Methods
Run a Fort Mose Service Ledger Before Family Claims
This field note is part of the FOBA learning stream. It is meant to orient readers and point toward better source work.
Key points
- Fort Mose context, service records, and family claims should stay in different lanes.
- A service ledger records who, what, when, where, and what is still open.
- The ledger prevents one compelling story from carrying the entire conclusion.
Next steps
- Start with refuge context and service lanes before family-origin wording.
- Name uncertainties and contradictory source lines openly.
- Use claim review before publishing descent or identity-adjacent language.
Source trail
- FOBA St. Augustine hub – Place context and timeline links.
- FOBA Claim Review Card – Use for stronger family-origin language.