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    • About Timbuctoo
      • Timbuctoo: Brief History
      • 5 Fast Facts on Timbuctoo
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      • Notable Places and Events
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  • Home
  • About Timbuctoo
    • Timbuctoo: Brief History
    • 5 Fast Facts on Timbuctoo
    • Timbuctoo Historic Site
    • Notable Places and Events
    • NJ Mirror Articles
  • Informational Resources
    • Resources for Teachers
    • Research and Publications
    • Podcasts
    • Presentations and Videos
    • Report to Westampton Twp.
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    • US Colored Troops
  • Historical Society
    • Meet Our Team
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Research and Publications on Timbuctoo, NJ

Timbuctoo History | Guy Weston

The Timbuctoo Historical Society conducts and publishes original research focused on Timbuctoo, New Jersey, antebellum free Black communities, and African American genealogy. This encompasses a wide array of topics, including Black history in Burlington County, archaeology, historic cemeteries, and African American life before the Civil War. The scholarly articles featured below, written or coauthored by Guy Weston, have been published in renowned outlets such as the Journal of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, National Genealogical Society Magazine, and New Jersey Studies. Weston is passionate about research that sheds light on perspectives often overlooked in African American genealogy and Black history, revealing his own connection to antebellum free Black individuals through his maternal lineage, which traces back to ancestors who settled in New Jersey as early as 1815 and in Pennsylvania by 1795. He holds a moonshine jug—unearthed during landscaping on his 4th great grandfather's land in Timbuctoo purchased in 1829—a tangible reminder of his heritage. A neighbor suggested the jug may have belonged to his aunt Rosie or her close friends, which further deepens his sense of connection to his roots.


"The notable presence of free Black individuals recorded in every US Census from 1800 to 1860 is often overlooked in high school history classes," Weston states. This leads to essential inquiries about these individuals: Who were they? Where did they reside? What did their notion of 'freedom' entail? The various perspectives presented in the Timbuctoo historical articles below delve into these questions.


“Black History Makers in Burlington County, New Jersey: Revolutionary War Era to the Mid-Nineteenth Century,” AAHGS Journal, Vol. 40: 96-108  


“Black People in the US Census Before the Civil War,” AAHGS Journal, Vol. 41:49-63  


"Finding Free African Americans During the Antebellum Period,” National Genealogical Society Magazine, Vol. 41 No. 1: 48-55  


“Finding My Fourth Great Grandmother and Her Contemporaries: Ann Barnes Bruer Hall, (1790s-1872)” AAHGS Journal, Vol. 38:49-57  


“Finding My Roots by Digging in the Ground: Learning History and Heritage Through Archaeology,” AAHGS Journal, Vol. 42:108-115  


"Profiles of Acclamation: Five New Jersey Black History Activists Discuss Their Motivations and Perspectives on Preserving Black History" (Linda Shockley, Shamele Jordon, Samuel Still, Guy Weston, and Dolly Marshall) AAHGS Journal, Vol. 41: 9-17  


"Teaching Timbuctoo: Raising the Profile of Antebellum Free Black People in New Jersey" (with Cheryl Alspach, JoAnn Donnelly, and Kevin Risley) AAHGS Journal, Vol. 39: 52-61  


“Timbuctoo and the First Emancipation of the Early Nineteenth Century,” New Jersey Studies, Vol.8, No.1:224-259  


“Who is Buried in the Timbuctoo Cemetery and Why Do We Know?” AAHGS Journal, Vol. 41:95-102  


“Why Did They Call It Timbuctoo?” (with Gail Astle) AAHGS Journal, Vol. 43:24-38

Black History Makers in Burlington County, New Jersey

Antebellum Black history in Burlington County, New Jersey, is rich with fascinating historic figures that provide valuable lessons for the classroom. Among them are soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, a clockmaker who established a thriving business before the war, and a man whose lifelong desire to join the Quakers was met with rebuff until he was seventy-nine. Additionally, two settlers from the antebellum free Black community of Timbuctoo played crucial roles in their community's development. Other significant figures included a physician and a prominent Underground Railroad operative. While many of these individuals were born enslaved, there were also those born free. Notably, many found support through Quakers, who helped facilitate emancipation in several instances, despite at times limiting their associations with Black individuals. This article explores the lives of eight men whose stories enhance our understanding of Burlington County during the periods of enslavement and emancipation, contributing to the broader conversation about African American genealogy and the legacy of antebellum free Black communities like Timbuctoo.

