Matthew Burgess holds up the birth certificate for his grandfather, Rufus Morgan Burgess Jr., at his home Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
A tombstone for ancestors of the Burgess family is seen at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park cemetery Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Coloma, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Matthew Burgess holds a photograph of his grandfather Rufus Morgan Burgess Jr., Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Children visit Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Coloma, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Descendants of Nelson Bell, relatives from left, William Woolery, Trent Mure, and brothers, Milford Fonza and Elmer Fonza, far right, gather around a picture of their ancestor Ethel Bell while showing family pictures in Glendora, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
A girl rides a bicycle on a trail at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Coloma, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Matthew, left, and his twin brother Jonathan Burgess are photographed with a portrait of their great-great-grandfather Nelson Bell, who the family say also went by the name Rufus Burgess, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Sacramento, Calif. The portrait has been passed down for generations in the Burgess family. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
People walk through Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Coloma, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Family heirlooms are seen inside Matthew Burgess' home Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Descendants of Nelson Bell, from left: Tami More, with husband Trent Mure, and son, Armani, William Woolery, Louie Hoops and brothers, Milford Fonza, sitting center, and Elmer Fonza with wife, Carolyn, pose for a picture in Glendora, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
The present-day Grange Hall, center, is seen as school children, foreground, visit Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Coloma, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Descendants of Nelson Bell, Milford Fonza, left, and his brother, Elmer Fonza pose for a picture at Milford's home in Glendora, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. Bell was a black gold miner and land owner who lived in Coloma, Calif., from 1850 until his death in 1869. The land once owned by Bell is now part of a California State Park. They believe that we have been denied the generational wealth that their family may have been entitled to if given our rightful inheritance, the land once owned by Nelson Bell. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Descendants from Nelson Bell, relatives from left: brothers, Milford Fonza and Elmer Fonza, Trent Mure, and William Woolery pose for a picture at the tombstone of Nelson Bell (1790-1869) at the Pioneer Cemetery in Coloma, El Dorado County, Calif., on June 2023. (Elmer Fonza Family Photo via AP)
Descendants of Nelson Bell, brothers Milford Fonza, front left, and Elmer Fonza, front right, surrounded by extended family members, show their ancestors' pictures in Glendora, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. Family members standing from left: Trent Mure, with son Armani Mure, and his wife Tami Mure, William Woolery, Louie Hobbs and Carolyn Fonza. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
People cross Mt. Murphy Road Bridge into the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Coloma, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Emmanuel Church remains at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Coloma, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
The South Fork of American River flows alongside Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Coloma, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Descendants of Nelson Bell, brothers Milford Fonza, front left, and Elmer Fonza, front right, surrounded by extended family members, show their ancestors' pictures in Glendora, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. Family members standing from left: Trent Mure, with son Armani Mure, and his wife Tami Mure, William Woolery, Louie Hobbs and Carolyn Fonza. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)