African American Genealogy: Researching From a Bill of Sale for Enslaved Ancestors
We had a lively discussion on last Tuesday's episode of BlackProGen LIVE! "Biology of a Document: From Analysis to Plan," about getting the most from the documents we have gathered in our African American genealogy research. The episode focused on analyzing each...
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Did You Know That St. Philip’s Parish in Charleston, SC Registered African Americans Before 1823?
I visited the room for South Carolina History at the Charleston County Library in Charleston, South Carolina because I wanted to show you that you should not neglect to check Charleston church records back in 1720-1822 for African American genealogy. That’s right!...
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What is a “fi fa,” and Why is it Important for African American Genealogy?
Historic newspapers are an important resource for African American genealogy. Runaway slave ads, jailor's notices of captured runaway freedom seekers, notices of estate sales, private sales and sheriff's sales that include the names of enslaved ancestors are all...
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Voters in the Town of Abbeville, SC in 1885 and 1893
Last month I accessed a book online entitled “Census of Abbeville Village and Abbeville Voter List May 1885,” compiled by Lowry Ware held by Larry A. Jackson Library at Lander University. I really had found another way to identify African Americans in 1885 and in...
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African American Genealogy: When the Pieces Come Together – Guyton Family Bible, Oakley Plantation, Berkeley, SC
One of the biggest challenges in African American genealogy is the sometimes sparse body of documents we have to work in. We’ve been working for years to digitize documents in the Lowcountry, first as Lowcountry Africana, and now as the IAAM Center for Family History. Along the way, many archives, organizations and individuals have worked at our side to scan, digitize and index records that are significant for African American genealogy. Today, we experienced some of the fruits of our friends’ and colleague’s efforts when some pieces of a puzzle fell into place.
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African American Newspapers: The Palmetto Leader Links to Greenwood
After you find an obituary about an ancestor, what else are historic newspapers good for? Newspapers can tell you a great deal about what went on in your ancestor’s time period. African American newspapers bring to light burials, education, masonic lodges, ministers, political activities and so much more. They reveal much more about the everyday lives of our ancestors.
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Found on FamilySearch: Darlington County, SC Marriage Licenses, African American, 1911-1950
FamilySearch has digitized 12 microfilms of marriage licenses for African Americans in Darlington County, South Carolina for the years 1911-1950. The microfilms are part of Darlington County, South Carolina marriage licenses,1911-1950, and can be accessed via the...
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Found on FamilySearch: Dorchester County, South Carolina Marriage Licenses, ca. 1918-1950
FamilySearch has digitized 15 microfilms of marriage licenses for African Americans in Dorchester County, South Carolina for the years 1918-1950. The microfilms are part of Dorchester County, South Carolina marriage licenses,1918-1950, and can be accessed via the...
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Found on FamilySearch: List of African American and White Voters, Darlington County, SC, About 1876
FamilySearch has digitized a typescript list of voters in Darlington County, SC, made about about 1876. The list may be accessed via the FamilySearch catalog here. The list of voters is the first item on the digitized microfilm of records from the South Carolina...
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Found on FamilySearch: Civil Actions Concerning Slaves and Free Persons of Color, Craven County, NC, 1775-1885
FamilySearch has digitized two microfilms of Civil Actions Concerning Slaves and Free Persons of Color, Craven County, NC, 1775-1885. There are several record subsets on these microfilms, the first contains 2,083 frames of selected records for Craven County, NC that...
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Has FamilySearch Digitized the Records You Need? Here’s How to Check
FamilySearch recently announced that they had added the 2 billionth record to their free online databases of digitized historical documents. The records giant currently adds over 300 million new images a year to their online holdings. A world of free resources for...
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Look for Tax Records to Help You Identify More About Your South Carolina Ancestor
Tax records help us reveal more about an ancestor, especially in between census years. When you cannot find an ancestor in the census or when records are scarce, try tax records to prove residence or if an ancestor was over 21. To find tax records for South Carolina...