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Black People in the US Census Before the Civil War

Antebellum Black history in Burlington County, New Jersey, is rich with fascinating historic figures that provide valuable lessons for the classroom. Among them are soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, a clockmaker who established a thriving business before the war, and a man whose lifelong desire to join the Quakers was met with rebuff until he was seventy-nine. Additionally, two settlers from the antebellum free Black community of Timbuctoo played crucial roles in their community's development. Other significant figures included a physician and a prominent Underground Railroad operative. While many of these individuals were born enslaved, there were also those born free. Notably, many found support through Quakers, who helped facilitate emancipation in several instances, despite at times limiting their associations with Black individuals. This article explores the lives of eight men whose stories enhance our understanding of Burlington County during the periods of enslavement and emancipation, contributing to the broader conversation about African American genealogy and the legacy of antebellum free Black communities like Timbuctoo.

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Finding Free African American Ancestors

Antebellum Black history in Burlington County, New Jersey, is rich with fascinating historic figures that provide valuable lessons for the classroom. Among them are soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, a clockmaker who established a thriving business before the war, and a man whose lifelong desire to join the Quakers was met with rebuff until he was seventy-nine. Additionally, two settlers from the antebellum free Black community of Timbuctoo played crucial roles in their community's development. Other significant figures included a physician and a prominent Underground Railroad operative. While many of these individuals were born enslaved, there were also those born free. Notably, many found support through Quakers, who helped facilitate emancipation in several instances, despite at times limiting their associations with Black individuals. This article explores the lives of eight men whose stories enhance our understanding of Burlington County during the periods of enslavement and emancipation, contributing to the broader conversation about African American genealogy and the legacy of antebellum free Black communities like Timbuctoo.

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Finding My Fourth Great-Grandmother and Her Contemporaries

Ann Barnes Bruer Hall

Antebellum Black history in Burlington County, New Jersey, is rich with fascinating historic figures that provide valuable lessons for the classroom. Among them are soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, a clockmaker who established a thriving business before the war, and a man whose lifelong desire to join the Quakers was met with rebuff until he was seventy-nine. Additionally, two settlers from the antebellum free Black community of Timbuctoo played crucial roles in their community's development. Other significant figures included a physician and a prominent Underground Railroad operative. While many of these individuals were born enslaved, there were also those born free. Notably, many found support through Quakers, who helped facilitate emancipation in several instances, despite at times limiting their associations with Black individuals. This article explores the lives of eight men whose stories enhance our understanding of Burlington County during the periods of enslavement and emancipation, contributing to the broader conversation about African American genealogy and the legacy of antebellum free Black communities like Timbuctoo.

Download PDF

Finding My Roots By Digging in the Ground

Antebellum Black history in Burlington County, New Jersey, is rich with fascinating historic figures that provide valuable lessons for the classroom. Among them are soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, a clockmaker who established a thriving business before the war, and a man whose lifelong desire to join the Quakers was met with rebuff until he was seventy-nine. Additionally, two settlers from the antebellum free Black community of Timbuctoo played crucial roles in their community's development. Other significant figures included a physician and a prominent Underground Railroad operative. While many of these individuals were born enslaved, there were also those born free. Notably, many found support through Quakers, who helped facilitate emancipation in several instances, despite at times limiting their associations with Black individuals. This article explores the lives of eight men whose stories enhance our understanding of Burlington County during the periods of enslavement and emancipation, contributing to the broader conversation about African American genealogy and the legacy of antebellum free Black communities like Timbuctoo.

