ABC News and American Ancestors have made a groundbreaking discovery by identifying the first confirmed living descendants of an enslaved person who helped construct the White House. Robin Roberts of “Good Morning America” interviewed Jackie Smith Sullivan and her daughter Ashley Swain, who learned that Swain’s fourth great-grandfather, Calvert Ambush, contributed to building the White House’s North Portico in 1829. This revelation was part of a two-year research effort by American Ancestors’ 10 Million Names project, which aims to trace the lineage of enslaved individuals who worked on the White House. The discovery was confirmed through historical documents, including a 197-year-old government payroll record. This marks a significant genealogical achievement, highlighting the enduring legacy of slavery in America and the power of genealogy to connect past and present.
QUESTION: How might learning about their ancestors’ contributions to history impact individuals and their sense of identity today?
Descendants of enslaved person who helped build White House speak to ABC News
