DURHAM, N.C. — Historic Stagville in Durham is one of the largest plantations in North Carolina. At one point, nearly 1,000 people were forced to labor there in the mid-1800s.

Part of the 30,000-acre property that was owned by the Bennehan-Cameron family is preserved by Stagville, including the original slave quarters at Horton Grove.

That is where Michael Williams traced his family roots. He is a ninth-generation descendant of the Justice family that was forced to live and work at Horton Grove.

“The Justice family house really tells me the story of my third great-grandmother who was born here,” Williams said.

Williams was adopted and raised in New York. Growing up, he assumed his family history traced back to there, but it wasn’t until he met his birth mother at 18 that he discovered his family ties to Durham, North Carolina.

Williams first visit to Stagville was in 2014. He described that trip as overwhelming, but he marvels at the creativity and hard work of his ancestors.

“The feeling of being here at the Horton Grove slave quarters, then actually touring the slave cabin that my Mariah Justice was born and raised in was absolutely beyond me,” Williams said.

Williams says 2011 was a critical year in his research of uncovering his family history.

“Little did I realize that Nana was actually born here, her history began here, therefore it behooved me to explore that part of my family history,” Williams said.

His hope is that all who visit Stagville can see the history it holds and feel the power and knowledge of those who were forced to labor on the plantation.

“It’s just incredible, over the years they’ve been supporting elements to keep the structure intact, but you can get a glimpse of what the original structures were,” Williams said.

Historic Stagville will be leading Emancipation Tours on Juneteenth to teach the history of those who were forced to call it home.

“We also know that after emancipation, sharecroppers lived in each of these buildings so these buildings have a very long history here of family, community of labor and of celebration,” Khadija McNair, assistant site manager of Historic Stagville said.

The tours will be free on June 19, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Reservations can be made on the Historic Stagville website. Self-guided tours are also offered.