An interview with Andre Kearns
As we begin observing Black History Month, the National Genealogical Society reached out to one of its own for a personal perspective. Andre Kearns is a genealogist, public speaker, commentator, and writer, and serves as a director at large and chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee for the National Genealogical Society.
Andre has spent years researching a connection back to a woman he believes is his 4x great-grandmother – Charlotte Kerns. Charlotte was born enslaved to Hugh Torrance at Cedar Grove Plantation, in Huntersville, North Carolina, around 1807. Through collaborative research with fellow genealogist Elizabeth Torrance, they identified the names of 143 enslaved people at Cedar Grove, from the Torrance family's 1840 "ages of negroes" ledger and other estate records. We wanted to learn more about Andre’s journey and share it with you.
Q: Andre, can you please share a little more about where your family history research took you?
A: As I continued my exploration through the Torrance family ledger, I connected with local residents who were eager to tell a more inclusive history through Cedar Grove and other historic plantations. One person in particular was Abigail Jennings, founder of the HEARTS (History, Ecology, Arts, Reunion, Trails, Store) Collaborative, a nonprofit aimed at offering inclusive experiences that link the past and present at Cedar Grove.
In 2022, we launched the HEARTS Reunion Project at the former Cedar Grove Plantation, to honor the 143 individuals once enslaved there, including my ancestor.
Then, in 2024, I reached out to American Ancestors to express interest in becoming a collaborative partner of 10 Million Names, an ambitious project, with the goal of documenting the names and lives of the 10 million enslaved African descendants in the US. In 2025, the “Cedar Grove 143” is now its own Plantation Estate Record volume within the 10 Million Names project. The 10 Million Names project is in the final stages of preparing this volume, and the records will soon be accessible on the American Ancestors website. You can visit their site for updates on when these records will be available.
Q: What was the most interesting discovery you made (or story you uncovered) during the course of your research?
A: I've made countless fascinating discoveries over the course of my research, so it's hard to pick just one as the most interesting, but I do have a recent discovery to share. My family's DNA results linked us to relatives in Guam who carry the last name White and have traces of African ancestry. This connection traces back to my 1st cousin 5x removed, Henry White—a free Black man born in 1826 in Suffolk, Virginia. In 1857, Henry joined the whaling ship Gideon Howland out of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and voyaged all the way to Guam. There, he settled and started a new branch of our family tree.
This DNA discovery has bridged a 200-year gap, reconnecting family branches separated by oceans. Over the Christmas holiday, I had the privilege of visiting the whaling museum in New Bedford and learned about the fascinating history of Black whalers.
Q: How has your research impacted you personally?
A: I lead a life rich with opportunity, and through my research, I also get to experience the rich lives of my ancestors. I draw inspiration from learning about their life strengths, how they faced challenges, and how they built family legacies that now extend to me. My research reminds me that I stand on their shoulders and that makes me very proud.
Q: What is your advice for others who would like to undertake this type of project?
A: If, during your personal research, you discover resources that you believe collectively describe a community of enslaved individuals on a plantation, I recommend organizing your findings into a simple spreadsheet. List each enslaved person's name and estimated birth date vertically and horizontally note the type of record where they are mentioned. Once organized, consider submitting this spreadsheet to the 10 Million Names project for inclusion. This is how the project will reach its goal!
Q: What are your next steps as you continue this journey into the history of Cedar Grove Plantation, and other family history?
A: I will be presenting this story at the NGS Family History Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, during Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-26. Registration for the conference is now open. Please consider joining me in Louisville to learn more about this and from all of our amazing presenters! You can register here: conference.ngsgenealogy.org .
*Image courtesy of Andre Kearns
