Last Seen Project

#OnThisDay in 1890, the parents of 13-year-old John Cholly were searching for their son. Cholly left his home in Cumberland, MD, in 1889 and was not heard of since. The ad provides a physical description of Cholly. #LastSeenProject #BlackHistory #BlackGenealogy #DigitalHistory

#OnThisDay in 1880, Mary Roberts, formerly Handy, was searching for her sons, George Willis and Baxter Hewes. Roberts was enslaved by Alfred Goens, whose mother raised Willis. Roberts left Pickens County, AL, for Galveston, TX. #BlackHistory #BlackGenealogy #DigitalHistory

#OnThisDay in 1917, Mrs. Margaret Rollins was searching for her uncle, James Mitchell. He was the son of Mrs. Millie Benden and a half-brother of Allen Lee. He was enslaved by Windon Roberson of Abiton, VA. #LastSeenProject #BlackHistory #BlackGenealogy #DigitalHistory

#OnThisDay in 1884, Ann Yeargin, formerly Newsom, was searching for her family. Her mother, Jane Newsom, and her siblings, Angeline, Kate, and Bud, were taken south when Yeargin was still young. Yeargin also mentions her enslaver, Tilda Wiggins. #BlackHistory #BlackGenealogy

#OnThisDay in 1853, Benjamin Rullen was searching for John Moore. Moore was heard of seven or eight weeks prior to be sick in Boston, MA, with his friends and family being anxious to know his whereabouts. #LastSeenProject #BlackHistory #BlackGenealogy #DigitalHistory

#OnThisDay in 1907, Hattie M. Branum, formerly Hackett, was searching for her mother, Lucy Hackett. They had been separated for twenty-eight years when Branum was placed in the Colored Home in West Philadelphia. Branum was told her mother married and moved to Virginia.

#OnThisDay Miss Bertha Williamson of Philadelphia, PA, was searching for her brothers, Tom and Gabe Williamson. Their parents were Sarah and Scott Williamson. She was originally from Lynchburg, VA. #LastSeenProject #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackGenealogy #DigitalHistory

#OnThisDay Reverend M. T. Metts, pastor of an A. M. E. Church in Smith Mills, SC, was searching for his brother, Parson Metts. Parson Metts left for Lawrence County, SC, in 1873 for Pine Bluff, AR. #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackGenealogy #DigitalHistory

#OnThisDay Maria Vance (formerly Maria Freshlow) was searching for her father, Peter Freshlow. They were separated in Fedful, AR, when Maria was about 2 or 3. She also mentions her brother, Rollin Freshlow, who was 9 or 10 at the time.

#OnThisDay Mrs. Alexander Bailey (formerly Sarah Catherine Hunt) was searching for her mother, Margaret Hunt, and several other relatives. The family was moved from Poplar Plains, Ky., to Lexington, Ky., in 1850. Bailey resided in St. Louis, MO, at the time of the ad.

We are happy to announce that the Last Seen Project has added another 100 ads to the website! In our 5,100th ad, P.S. Johnson is searching for and offering a reward for information about his son, George "Snake" Johnson. Donate to the Last Seen Project at give.villanova.edu/campaigns/3330…

#OnThisDay William Body was searching for information about his brothers, Dick, Jim, and Joe, and his Aunt Jinny's children. Body left Virginia in 1846 and resided in Williamsport, TN. The ad also mentions two enslavers, Collins Stokes and W.H. Hatchett.

#OnThisDay in 1866, Mary Brown was searching for her daughter, Mary Wesley Glassco. Wesley Glassco was 18 years old when she was sold away from her family. She also had a brother named William James Glassco. #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackGenealogy #DigitalHistory

#OnThisDay in 1920, Mr. Alfred W. Griffin was searching for Reddick Slade. Slade's last known location was Suffolk, VA. Griffin was residing in Battle Creek, MI, at the time. #LastSeenProject #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackGenealogy #DigitalHistory

The Last Seen Project wouldn't be possible without the work of Villanova's librarians, who work tirelessly to acquire new sources of historic Black newspapers and Last Seen ads. Thank you! A special thank you goes out to Luisa Cywinski, Director of Access Services!

#OnThisDay in 1884, Harrison Reed was searching for his mother, Mary Wilson or Mary Hogan. They were separated in 1862 when Mary was taken to Hogan County, MO. #LastSeenProject #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackGenealogy #DigitalHistory

#OnThisDay in 1920, Mrs. Phebia Richardson was searching for her cousin, Mrs. Martha Hinton. Hinton had at least found children named Emma, Saint, Richard and John. She was last known to be in Kansas City, MO. #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackGenealogy #DigitalHistory

#OnThisDay in 1893, Mahala Wilkes (formerly Willis) was searching for her family. She was sold at least four times before emancipation. Her father was named Winston Beyers and she had six siblings. #LastSeenProject #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackGenealogy #DigitalHistory

#OnThisDay in 1888, John Stewart was searching for the father of his step-daughter, Amanda Burns. Burns' father was named Peter Pearson, and her mother was Lucinda Phillips. Burns did not have any recollection of her father. #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackGenealogy #DigitalHistory

#OnThisDay in 1869, Tilman Handy was offering a $5 reward for information about the whereabouts of their son, James Charles Handy. He was 18 years old. He had a brother, James Edward, and sister, Martha Jane Handy. #LastSeenProject #BlackHistory #BlackGenealogy #DigitalHistory