*A project for her and her son seeking information on their roots uncovered a remarkable story for the seventh generation of former enslaved.
The story has resulted in the mother, Kerri Moseley-Hobbs, being appointed as a member on the board of Smithfield-Preston Plantation Foundation. This foundation owns and operates the historical plantation of Colonial William Preston and wife Susanna where her ancestors were enslaved.
Hobbs’ background is in postsecondary education, which includes many years at Sojourner-Douglass College as Acting Director of Financial Aid and Student Liaison, Baltimore Hebrew University as Financial Aid Director and now at the U. S. Department of Education, so it was natural for her to educate her son about his ancestors. Kerri holds two Masters, an MBA and a Masters in Interdisciplinary Management, and she’s currently persuading a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership. Researching to find those roots came natural for her. The result was crossing paths with the owners of the plantation where her ancestors lived upon their arrival to this country, estimated to be shortly before 1806.
It seems the Smithfield-Preston Foundation was looking for them too – descendants of the enslaved at the Smithfield Plantation. In particularly the Foundation was looking for the decedents of the Fraction family. Hobbs is the seventh generation of the Fraction family, which she learned was a prominent and historical family of enslaved individuals in the history of the plantation. Their meeting seemed to come in full circle and with Kerri Moseley-Hobbs’ experience in education that rich history will surely become part of the American story.
“I am carefully looking at their [Fraction family and others enslaved on the plantation] history to give as much of an honest and unbiased interpretation as I can, with the resources and opportunities available at Smithfield,” said Hobbs about what she hopes to add to the foundation.
She has elected to help lead projects that will enhance the Smithfield-Preston Museum experience and provide some documented visuals that can be used for historical purposes.
To learn more about the Smithfield-Preston Foundation log onto www.SmithfieldPlantation.org or Facebook at @HistoricSmithfieldPlantation and for more about the Fractions follow the family of Kerri Moseley-Hobb’s updates on Facebook at @TheFractionFamilyBloodLines.
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