To Whom It May Concern:

This PROPERTY is important to the history of Eleuthera, the history of the Bahamas, and the history of slavery in the Americas. This place on the Southern part of the island was a major reason why Eleuthera was so important for other nearby islands. We are still learning and reading about the history of our ancestors.

A graduate student from the University of Massachusetts (UMass) just received a large grant to study the archaeology on the plantation from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF is directly funded through the US federal government. Educators who are the descendant of former slaves and servants of Ann Millar Estate, Southern Eleuthera and archaeologists have been researching this British woman named Ann Millar for the past three years. Archaeologists are waiting funding from University of Massachusetts to also come to South Eleuthera to do some mapping of the site, put the information on the web through Google Earth and start the process of making the site visible to the world. This site also has the potential for being a place where people who are interested in culture and heritage will want to come and see it and learn about its history. This place must stay in the hands of the rightful owners, it is a sacred space and slavery is a real part of how so many of us got here.
 
There are other universities that are very interested in working with UMass at Amherst to preserve and promote the history of Eleuthera. These include Dr. Berman of Miami University of Ohio are studying the Lucayan archaeology of the Northern parts of the island and Dr. Edward Gonzalez-Tennant from Monmouth State University in New Jersey, who will be helping with archaeology and GIS -computer mapping. There is great potential for accumulating history, mapping the entire property, collecting artifacts (to stay on the island) and start a Museum in Bannerman Town or a locale on the mentioned site. These Universities along with One Eleuthera would like to begin a long term relationship with the people of Southern Eleuthera and especially of Millars and Bannerman Town.

Beyond Ann Millar’s it will enable Eleutherans to trace their genealogical information that is being collected and has been for the past few years.

In Ann Millar’s last Will and Testament, she gifted the property to several Africans descendants and their families and progeny.

This mapping project has the potential to develop a sustainable research site that can establish the foundation for a long-range community involvement and development, enhance local education about slavery on the island, and perhaps create a site for historic and heritage tourism.

Signed
Descendants of Ann Millar, South Eleuthera.