Barber – Ever Widening Circle

🪶 Barkhamsted Light House Village: A True American Story

Posted on November 7, 2025November 7, 2025 by Coni Dubois

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:

👉 https://bit.ly/4oRdUDw

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

Genealogist • Author • Legacy Advocate

100th Anniversary of People’s State Forest Oct 6th, 2024

Posted on October 6, 2024October 7, 2024 by Coni Dubois

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.

CT Visit & ct.org

L2R: Sites Archeologist Ken Feder &
Light House Descendant Robert Starr

L2R: Ginny Apple & Robert Starr – Photo credit: Robert Starr

Display by: Ginny Apple (based off archeological places of site)
Photo credit: Robert Starr

Coni Dubois

2025 Barkhamsted Lighthouse Gathering

Posted on February 23, 2024February 24, 2024 by Coni Dubois

Hello everyone!
I am pleased to announce that I am back to conducting research after a long hiatus. Due to a year of illness, I took a break from the internet and my research. My main focus has been on recovering, and I am happy to report that I am finally feeling like myself again and in good health.

With that being said, it’s time to start planning our 2025 Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village Gathering! I hope to see many of you there, and now is the time to request your time off from work. The gathering will take place on the weekend of July 4th, 2025 at the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Archaeological Preserve in Barkhamsted, Connecticut. The event is set on Facebook (make sure to let us know if planning on attending via event page in link)

If you are not on the descent list, please contact me to be included. I will be confirming all descendants and issuing descendant cards at a cost of $30 each. This fee covers the production costs, and the remaining funds will be used for the gathering in 2025.

I am in need of a team in Connecticut to assist with organizing and setting up the event, as I currently reside in Louisiana. Additionally, my cousin Veronica Lee Hawkins and I are looking for an Airbnb to rent for the weekend in 2025. If anyone knows of one that will be available, please let me know so we can secure it.

Furthermore, I will be creating a Barkhamsted Lighthouse Newsletter to keep everyone informed of all the events and activities planned for the gathering. For now, you can find info on BLVD Association & download the descendant’s packet at: https://conidubois.com/111-2/association/

Links for 2025 Event

Facebook Group: Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village

Facebook Messenger: Barkhamsted Lighthouse Gathering Chat Room

Stay tuned for more updates and I am excited to get to see all of you in 2025!

**2015 Barkhamsted Lighthouse Gathering**

Coni Dubois

“Love Beyond Boundaries: The Inspiring Tale of Molly Barbour and James Chagum in Barkhamsted Lighthouse House Village”

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Coni Dubois

In Barkhamsted Lighthouse House Village, nestled in the picturesque countryside of Connecticut in the 1800s, lived a remarkable couple named Molly Barbour and James Chagum. Molly, a spirited white woman, defied societal norms of the time and married James, a proud Indian man. Together, they embarked on a journey that would shape their lives and touch the hearts of the entire village.

Molly and James were blessed with seven children, each embodying the unique blend of cultures that their parents represented. The family’s home, a symbol of their love and unity, stood tall amidst the rolling hills, its light shining brightly as a beacon of acceptance and understanding.

Despite the challenges they faced, Molly and James persevered, teaching their children the values of compassion, tolerance, and the importance of embracing one’s heritage. The village, initially skeptical of this unconventional union, gradually came to admire the couple’s unwavering love and the beautiful family they had created.

Molly, with her gentle nature and nurturing spirit, became an advocate for harmony between different communities. She organized cultural exchanges, inviting people from all walks of life to the village to share stories, traditions, and experiences. Through these gatherings, prejudices were shattered, and friendships were forged, fostering a sense of unity and respect among the villagers.

James, on the other hand, shared his deep connection to nature and taught his children the wisdom of the land. They would spend hours exploring the nearby forests, learning about medicinal herbs, and understanding the delicate balance of the ecosystem. The family’s bond with nature became a source of inspiration for the entire village, instilling a profound appreciation for the environment.

As the years passed, the Barkhamsted Lighthouse House Village flourished, becoming a symbol of hope and harmony in a world often divided by ignorance and fear. Molly and James’s children grew into compassionate individuals, each contributing to their community in their unique ways.

Their eldest son, Solomon, became a respected storyteller, preserving the rich history and traditions of both cultures. Their daughter, Hannah, followed in Molly’s footsteps, working tirelessly to promote education and equality for all. The other children, too, found their callings, from art to agriculture, each leaving a lasting impact on the village and all who knew them.

Molly and James lived their lives with grace and dignity, their love for each other and their children serving as a testament to the power of acceptance and understanding. Their legacy echoed through the generations, reminding the villagers of the transformative power of unity and the beauty that lies in embracing diversity.

In the embrace of Barkhamsted Lighthouse House Village, the barriers of race and culture were transcended, allowing the human spirit to thrive. Molly and James, forever remembered as pioneers of love and acceptance, left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who knew them, forever illuminating the path towards a more inclusive and compassionate world.

Coni Dubois

ARE YOU a Barkhamsted Lighthouse Descendant?

Posted on October 8, 2022October 9, 2022 by Coni Dubois

I have a big surprise for everyone…

Click one of these links below to see if you are in my research and a descendant?

I got curious about the extent of my research as a whole and decided to create a book with all the direct descendants of James & Molly Chagum of the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village. Every living & deceased person in this bloodline.

It is HUGE! Honestly didn’t believe my software could handle it, BUT it did! 😌

Ended up with 2354 families and a 3,321-page research book! All generations/descendant’s I have added/found on offsprings of Chief James & Molly Chagum of Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village.

I am sharing 2 parts (Index of Names and Index of Places) of this research book for everyone – It is free to view and you will be able to see if you are actually a descendant, this also includes all that was married into the lines and the whole of my work~

Page numbers = pages you are in for my research book on this line. (3,321 pages total) KEEP in mind some of you come into these lines twice… So mentioned in both areas in book on different ancestors. Red & pink dot’s show a true descendant.

Search here to find your name – females are listed as maiden names.

Index of Individuals in the whole file of descendants

Index of Places Descendants have been/at/lived