BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P3D REFRESH-INTERVAL:P3D CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20261112T220000Z DTEND:20261112T230000Z X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:FALSE SUMMARY:John Mills (The Narrative of Primus) Author Talk and Signing DESCRIPTION:Bank Square Books presents an author talk and reading with John Mills for the book\, The Narrative of Primus.\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Book\n\nThe Narrative of Primus uncovers the remarkable\, nearly forgotten story of a ten-year-old boy taken from his mother's bedside in West Africa and forced aboard a slave ship bound for America. That boy\, Primus\, survived the Middle Passage\, endured decades of enslavement in colonial Connecticut\, raised a family\, and through faith\, resilience\, and grace\, laid a foundation that would ripple across generations.\n\nDrawing on rarely cited historical sources including an embedded first-person narrative hidden since 1824 in the writings of Lydia Sigourney\, John Mills reveals Primus as more than a footnote to slavery or a name in a ledger. He restores him as a father\, a church member\, a scholar of scripture\, a community figure\, and a man whose voice still echoes across three centuries.\n\n\n\nThrough meticulous archival research\, Mills traces the lives of Primus's descendants from the Revolutionary War\, where his son Job fought for American independence while enslaved\, through the Civil War\, where Sgt. Daniel Stanley Lathrop served with the famed 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry\, and into the twentieth century\, where the lineage continued to serve in both World Wars and National Guard militias shut out of state support.\n\n\n\nPart genealogy\, part social history\, and part personal journey\, The Narrative of Primus blends historical storytelling with the author's lived experience as a Black American and direct descendant of enslaved ancestors. Mills interrogates myths surrounding American liberty\, challenges long-held racial narratives\, and re-centers Black families whose sacrifices helped shape the nation.\n\nAbout the Author\n\nJohn Mills is a dedicated genealogist and president of the Alex Breanne Corporation\, a Connecticut-based non-profit focused on research into the formerly enslaved. John is known for his meticulous research and deep passion for uncovering family histories. With years of experience\, he has helped many individuals uncover ancestral connections. His commitment to accuracy and detail has earned him a reputation as a trusted expert in genealogical circles. His notable contributions to the field have garnered recognition\, including an expos in The Washington Post\, an appearance on "The Kelly Clarkson Show"\, and multiple interviews with famed Civil Rights attorney Areva Martin. John has a strong interest in uncovering the stories of the formerly enslaved\, volunteering his skills in service to others. Beyond his on-the-ground research\, John actively shares his knowledge through seminars and workshops. His engaging discussions have helped raise awareness about genealogy and its role in shaping personal and cultural identities. X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Bank Square Books presents an author talk and reading with John Mills for the book\, The Narrative of Primus.

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the narrative of primus

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About the Book

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The Narrative of Primus uncovers the remarkable\, nearly forgotten story of a ten-year-old boy taken from his mother'\;s bedside in West Africa and forced aboard a slave ship bound for America. That boy\, Primus\, survived the Middle Passage\, endured decades of enslavement in colonial Connecticut\, raised a family\, and through faith\, resilience\, and grace\, laid a foundation that would ripple across generations.

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Drawing on rarely cited historical sources including an embedded first-person narrative hidden since 1824 in the writings of Lydia Sigourney\, John Mills reveals Primus as more than a footnote to slavery or a name in a ledger. He restores him as a father\, a church member\, a scholar of scripture\, a community figure\, and a man whose voice still echoes across three centuries.
\n
\nThrough meticulous archival research\, Mills traces the lives of Primus'\;s descendants from the Revolutionary War\, where his son Job fought for American independence while enslaved\, through the Civil War\, where Sgt. Daniel Stanley Lathrop served with the famed 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry\, and into the twentieth century\, where the lineage continued to serve in both World Wars and National Guard militias shut out of state support.
\n
\nPart genealogy\, part social history\, and part personal journey\, The Narrative of Primus blends historical storytelling with the author'\;s lived experience as a Black American and direct descendant of enslaved ancestors. Mills interrogates myths surrounding American liberty\, challenges long-held racial narratives\, and re-centers Black families whose sacrifices helped shape the nation.

\n\n

About the Author

\n\n

John Mills is a dedicated genealogist and president of the Alex Breanne Corporation\, a Connecticut-based non-profit focused on research into the formerly enslaved. John is known for his meticulous research and deep passion for uncovering family histories. With years of experience\, he has helped many individuals uncover ancestral connections. His commitment to accuracy and detail has earned him a reputation as a trusted expert in genealogical circles. His notable contributions to the field have garnered recognition\, including an exposé\; in The Washington Post\, an appearance on "\;The Kelly Clarkson Show"\;\, and multiple interviews with famed Civil Rights attorney Areva Martin. John has a strong interest in uncovering the stories of the formerly enslaved\, volunteering his skills in service to others. Beyond his on-the-ground research\, John actively shares his knowledge through seminars and workshops. His engaging discussions have helped raise awareness about genealogy and its role in shaping personal and cultural identities.

\n LOCATION:Bank Square Books 80 Stonington Road Suite 8 Mystic\, CT 06355 UID:e.726.50732 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20260914T213928Z URL:https://www.oceanchamber.org/events/details/john-mills-the-narrative-of-primus-author-talk-and-signing-50732 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR