According to D. Kevin Barrett Bilali of Newburgh, NY, three ex slaves William, Thomas and John McClaughry achieved the impossible dream of becoming upstate land barons during the post-Revolutionary War period, when most Blacks were still in shackles. Not even Horatio Alger could have penned a more intriguing story than the slaves-to-riches tale of three former Black slaves who became upstate land barons during the post-Revolutionary War period, when most Blacks were still in shackles. The McClaughrys called their land "Guinea" which in their native language means "Africa".