Historians Highlight Overlooked Black and Indigenous History in Live WUSB Interview

Closing out Black History Month, WUSB 90.1/107.3 FM hosted a live conversation highlighting a largely overlooked aspect of Long Island history - the lives of free Black and Indigenous farmers of the 1790s-1840s in Suffolk County.

Hosted by Kate Valerio of WUSB's Health Matters, the February 28 broadcast featured historians Charles Bevington and Chiitra Wells, who shared their ongoing research in uncovering evidence of land ownership and capital during New York's gradual emancipation period.

The conversation addressed individuals such as Titus Sells and Betsey Prince, free Black landowners whose economic contributions and presence within the community challenge common assumptions about life for African Americans in early New York. Through archives and recent archaeological discoveries, the historians are working to reconstruct a more comprehensive narrative of the region's past.

Bevington, a historian and retiree volunteering at the Rocky Point Historical Society, explained their rotating exhibition, currently at the Hallock Homestead Museum in Rocky Point. He discussed the effort to bring wide visibility to the free Black and Indigenous farmers whose lives and work molded the economy of the region in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The project is inspired by newly uncovered archival materials, including estate papers and store ledgers that document property ownership and purchases.

"It's always expanding. We get new information and resources," Bevington said. "We just want to share this with the whole community."

The exhibition mainly highlights the journey of Jonah Miller, a free Black landowner as early as 1789, and Betsey Prince, whose life came into sharper focus when archaeological findings were located along North Country Road. Excavations at the Prince site in the 1990s uncovered thousands of artifacts, including household items and personal belongings that explain some of the domestic and economic realities of the time.

For Chiitra Wells, their research is not only historical, but it is personal.

A descendant of Titus Sells, one of the farmers featured in the conversation as well as in their exhibition, Wells has spent years following her family's movements through census records, church archives and ledgers. She said that much of the work stems from the absence of information passed down to her.

"I didn't hear any stories," Wells said. "That's why I'm doing this."

Wells explained that while some of the records have evidence of land purchases and financial transactions, a fraction of the archives speak of women in these communities. She said uncovering those gaps in the narrative has become central to her work.

"They deserve these stories told," she said. "I just wish there were more. But when it comes, it comes."

Bevington emphasized the puzzle that each new piece of evidence helps to complete. Records show these individuals' participation in the region's cordwood industry, the success of which helped fuel New York City, and their attendance at Mount Sinai Congregational Church. The findings show that these overlooked groups were active contributors to Long Island's growth.

The historians also highlighted the opportunity for students to get involved with ongoing research. They noted that they are collaborating with the Stony Brook Career Center to post an opportunity for a student archivist position, inviting students interested in history and archival work to help continue piecing together the region's past.

Although Black History Month has drawn to an end, the historians stressed the importance of preserving and spotlighting these stories well beyond February. For Wells, the goal is to ensure that future generations do not grow up without knowing the names and contributions of their ancestors.

The broadcast will air again on WUSB-FM Monday, March 16th, at 11 am with additional commentary.

- Lily Miller