

Black Indigenous History & Genealogy

Black Lives Really Did Matter in 19th Century Worcester

Though it doesn’t seem like we matter much today, in the mid to late 1800s, Worcester spent its time ensuring the freedoms of its Black residents. The above photo is part of another StoryMap. I hope you enjoy it. Aquene, Cher Continue reading Black Lives Really Did Matter in 19th Century Worcester

Cheryll Toney HolleySeptember 26, 2023December 18, 2023Leave a comment