I’ve been a family Genealogist/Native American Researcher for over 30+ years and have traced over 65,000+ people for my research - My main area of research is in MI, IN, CT, NY, RI, PA, MA, VA, VT, NJ, OH, KY, Block Island & Long Island areas - dealing with many of the colonial people & tribes in these locations.
You’ve entered a sanctuary where family, memory, and meaning come together. This is a place to honor ancestors, preserve cherished stories, and uncover the threads that connect generations.
Genealogy here is more than research—it is the art of remembering and the gift of carrying forward the voices of those who came before. Together, we’ll help you weave your family’s legacy into something lasting, heartfelt, and true.
With heart and remembrance, Coni Dubois Creator of Heirloomie
I’m excited to share a first look at Heirloomie — my heirloom‑genealogy app is designed to preserve family trees, stories, and legacy for generations.
✨ Right now, Heirloomie is in demo mode only.
Link: https://tinyurl.com/Heirloomie-App 👉 Please do not create a sign‑in or sign‑up. 👉 Simply click “View Demo” to explore and see the progress. 👉 Tap the top left (3 lines) to view all features available. 👉 Most hubs have sidebars filled with amazing features — click around to explore. Everything is in sample view.
🔎 A few notes:
The map feature will be fully functional once the app goes live.
Some sidebars may appear shaded — this is part of ongoing fixes.
A few more refinements are still in progress, but we’re getting closer every day.
This is a ceremonial unveiling — a glimpse of what’s being built, not the full release. Your presence and feedback as viewers help shape the journey.
The full launch will come when the time is right. Until then, enjoy this preview and walk with me as Heirloomie grows. 🌌
I have decided to write a children’s book—because some stories are too important to wait until we’re grown to hear them. This one has lived in my heart for years, passed down through generations, whispered in family stories, and rooted in the soil of a forgotten village that shaped who I am.
Now FREE to Read Online—Because This History Belongs to All of Us.
Some stories are too important to keep behind closed doors.
Barkhamsted Light House Village: A True American Story is one of those stories—a legacy of resilience, erasure, and reclamation that shaped my family, and echoes through the roots of this country.
That’s why I’ve made the full book available to read online, free of charge. Because this isn’t just my history. It’s ours.
🌿 What Is the Barkhamsted Light House Village?
Hidden deep in the woods of Connecticut, the Barkhamsted Light House Village was home to a multiracial, multicultural community of Native, African, and European descent.
These families—Chagum (Chaugum/Chaugham), Barber, Freeman, Wilson, and others—lived together in defiance of the rigid racial and social boundaries of their time.
They were labeled “outcasts.” But they were builders, farmers, protectors, and storytellers. They were my ancestors.
📖 Why I Wrote This Book
As a genealogist and historical researcher, I’ve spent decades tracing the truth of my lineage. What I found in the Light House Village wasn’t just a forgotten settlement—it was a foundation. A place where dignity, identity, and community thrived despite systemic erasure. But their story had been distorted, dismissed, or buried.
So I wrote this book to set the record straight—not just for my family, but for every family whose truth has been silenced.This is a true American story. And it deserves to be known.
💻 Read It Now, Share It Freely
You can read the full book online, right now, for free:
Whether you’re a descendant, a history lover, or someone seeking deeper understanding of America’s hidden past, I invite you to explore this story—and share it. Because healing begins with truth. And truth belongs to everyone.
🔍 What You’ll Discover – Meticulous research drawn from land deeds, court records, oral traditions, and archaeology – Personal reflections on legacy, identity, and reclamation – Illustrations that bring the village to life – A call to action to honor erased histories and uplift living descendants.
💔 Why It Still Matters
In a time when history is contested and truth is politicized, this story reminds us: the past is not gone. It lives in us. And we have a responsibility to carry it forward with clarity, compassion, and courage.
The Barkhamsted Light House Village may have been erased from maps—but not from memory. And now, through this book, it stands again.
🌿 In honor of those who came before, and for those still finding their way— To my ancestors: I see you.
📌 A Note About Access
At this time, Barkhamsted Light House Village: A True American Story is available to read online only. I haven’t yet figured out how to make personal copies available for purchase—and truthfully, this isn’t about money for me. It’s about truth. Legacy. And love.
I wrote this book to honor my ancestors and share their story freely with anyone who needs it. When the time comes to offer printed copies, I’ll make sure they’re accessible to all. Until then, I invite you to read, reflect, and share the online version with anyone who might find healing or connection in its pages.
Thank you for walking this journey with me.