Download PDF

"Profiles of Acclamation"

Antebellum Black history in Burlington County, New Jersey, is rich with fascinating historic figures that provide valuable lessons for the classroom. Among them are soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, a clockmaker who established a thriving business before the war, and a man whose lifelong desire to join the Quakers was met with rebuff until he was seventy-nine. Additionally, two settlers from the antebellum free Black community of Timbuctoo played crucial roles in their community's development. Other significant figures included a physician and a prominent Underground Railroad operative. While many of these individuals were born enslaved, there were also those born free. Notably, many found support through Quakers, who helped facilitate emancipation in several instances, despite at times limiting their associations with Black individuals. This article explores the lives of eight men whose stories enhance our understanding of Burlington County during the periods of enslavement and emancipation, contributing to the broader conversation about African American genealogy and the legacy of antebellum free Black communities like Timbuctoo.

Timbuctoo NJ Research Publications and Historical Insights

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Teaching Timbuctoo

Antebellum Black history in Burlington County, New Jersey, is rich with fascinating historic figures that provide valuable lessons for the classroom. Among them are soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, a clockmaker who established a thriving business before the war, and a man whose lifelong desire to join the Quakers was met with rebuff until he was seventy-nine. Additionally, two settlers from the antebellum free Black community of Timbuctoo played crucial roles in their community's development. Other significant figures included a physician and a prominent Underground Railroad operative. While many of these individuals were born enslaved, there were also those born free. Notably, many found support through Quakers, who helped facilitate emancipation in several instances, despite at times limiting their associations with Black individuals. This article explores the lives of eight men whose stories enhance our understanding of Burlington County during the periods of enslavement and emancipation, contributing to the broader conversation about African American genealogy and the legacy of antebellum free Black communities like Timbuctoo.

Download PDF

Timbuctoo and First Emancipation of the Early 19th Century

Antebellum Black history in Burlington County, New Jersey, is rich with fascinating historic figures that provide valuable lessons for the classroom. Among them are soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, a clockmaker who established a thriving business before the war, and a man whose lifelong desire to join the Quakers was met with rebuff until he was seventy-nine. Additionally, two settlers from the antebellum free Black community of Timbuctoo played crucial roles in their community's development. Other significant figures included a physician and a prominent Underground Railroad operative. While many of these individuals were born enslaved, there were also those born free. Notably, many found support through Quakers, who helped facilitate emancipation in several instances, despite at times limiting their associations with Black individuals. This article explores the lives of eight men whose stories enhance our understanding of Burlington County during the periods of enslavement and emancipation, contributing to the broader conversation about African American genealogy and the legacy of antebellum free Black communities like Timbuctoo.

Who is Buried in the Timbuctoo Cemetery and How Do We Know?

Antebellum Black history in Burlington County, New Jersey, is rich with fascinating historic figures that provide valuable lessons for the classroom. Among them are soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, a clockmaker who established a thriving business before the war, and a man whose lifelong desire to join the Quakers was met with rebuff until he was seventy-nine. Additionally, two settlers from the antebellum free Black community of Timbuctoo played crucial roles in their community's development. Other significant figures included a physician and a prominent Underground Railroad operative. While many of these individuals were born enslaved, there were also those born free. Notably, many found support through Quakers, who helped facilitate emancipation in several instances, despite at times limiting their associations with Black individuals. This article explores the lives of eight men whose stories enhance our understanding of Burlington County during the periods of enslavement and emancipation, contributing to the broader conversation about African American genealogy and the legacy of antebellum free Black communities like Timbuctoo.

Download PDF

Why Did They Call it Timbuctoo?

Antebellum Black history in Burlington County, New Jersey, is rich with fascinating historic figures that provide valuable lessons for the classroom. Among them are soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, a clockmaker who established a thriving business before the war, and a man whose lifelong desire to join the Quakers was met with rebuff until he was seventy-nine. Additionally, two settlers from the antebellum free Black community of Timbuctoo played crucial roles in their community's development. Other significant figures included a physician and a prominent Underground Railroad operative. While many of these individuals were born enslaved, there were also those born free. Notably, many found support through Quakers, who helped facilitate emancipation in several instances, despite at times limiting their associations with Black individuals. This article explores the lives of eight men whose stories enhance our understanding of Burlington County during the periods of enslavement and emancipation, contributing to the broader conversation about African American genealogy and the legacy of antebellum free Black communities like Timbuctoo.

Download PDF

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