18 January 2009
TRACING OUR
ROOTS
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
by Brenda Kellow
Connecting with African American
ancestors is one of the most challenging and difficult tasks in genealogical
research, especially if it involves slaves. No two states have the same types of
information available. The 1850 and 1860 slave schedules do not list the full
names of slaves, but it does record the age, sex and color of each. By following
the owner, you can follow the slaves he owns.
Mortality schedules for 1850 through 1880 do include
information on those who died within those decades. Prior census from 1790
through 1860 records only the numbers of slaves in each household within certain
age categories. Usually there is only a first name. Some slave owners kept Bible
records of the marriages between his slaves and even recorded the births of the
children. These registers may give full names. You might find one of these
Bibles in the Daughters of the American Revolution’s (DAR) collection.
Deeds trace the transfer of slaves from one owner to another.
Wills might specify the transfer of slaves from one owner to another surviving
family member or in some cases grant them their freedom. Another prospect for
the diligent researcher is manumission (freedom) records and the bond that was
sometimes required of the owner to prevent the freed slave from becoming a ward
of the state. Sometimes the newspapers publish slave auctions and runaway slave
announcements. Other records to peruse are Freedmen’s Bureau records, Southern
Claims Commissions records, military records, diaries, and the many beneficial
records compiled by the Works Progress Administration. A microfilmed record is
probably the most promising for finding these records. The
Index to the 1867 Texas Voter
Registration of Texas is the first listing of newly freed slaves. Beside
their names is an asterisk. Also, check the syllabus indexes of the National
Genealogical Society and Federation of Genealogical Societies for published
lectures by specialists in African American research. These are only a few
available sources. To see what you have in your library or on the Internet,
check the catalog using the subject, “African American.”
Determined researchers always stay focused on the numbers of
records available to search now and in the future. I recommend tracing one
surname in one locality for a specific time before broadening the search. This
technique allows time to familiarize you with the family and the records in that
locality.
Interview every living senior citizen in your family for
possible clues. Record the interview and listen to it often for clues you may
have missed. Pass your findings along to the elders verbally or written and
watch their eyes light up with past memories. I find publishing it as a family
newsletter works well. This helps you and your elders process the information.
Do not skimp on information available for each generation and
pursue it diligently and logically. Do not skip generations. Honor your
ancestors in February during African American month. The beginning starts with
you.
AFRICAN AMERICAN LEARN-IN
First, hear Don Hinson share his research on families who came
to America. He analyzes the immigration records as well as immigration through
Ellis Island, plus other records that tell the story immigrants. Secondly, hear
the case study of research on one branch of Ora Penn’s family. The Learn-in
honors African American History month. It is Saturday, February 28 at the W. O.
Haggard Genealogy Library, 2501 Coit Road, from 10:30 until 12:30. There is no
charge but donations are always welcome. Contact GenFriends@GenealogyFriends.com
for more information.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history,
teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s
histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a
Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunions announcements, books to review,
and genealogy queries to: TraceRts@verizon.net.