🪶 Coni Dubois
Descendant of the Light House Village – Keeper of Stories
Families seeking safety. Children hoping for a future. People escaping violence and persecution. This is the reality of immigration—it’s not just politics, it’s human lives.
Yet, in recent years, immigration policies have become more about division and punishment than compassion and solutions. Families have been torn apart, children placed in detention centers, and asylum seekers pushed back into danger rather than being given a fair chance.
Republican governors like Greg Abbott of Texas, Ron DeSantis of Florida, and Doug Ducey of Arizona have been busing migrants to Democratic-run cities like New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Martha’s Vineyard—a tactic designed to shift responsibility and score political points.
But let’s be clear: this crisis didn’t emerge from nowhere. It’s the direct result of Trump’s immigration policies, which undermined legal asylum, pushed inhumane border enforcement, and inflamed partisan divides rather than solving real problems.
Now, Republican governors are continuing this legacy, using vulnerable people as political pawns, shipping them to cities across the country in a cruel game of blame. They say it’s about “sharing the burden,” but where is the humanity in treating people like problems to be relocated?
Los Angeles has become a flashpoint in this crisis, with immigration enforcement actions sparking protests. Communities are standing up against policies that threaten the dignity and safety of those seeking refuge. Some leaders have called for humane approaches, while others have doubled down on fear-based tactics.
For many, faith is the guiding light in moments like this. The belief that we should welcome strangers, care for the vulnerable, and stand for justice has been at the heart of moral teachings across generations. In times of crisis, compassion should lead the way, not cruelty.
So, America stands at a crossroads: Will we continue a legacy of harsh and inhumane policies, or will we fight for a future built on humanity, dignity, and real solutions?
The choice is yours. We can either let fear, division, and political games dictate our future, or we can stand for justice, compassion, and a true commitment to humane immigration policies. This isn’t just a question for politicians—it’s a question for all of us. Will we demand better? Will we push for policies that reflect our values? Will we recognize that behind every headline, every statistic, and every political debate, there are real human beings searching for hope?
History isn’t just something that happens—it’s something we create every day with our choices, actions, and even the things we let slide. Future generations will look back and judge us not just by what we fought for, but by what we ignored.
So the real question becomes: What do we want our legacy to be? Will we be remembered as the ones who stood for justice, innovation, and compassion—or as the ones who watched passively & ignore what is really happening?
“I, for one, will stand up to injustice, complacency, and the erosion of our values.” We are the authors of history, and I refuse to let the pages be filled with silence when action is needed. Too often, we see problems and turn away, convincing ourselves that someone else will fix them. But the truth is, change begins with each of us.
I will stand up to those who seek to divide, manipulate, or silence voices that challenge the status quo. I will stand for fairness, for the dignity of every person, and for a future where courage outweighs convenience.
History will judge us not by our words, but by our actions. And I choose to act.
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of People’s State Forest in Barkhamsted, Connecticut is home to three of the state’s designated State Archaeological Preserves. Ken Feder directed the excavation of two: the metaphorically named Lighthouse community and the 2,850-year-old Walter Landgraf Soapstone Quarry.
On Sunday, October 6th, at Matthies Grove in Peoples State Forest, East River Road, Barkhamsted, FALPS and the State of Connecticut celebrated the true essence of the “Peoples” State Forest. Attendees delved into its founding, participated in forest-related activities, watched oxen pull logs to a portable sawmill and observed the loggers milling the wood. They enjoyed a chain carving contest and witnessed dignitaries plant a ceremonial tree, among many other engaging events.
Both Robert Starr and Ken Feder remarked that it was a splendid day filled with beauty and history.
FALPS : FALPS is a group that works diligently and tirelessly to improve our forests, keep the trails clear, build bog bridges and boardwalks and fun year-round hikes and events to benefit those who visit the area.
Note: I’ll add any newspaper article links or photos of the event as they come in. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to the event, but I can’t wait to see all the photos taken.
L2R: Sites Archeologist Ken Feder & Light House Descendant Robert StarrPhoto credit: Ken Feder L2R: Ken Feder & Ginny AppleL2R: Ginny Apple & Robert Starr – Photo credit: Robert StarrKen Feder Photo credit: Robert StarrDisplay by: Ginny Apple (based off archeological places of site) Photo credit: Robert Starr
The earliest known write-up I have found on Barkhamsted Light House (As seen here, Lighthouse was separated). So, in my work, I have started referencing as such… The Barkhamsted Light House Village.
The Barkhamsted Light House Village was a historical community located in what is now Peoples State Forest in Barkhamsted, Connecticut¹. It was set on a terrace above the eastern bank of the West Branch Farmington River¹. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was a small village of economically marginalized mixed Native American, African American, and white residents¹.
