The Mysterious Black Migration 1800-1820

About the Book

The story that unfolds in this work manifests the pursuit of one of the many historical mysteries that plague the early history of people of African descent in New York State - a mass migration of thousands of African descendants to Washington County, New York at the turn of the 19th century. The impact of this “de-valued history” and its absence from the historical record has distorted the recollection and remembrance of people of African descent in New York, whose ancestors were trapped in the confinement of enslavement and second-class citizenship. This “unrecorded” migration transpired while New York was beginning to alter its highly profitable economic system from an enslavement-based economy to a more capitalist system of production. They journeyed to Washington County, families and expectations in tow under the suggestion of a rumor of opportunity and anticipation that a better life was possible for them at the end of this arduous journey. Newly disposed of the day to day dehumanizing nature of enslavement, they struggled to find a more sustainable, prosperous and humane way of life. The correlation between my family, the Van Vrankens and the thousands of other individuals of African descent who migrated to Washington County during this period, is the personal, festering wound of “omission” that is still not healed or resolved. This work is a continuing byproduct of genealogical research begun by the author in 2000. It represents the second in a series of books relating to his families’ experiences in early New York. The first Book– A Far Cry From Freedom: Gradual Abolition (1799-1827) New York State’s Crime Against Humanity, was published in 2006.

About the Author

L. Lloyd Stewart, the second of six children, is a ninth generation native of New York State. The father of six children and he has fourteen grandchildren. He has written numerous articles, editorials, and papers on African and African American history. This work is a continuing byproduct of genealogical research begun by the author in 2000. It represents the second in a series of books relating to his families’ experiences in early New York. The first Book– A Far Cry From Freedom: Gradual Abolition (1799-1827) New York State’s Crime Against Humanity, was published in 2006.