Discovering the Past. Empowering the Present. Honoring the Ancestors.
Tracing family roots is more than uncovering names and dates—it’s about reclaiming stories, preserving legacies, and building a bridge between past and present. My passion lies in illuminating the histories of African American families, with a focus on the descendants of the enslaved, whose narratives are often hidden or forgotten.
About Me
I’m LaTonya Lawson Jones, a dedicated genealogist with more than 20 years of experience helping families uncover their unique heritage. Inspired by my own journey of exploring my ancestral roots, I specialize in reconstructing family trees, interpreting historical records, and piecing together the legacies of those who came before us. My primary mission is to help descendants of the enslaved reconnect with their origins and honor their ancestors’ resilience and strength.
I am a documented descendant of three families freed by Robert Carter III’s 1791 Deed of Gift, the largest private manumission in American history. The Taylor, Thompson, and Newman families were among the more than 500 enslaved Africans liberated from Carter’s Nomini Hall estate in Westmoreland County, Virginia. That discovery didn’t just change my family tree; it changed the direction of my life. My ancestry also includes James McCoy, a free Black patriot of the American Revolutionary War from Westmoreland County. These familial ties deepen my commitment to preserving the stories of my heritage and extending that knowledge to others. These connections fuel everything I do. My passion for genealogy started young, sparked by oral histories shared by family elders. Over the years, that curiosity became a calling, and I’ve dedicated my efforts to turning it into something that serves my community.
Every Black family in America has a story that predates 1870. My goal is to help them find it. Through research, teaching, and community, I’m working to make genealogy accessible, affordable, and deeply personal for the people who need it most.
In 2006, I founded the Nomini Hall Slave Legacy Project (NHSL), building on the research of my cousin, Thomas Duckenfield, to trace and connect present-day descendants of the families associated with the Nomini Hall manumission. What started as personal research became a mission to preserve a story most history books left out. NHSL has become a groundbreaking initiative that traces the present-day descendants of the more than 500 enslaved Africans who were freed by Robert Carter III in 1791 through his Deed of Gift. This historic document, drawn from Carter’s Nomini Hall estate in Westmoreland County, Virginia, manumitted these individuals, setting the foundation for a legacy of freedom and resilience. As the Project Director of the Nomini Hall Slave Legacy Project, I have devoted my extensive knowledge of historical records and archives to my passion for uncovering hidden family stories of the formerly enslaved. With my assistance or guidance/training, you’ll be able to trace your family’s roots back through generations and connect with your ancestors in a meaningful way.
Today, I help African American families trace their lineage through professional research, coaching, and education. Through Deeply Rooted Genealogy, I specialize in breaking through the 1870 brick wall, navigating DNA results, and connecting descendants to the communities their ancestors built. I’ve helped hundreds of families piece together their ancestral stories, and I’m not slowing down.
My work has been featured in the documentary The Long Shadow, the Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Society Journal (Vol. LXVIII), The Cooking Gene, CNN, PBS, and other publications. I’ve led genealogy workshops at conferences, schools, community organizations, and local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
I’m a Baltimore native, an alumna of Baltimore City College High School and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Hawk Pride!! Catch IT!). I live with my husband David and our two children, Kennedy and Malcolm. I’m also an active member of Trinity Chapter #5, Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliated.