The area known as the Barkhamsted Light House Village had its beginnings in the mid-18th century with the purchase of land by James Chagum/Chaugham and later his children¹. The community was eventually abandoned in the 1860s, its residents apparently moving to seek better economic opportunities¹.
The site is accessible via a short hiking trail from East River Road in Peoples State Forest, and has been designated a state archaeological site¹. Excavations have uncovered foundational remains of ten buildings, four charcoal kilns, a well, and a small cemetery¹.
The village was given the name “Light House” because its lights acted as a beacon marking the north–south stage road that paralleled the river¹. The twinkling lights in the teepees & cabin of the Chaughams and their neighbors assured passengers in the night that they still followed the right path².
As I prepare for the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Gathering, which marks its 10th year since its inception, I am also revamping and modernizing my various social media channels. My goal is to streamline all of my content and make it easily accessible. Additionally, I am working on creating new research materials for the upcoming occasion.
With that said, I have tons to share and more stories to tell and looking forward to catching up with everyone.
Mark your calendars for October 5th and 6th, 2024 because it’s going to be a celebration like no other! We are thrilled to announce that it will be the 100th anniversary of Peoples Forest and we want all descendants to be a part of it. Whether you can make it or not, you are welcome to join in on the festivities. It’s going to be an unforgettable event!
Note: Map Date 6/18/2009 (need newer version)
Peoples State Forest 100th Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, October 6th, 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Matthies Grove, Peoples State Forest, East River Road, Barkhamsted.Come join FALPS and the State of Connecticut in celebrating what truly is the “Peoples” State Forest. Learn about its founding, watch and participate in various forest-related activities, see Oxen pull logs up to a portable saw mill and watch the loggers mill the wood, watch a chain carving contest, join dignitaries in planting a ceremonial tree and much more. Free and open to all.
Hi everyone 👋
The Barkhamsted Light House Village has been experiencing a lot of great things lately and I am excited to announce an upcoming event that everyone should know about. Although I am not certain if I can attend (it is marked on my calendar as a possibility), I am considering organizing a virtual alternative for event if not going to make it. I hope many will plan to attend this amazing event.
1. Via Facebook Messenger from Ginny Apple to Coni Dubois
Hi Coni. Hope you’re doing well. I don’t know if you know it or not, but the Friends of American Legion and Peoples State Forests are, in concert with DEEP, planning the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Peoples State Forest on October 6th from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Matthies Grove in Peoples State Forest.
We believe a presence of the Lighthouse Community family would be an important addition to the event.
We have planted around 60 trees already, in Celebration, and will be joined by the Governor and the DEEP Commissioner for a ceremonial tree planting.
We hope that you’ll be able to come and, as such an important part of the history of the Forest, it would be a major presence for us.
Hope all is well.
Thanks,
Ginny
________________________________________________
2. Via email from Paul Hart to Coni Dubois
Hi Coni-
Hope all is well with you. I just wanted to let you know that we are planning for a big celebration for the 100th anniversary of Peoples Forest. Peoples was dedicated on October 4, 1924. They had a huge event with thousands of people attending back then. Our plans are coming together for a two day celebration: on Saturday evening, October 5 we will have a kickoff gathering, and then on Sunday October 6 during the day, we are going to have a bunch of programs, exhibits and displays recognizing this important birthday of Peoples Forest, which is a resource much appreciated by the community here. This will all take place in the Matthies Area (more or less across from Squire’s Tavern).
Let me know your thoughts and wish you the best.
Paul Hart
Barkhamsted Historical Society
_______________________________________
Hope many that live close will be able to attend 🤗
Hello everyone! With the 2nd Barkhamsted Lighthouse Gathering of July 2025 on the horizon, I wanted to take this opportunity to provide some information and historical context, so in the coming year I will be posting some of the Barkhamsted Light House Village story for you via research/documents/photos/newspaper articles… Etc.
Got an email from Liz Lightfoot I wanted to share:
Via Liz: (Witness Stones Project) On that note, I wanted to mention that all this week Connecticut Public Radio has been doing a series on Connecticut slavery. Today’s final episode of the series, Unforgotten: Connecticut’s Hidden History of Slavery, focuses specifically on how students have responded to doing Il Witness Stones Project. As you will see, Dennis Culliton (WS founder/executive director), Joy Burns (WS director of outreach), and Jumoke McDuffie-Thurmond (poet, my former teaching colleague/WS collaborator) are featured, as are several remarkable students. Hopefully you’ll get a sense of what this experience meant to the students and how deeply they engaged…
The Witness Stones Project is a non-profit educational initiative whose mission is to restore the history and honor the humanity of the enslaved individuals who helped build our communities.
