EXPLORING FAMILY TIES
Novel, play in the works
When Teajai Travis first jumped in his car and headed to Virginia in search of his family history, he wasn’t sure exactly where he was going.
The 37-year-old community activist just knew he had relatives from the state that dated back to 1745.
“The 2017 trip was more of a pilgrimage than anything,” he said. “I just wanted to be in that space.”
When he made a second trip this past spring, he found a treasure trove of information about his oldest known ancestor, Richard Travis Sr., an emancipated slave who established a fugitive slave town in Pennsylvania for others travelling the Underground Railroad to freedom.
Almost by chance, Travis happened upon a roadside historical plaque that referenced the very slave town Richard Travis Sr. established.
The plaque didn’t mention Travis Sr. by name but it was in Mercer County, an area where Teajai knew from documents that his ancestor owned land.
Teajai is the founder of Bloomfield House, a community art studio in the west end. Currently, the studio is in the midst of an extensive renovation, but in between ripping down walls and taking out flooring, Teajai has been writing a novel about Travis Sr. as well as a one-act play.
The novel will be based on the characters Teajai has come to know but it will feature a fictionalized version of life reflections by Travis Sr. who died in 1843 at the age of 98.
“I want to make sure he’s remembered as a hero,” Teajai said. “It’s such a fascinating story but it’s not really been written about.” Teajai was able to get copies of the deed for the 150 acres of land Travis Sr. bought in Mercer County.
He found his ancestor’s will and documents that included many important dates in his life. He learned about Richard’s wife, Lucinda, a white woman of German ancestry.
It was Lucinda who brought the family to safety in North Buxton, near Chatham, when the U.S. Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
The act required that all escaped slaves, upon capture, be returned to their masters and that citizens of free states had to co-operate. Slave hunters didn’t care whether a slave had been emancipated or not, forcing families like Lucinda’s to flee further north into Canada.
Teajai still has an uncle living in North Buxton, and his goal is to have the play ready to debut at the 96th annual Buxton homecoming next Labour Day Weekend. With a background in theatre, Teajai will take on the role of Richard himself.
“I’ve done musical theatre for 10 years and I’ve done storytelling so this falls right into my wheelhouse,” he said.
Teajai would like to produce the play himself and to that end, he’s holding a fundraiser Friday from 7 — 9 p.m. at the Green Bean Cafe on Wyandotte Street West. Those who attend will get to hear some snippets of the story he’s writing about his ancestors. Teajai also has an online fundraising campaign at gofundme. com.
I want to make sure he’s remembered as a hero. It’s such a fascinating story but it’s not really been written about.