Betsy Grant: A Fight for Freedom, Land, Education, and Love

In this remarkable webinar from the African Diaspora Series, genealogist, author, and educator Orice Jenkins presented “Betsy Grant: A Fight for Freedom, Land, Education, and Love”—a deeply personal and historically rich case study uncovering the life of a formerly enslaved woman in post–Civil War Georgia. Live from the 2025 AAHGS Conference in Charleston, Jenkins masterfully combined traditional genealogy, DNA analysis, and historical records to reconstruct Betsy’s extraordinary story of perseverance against injustice. This compelling session demonstrated how thoughtful research and technology can recover forgotten lives and illuminate the complex realities of Reconstruction-era America.

Key Takeaways:

• Genealogy as a Path to Truth and Connection: Jenkins began with a single tweet that led him to uncover his own ancestor’s struggle for justice. Through careful analysis of Freedmen’s Bureau records, court cases, and DNA matches, he connected Betsy Grant—a freedwoman who bought land from her former enslaver in 1871—to his own family line. The discovery revealed her lineage from both enslaved and free Black ancestors, offering a profound example of how modern genealogy can reunite dispersed descendants and reclaim lost heritage.

• A Story of Courage and Defiance: Betsy’s 1871 letter to the Freedmen’s Bureau described her fight to secure an 80-acre property after her former enslaver, E.W. Thrasher, refused to transfer the deed despite full payment. Jenkins uncovered additional documents showing that Betsy not only worked to buy her freedom and land but also rented part of her home as a Freedmen’s school, defying racial hostility and social restrictions. Her eventual legal victory—achieved with the help of her partner, James W. Reese, and his family’s legal connections—stands as a testament to Black women’s resilience and leadership during Reconstruction.

• Love, Legacy, and the Power of Research: Jenkins presented evidence suggesting that Betsy’s lifelong partner, the White schoolteacher James Reese, was not only her advocate but the father of her children—relationships reflected in census records spanning 30 years. By cross-referencing family documents, land disputes, and newly searchable Freedmen’s Bureau letters, Jenkins also traced Betsy’s ancestry to Sampson Grant, a free man of color descended from a Methodist minister who manumitted his enslaved people in 1793. His analysis illuminated the intertwined legacies of freedom, enslavement, and interracial family bonds across generations.

Jenkins’ presentation transcended traditional genealogy, merging emotional storytelling with scholarly rigor. His findings showed how persistence, context, and digital tools—like FamilySearch’s full-text search—can recover the humanity of those too long obscured by systemic erasure. The result was a narrative that honored not only Betsy Grant’s indomitable spirit but also the enduring legacy of families who fought for dignity and recognition in the face of oppression.

For genealogists and historians alike, viewing the full webinar offers a masterclass in reconstructing complex ancestral narratives using Freedmen’s Bureau records, land files, and DNA evidence. Be sure to explore the accompanying syllabus, which includes document links, research methodologies, and Jenkins’ blog Chesta’s Children—a valuable resource for anyone dedicated to uncovering and preserving African American family histories with depth, accuracy, and heart.