African American Genealogy

[kdmorris]

So, I've been doing genealogy for years and have traced my husband's and my line back to the late 1700's. It was pretty easy because we are both Caucasian. None of my three daughters have ever really cared so much about it, but I have hope that maybe one of my grandsons will. One of them is 1 year old now and both his mother and his father are Caucasian.

My my newest grandson is of mixed race. His father is African American. He got me all the information that they knew about his parents/grandparents. As I've been tracing his line, it's (for obvious reasons) been difficult. A couple of the families I got back to the Civil War, but I can't find them (or I can only guess) who the slaveowners were based on the ages. Add that to the fact that he came from a small place in the middle of nowhere (I'm not kidding... look up Fitzgerald, GA), very little health care, shortened life spans and it's been difficult to trace.

Those of you who are African American or who have researched African American genealogy - can you give me some websites/places to look? I've already found a couple (Afrigeneas.com, Cyndi's list, and the Freedman's Bureau site), but was wondering if I'm going about this the wrong way or something.

So - is it just a matter of "stick to it" or is there an easier way of going about this?

P.S. the treatment of African Americans in Southern GA after emancipation and into the early 20th century is heartbreaking. So many stillbirths from lack of health care, etc. I found a death certificate for a 22 year old African American who died in 1925 from "falling out of a truck and breaking his neck". I find that suspicious.

[watrwefitinfor]

1. After the census and death certificates

have taken you as far back as you can go, you want to begin to access the county records. There are many records of formerly enslaved African-Americans after the end of the Civil War in the south. There were many who purchased lands and recorded their deeds. They often mortgaged them and recorded the mortgage. And those who did own land frequently had a probate when they died.

Tax records, voting registration lists, militia lists - former slaves can be found in all these beginning in 1868/69. Court records are another good resource, though it's sometimes hard to find them indexed. A call to a genealogical society in the county or area your family resided in can often hook you up with a local black researcher who could tell you more about the local records. A membership in that society could be helpful. They often have websites and facebook pages now.

You may not find your subject individuals, but whether you do or not there may be clues that lead you to a former slave owner. And remember, not all African-Americans in the south were enslaved. There were often communities of free persons of color, and it's possible your subject family was not enslaved at all.

Once you find an owning family, the probate records are the first thing to search that might lend big dividends. Intestate estates, especially, often had the slaves inventoried along with the other personal property. In those inventories, the slaves were usually listed in their family groupings. Husband first, then wife, then children by age. There is often a bracket around the family group, with the appraisal amount listed for the family unit. At least this is the case in South Carolina, and I would suspect possibly in Georgia.

I recently had a happy surprise in the 1860 census, when I looked at the slave schedule I saw that slaves were also listed by family units in the one for my county. Names were not given, but age and sex allowed for nothing else. Again, this may not be true anywhere else, but it is something to watch for.

And if you find your subject was enslaved by a large plantation owner, check local and state repositories to see if those family descendants donated the family papers.

Watch for changing names of formerly enslaved people. at the end of the war. In my experience it happened more frequently than most realize. Check the neighbors closely, residential and naming patterns among the neighbors, any little clue at all can become of big importance.

Also check the county Genweb site, and the Genweb Archives for that county. You may not find your subject, but watch for potential owners, family naming patterns, all the things you watch for in any genealogical research.

You are certainly on the right track with Afrigeneas and Cyndi's List. Check Cyndi for your county to see what records might be available online, and what repositories you might find them in. Some are still in the county courthouses, some may have been moved to the state archives. Sometimes the state archives will have listings as to what county holdings they have, and what is still in the county. I don't know what is online at the Georgia Archives. Staff at the state archives are usually quite helpful and respond to phone calls or emails if they can.

Also just put your subject's name in quotations and google it. You never know. And you might google the surname and the county and state name.

Oh! Inquisitions. In the south they had Coroner's Inquisitions over unexpected deaths. I had an uncle, white, who died in similar circumstances to your guy. I always heard he fell out of a truck and busted his head and died. When I found the 1932 Inquisition Book, the report confirmed that was exactly how he died. It also stated he was drunk and driving the truck at the time.

Slave and freedmen research is very difficult, and others can likely help you more than I. But these ideas may help a little.

Wat

[kdmorris]

4. Wow, thank you so much!

Especially the part about the guy who died by hitting his head. Maybe I shouldn't read so much into some of the causes of death

[Little Star]

2. Did you watch the Jerome Bettis episode of...

Who Do You Think You Are? I remember thinking that there was some good information in that one about places to research African American genealogy.

It seems that even the professionals have a hard time and can only go back so far before they hit the wall.

Wish I had more to offer.

Good luck with your search and keep us updated on the progress you make.

LS

[kdmorris]

3. I did!

I saw the one with Blair Underwood, too. That's what led me to kind of be inspired to do this for my grandson. I think I'll go watch the Jerome Bettis one again. It was so touching.

[pl34567]

5. A tip for African Ancestry in Southern Georgia

Church Records
Since government records are clearly lacking for what you need, perhaps you will find what you are looking for in Southern Georgia Baptist African American Church records, or the records of other another church that was existent at the time. You might even be able to save yourself a trip to Southern Georgia by creating an account with progenylink.com.

I posted an entry in my blog about how collaboration can save on travel expenses: Discover Your Heritage Through Online Collaboration.

Hope that helps...

[kdmorris]

6. Thanks. I'll do that.

Georgia has a bunch of church records online, but they are not indexed. Bit of reading ahead for me, I guess.

[NOLALady]

7. All I can add

you are right. There is no easy way. It is a matter of "stick to it". But, AA genealogy is so incredibly rewarding you will not regret for one minute the extra time and effort of research.

Good Luck and Happy Hunting!

[goclark]

8. call the Historical society in the

County that you believe your ancestors may have lived as slaves.
We are from Rappahannock va.

I called and got lucky
They had a list of slaves and owners.

Where are you searching?

[kdmorris]

9. Burke/Emanual County, Georgia

Sherman burned the Burke county courthouse down on his way through, destroying all the records... asshole.

Then... it burned down in 1890 or so again... sheesh.

[goclark]

10. Wow!

What are the names that you are looking for ~ have you done a family tree?

email me and I will try my best to help

[kdmorris]

11. Clark/Jones/White

I believe that the Jones family came from the Birdsville Plantation in Jenkins County, Georgia. Before 1905, it was part of Burke County.

I believe the Clarks descended from Raymond Clark -> Willie -> Willie M. Raymond Clark is listed on the 1850 census by name, living with a white family by the name of Chandler in Burke County, GA. They live next door to a slave holder named Clark. Raymond Clark is listed a Mulatto.

I haven't got much on the Whites yet.