LaTonya Lawson-Jones is the Founder and Project Director of the Nomini Hall Slave Legacy Project (NHSL), a groundbreaking initiative that traces the descendants of over 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. Through NHSL, LaTonya has expanded upon the research of her cousin, Thomas Duckenfield, in an effort to connect present-day descendants of the families associated with the Nomini Hall manumission.
A triple descendant of the Taylor, Thompson, and Newman families, who were freed by Carter’s Deed of Gift, LaTonya’s ancestry also includes James McCoy, a free Black patriot of the American Revolutionary War from Westmoreland County, Virginia. These familial ties deepen her commitment to preserving the stories of her heritage and extending that knowledge to others.
LaTonya’s passion for genealogy began in her youth, when she was inspired to learn the stories of her ancestors through the oral histories shared by family elders. Over the years, she has combined this passion with her diverse expertise as a serial entrepreneur. In addition to leading NHSL, LaTonya operates Deeply Rooted Genealogy, a consultancy dedicated to helping individuals and families uncover their family histories. She has successfully assisted hundreds of families in piecing together their ancestral stories.
Her work has earned recognition in various outlets, including the documentary The Long Shadow, the Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Society Journal (Vol. LXVIII), CNN, PBS, and other notable publications. LaTonya has also led genealogy workshops at conferences, schools, community organizations, and local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her background in Information Technology, with over 20 years of experience in Systems Software Implementation, IT Project Management, and full-stack web development, led her to found Mid-Atlantic Specialty Graphics, a design studio offering print and web business identity solutions and business systems consultancy.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, LaTonya resides with her husband, David, and their two children, Kennedy and Malcolm. She is an alumna of The Baltimore City College High School and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). LaTonya is also an active member of Trinity Chapter #5, Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliated, in Baltimore.