In Sept 2023 I was contacted by Historian Paul Hart of Barkhamsted Historical Society about the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village being featured in one of the Witness Stone projects.
Paul Hart was in touch with one of the project leaders and included them in our email correspondence. Shortly after, I received a message from Laura McCarthy Ed.D., the Director of the Academic Success Center. Having recently visited the Lighthouse site, she expressed interest in learning more about the village and its inhabitants. She asked if I would be willing to assist with the project. Without hesitation, I gladly agreed to help in any capacity needed.
“The Witness Stones Project is a critical necessity for our country. The effort is not critical solely because it restores the humanity that was stolen from the enslaved. It is critical because it can change a student’s empathetic orientation to the hard facts of our country’s past. It is critical because we need a truthful telling of America’s history that acknowledges the contributions of all Americans.“
“Our history is not without pain. Neither is our present. Nor will our future be unless we own our history and grow from it together. Our real history is our children’s right. It is their legacy. And it must be their truth. And if we do this right, the ability to discuss, understand, acknowledge, and reconcile our collective history will be our children’s power.”
Pat Wilson Pheanious, JD, MSW Chair of the Board of Directors Witness Stones Project, Inc.
Hey there, we’re all about diversity, equity, and inclusion! It’s super important to us that everyone feels valued and respected, no matter who they are. We’re committed to creating a welcoming environment where all voices are heard and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. Let’s celebrate our differences and work together to make our community awesome for everyone!
The Witness Stones Project’s purpose is to uncover, restore, and honor the history and humanity of enslaved individuals.
We believe diversity, equity, and inclusion must be at the center of how we think and act in order to fulfill that mission.
We value the diversity of the students, educators, parents and families, communities, staff and board members, and funders, and we recognize how each stakeholder contributes to the development of the organization in unique, impactful ways.
We seek to create equitable access to our curriculum and program resources, along with opportunities within and in partnership with the organization.
We prioritize creating spaces where all are recognized, honored, and welcomed.
Approved by the Board of Directors, 2022.
On Sept 13th 2023 they accepted us as one of their projects (super exciting) and started with plans to move forward with project.
Laura McCarty emailed me the rundown of activities:
The Witness Stone Project: We will be following the curriculum of The Witness Stones Project to commemorate the life of those who were enslaved in Connecticut. We’ve chosen to commemorate the life of James Chaugham, as he was enslaved in Rhode Island. https://witnessstonesproject.org/ We will produce two pieces to commemorate James Chaugham’s life, a book and a ceremony. The ceremony will be held in April/May and we will host and event to share our learning’s about his life, share our reflections, and lay a Witness Stone.
The students participating in the project: the students who will be going through this project are from a few different Northwestern Connecticut Community College groups—Team Success Scholars, History Association, and Phi Theta Kappa (the honor society for two-year colleges). The majority of students will be from Team Success Scholars. The Team Success Scholars program has to do Community Action Projects, which is affiliated with Oxford Consortium on Human Rights. Two of the students will be going to Oxford University to talk about their work on the Lighthouse Community in March, 2024.
One group of students will be looking at the genealogy of the Lighthouse Community. I am asking this group to interview three descendants on their connection to the Lighthouse Community. I am hoping that you would help us with this!
Troutbeck Symposium: The Troutbeck Symposium is the culmination of local history project-based education. This symposium is held the historic Troutbeck Inn, which was the site of two critical meetings of the NAACP. The symposium will be held April 28-30th. Here is a website that hosts the work that has been done to this point: https://coloringourpast.org/
We are kicking off our year tomorrow with a tour of the Lighthouse Community. The WitnessStones Project will share a lecture on the History of Slavery in Connecticut on Sept. 28th, and then the students will be broken into their workgroups to make the plans. They will present their workplans on October 13th at Quinnipiac University. This presentation is part of the Oxford Consortium on Human Rights work.
Thanks! Laura
Email via Laura McCarthy: The students and I toured the Lighthouse Community yesterday to give them a sense of this project. On September 28th from 12:30-1:45pm, we are having Liz Lightfoot from The WitnessStones Project give a lecture on the History of Slavery in Connecticut. This will be in Founders Hall Auditorium and is open to the public. You are welcome to join. This initial work is laying the foundation for the students to conceptualize the life and times of James Chaugham.
Thank you for your assistance! Laura
I was overjoyed to discover that the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village archaeologist and author Kenneth (Ken) Feder was also participating in the project.
Ken is also the founder and director of the Farmington River Archaeological Project which studies the prehistory of the region in northwest Connecticut and author of books on that of the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village.
