Finding Your Roots

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Henry

Now we face the question, how was this man, Patrick Hawkins, born over two centuries ago, likely in Maryland, possibly related to Epatha? To find out, our genetic genealogist, CeCe Moore, began searching for a link, combing through DNA databases and comparing those results with records on the paper trail. Through painstaking research, she uncovered a story unlike any we'd ever encountered before. It begins in the archives of Georgetown University, where in 1838, the Jesuit priests who ran the school sold a group of slaves to two planters in Louisiana. The documentation of this sale was invaluable because it listed the slaves who were sold by name. And one name stood out immediately. Patrick, a man 35 years of age. Now you remember all your DNA cousins? Yes. Who descend from Patrick. Yes. That's Patrick Hawkins. And that's how they got from Maryland to Louisiana. He was sold by the Jesuit leaders of Georgetown University to Louisiana planters in the year 1838. Wow, okay. It boggles the mind. For Georgetown University, a Jesuit priest. A Jesuit priest selling 272 slaves. (chuckles) Ooh.