I donated my research & genealogy book I have been working on – of the Lighthouse People. Sent them several files to help the students.
It was at this time, that I was also introduced via email to Liz Lightfoot (Director of Operations – Witness Stones Project), Dennis Culliton (Witness Stones Project), Jessie DePonteand team.
On Oct 23rd 2023 I received an update via email from Laura McCarty
Hi Everyone!
Thank you all for your support with the Lighthouse Project. I feel like we are officially launched. Our students have a firm understanding of the project and its parameters. On October 13th, they presented the project at the Oxford Consortium on Human Rights. It was a real delight to see them be able to communicate the project and its importance to faculty from Oxford University, Quinnipiac University, Bridgewater State University, and Sonoma State University.
We have broken the students into teams—Genealogy, Narrative Writing, and Social Media. We will begin meeting with these teams to launch their individual work in the next two weeks. The students’ goal is to produce a documentary film, with assistance from Ben Willis. Ben is funded through the Troutbeck Symposium and is free to us! We have begun a repository for film documenting our work…. We have aspirations for a social media presents and a book. Of course, all of this will conclude in May with a placing of a WitnessStone in James Chaughum’s memory.
The leads for these projects are: Genealogy—Jessie DePonte, Narrative Writing—Todd Bryda and Laura McCarthy, and Social Media/Event—Maggie Sullivan. We will be reaching out to Liz and Coni for research support with the students’ work. Coni, thank you for your years of dedication to documentation and researching your family. These connections and documents are impressive!Thanks to all your work, I easily located another descendant, who is a former student of mine, Jess Tessman!I worked closely with Jess when she was a student here and having her involved makes this project so much more significant to me personally.
I will be attending a presentation by Kenny Feder on Sunday at the American Indian Studies Institute in Washington, CT. Mr. Feder did the monumental archeological work of uncovering the remains of the Lighthouse Community.
Thanks!Laura
Email from Liz Lightfoot 0n Oct 26, 2023:
Hi again, Coni. I just wanted to say again how terrific it was to speak with you, how grateful we are for your remarkable research and your generosity in sharing it, and how much I admire you for devoting so many years (and so much love) to this important work. What an extraordinary job you do – it’s truly inspiring and vitally important!
All best, Liz
Sometime in November 2023 Ken Feder and I had a video conference with the students.
Feb 2024 I receive an email from Liz Lightfoot:
Coni, your research was beyond helpful! What a phenomenal job you have done, and clearly it’s been a labor of love. I’m so excited to see what the students come up with.
Thank you all for helping me learn about this fascinating man and his family. It’s a story everyone should know.
All best,Liz
Upcoming: I will be Zooming with students this week to answer questions they have prepared for me~
“I feel incredibly privileged to have been a part of this incredible project and its team. Collaborating with the entire team has been an amazing experience and I am eagerly anticipating the final results from the project’s students.“
My final thoughts,
It is crucial to share the entire story, holding nothing back. By allowing others to follow the Barkhamsted Lighthouse narrative, we can present a fresh perspective to younger generations. Witnessing their unique viewpoint on this piece of history will undoubtedly be intriguing. Let’s not shy away from the truth and embrace the opportunity to educate and inspire the future.“ Coni Dubois
We’re currently in the process of finalizing the times and dates for the placement of the Witness Stone at Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village. As soon as they are confirmed, we will make sure to keep everyone informed.
Thank you for your patience.
Books by Ken Feder via Wikipedia
Feder, Kenneth (1998). Lessons From the Past: An Introductory Reader in Archaeology. McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages. ISBN978-0-7674-0453-2.
Feder, Kenneth; Coauthor – Michael Alan Park (1989). Human Antiquity: An Introduction to Physical Anthropology and Archaeology. Mayfield Publishing. ISBN978-0-87484-828-1.
Feder, Kenneth (1993). A Village of Outcasts: Historical Archaeology and Documentary Research at the Lighthouse Site. Mayfield Publishing. ISBN978-1-55934-255-1. Feder, Kenneth; Coauthor – David A. Poirier (2001). Dangerous Places: Health, Safety, and Archaeology. Bergin & Garvey. ISBN978-0-89789-801-0.
Feder, Kenneth; Coauthor – Thomas R. Hester; Coauthor – Harry J. Shafer (2009). Field Methods in Archaeology, 7th Edition. Mayfield Publishing. ISBN978-1-59874-428-6.
This site is dedicated to the ancestors of the Johnson, Booker and Petruff families of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Pennsylvania and thier connecting lines of lineage.
Ever Widening Circle 