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Found on FamilySearch: Assessment of Property and Census of Slaves and Their Owners, 1837, New Orleans, LA
FamilySearch has digitized the volume Assessment of Property and Census of Slaves and their Owners, 1837, New Orleans, LA. There are more records on this microfilm. This register begins on frame 857. Sample Image Tell Us About Your Finds Have you found...
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Found on FamilySearch: Freedom Papers (Emancipation Dockets, 1827-1915), Orleans Parish, LA
FamilySearch has digitized Freedom Papers (Emancipation Dockets, 1827-1915), Orleans Parish, LA. There are other records on this microfilm. These records begin on frame 748. Sample Image Tell Us About Your Finds Have you found treasures in the FamilySearch catalog?...
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Found on FamilySearch: Register of Negroes and Mulattoes, 1800-1820, Adams County, PA
FamilySearch has digitized the volume Register of Negroes and Mulattoes, 1800-1820, Adams County, PA. You can access the volume via the FamilySearch catalog here. This register, remarkably, lists exact birthdates for many of those whose names appear. Information in...
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Found on FamilySearch: Record of Negroes, 1804-1855, Ross County, Ohio
FamilySearch has digitized the volume Record of Negroes, 1804-1855, Ross County, Ohio. The microfilm can be accessed via the FamilySearch catalog here. Sample Image Tell Us About your Finds Have you found newly-digitized treasures in the FamilySearch catalog? Tell...
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Found on FamilySearch: Negro Register (Washington County, Pennsylvania), 1782-1851
FamilySearch has digitized the volume Negro Register (Washington County, Pennsylvania), 1782-1851. There are other records on this microfilm. This small volume, which has a name index in the front, begins on frame 144. Sample Image Happy ancestor hunting!...
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Found on FamilySearch: List of Negroes, 1819-1859, Elbert County, GA
FamilySearch has digitized a small register titled List of Negroes, 1819-1859, Elbert County, GA. There are other records on this microfilm. The small volume begins on frame 16. Sample Image Tell Us About Your Finds What treasures have you found in the FamilySearch...
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Found on FamilySearch: Cumberland County, PA, Negro Slaves Name & Age Returns, 1780, 1791, 1828
FamilySearch has digitized Cumberland County, Pa., Negro slaves name & age returns, 1780, 1791, 1828. The records can be accessed via the FamilySearch catalog. There are other records on this microfilm. The small volume begins on frame 12. Sample Image Have you...
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Found on FamilySearch: Register of Free Persons of Color, Columbia County, GA, 1819-1836
FamilySearch has digitized a Register of Free Person of Color, Columbia County, GA, 1819-1836. You can access the microfilm via the FamilySearch catalog here. There are other records on this microfilm. The small volume begins on frame 53. Sample Image Tell Us...
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Found on FamilySearch: Documents Pertaining to Free Negroes, 1836-1859, Ste. Genevieve County (Missouri)
FamilySearch has digitized Documents Pertaining to Free Negroes, 1836-1859, Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. You can access the microfilm via the FamilySearch catalog here. There are other records on this microfilm. Records for Free People of Color begin with target...
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Found on FamilySearch: Kershaw County, South Carolina Marriage Licenses, Aug. 1938-Dec. 1950
FamilySearch has digitized 9 microfilm reels of Kershaw County, South Carolina Marriage Licenses, Aug. 1938-Dec. 1950. The microfilms can be accessed via the FamilySearch catalog here. To view the microfilms, click on the camera icon to the right of the microfilm...
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Found on FamilySearch: Lancaster County, South Carolina Marriage Licenses, 1911-1950
FamilySearch has digitized 33 microfilm reels of Lancaster County, South Carolina Marriage Licenses, 1911-1950. You can access the microfilms via the FamilySearch catalog here. To view the microfilms, click on the camera icon to the right of the microfilm description,...
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Found on FamilySearch: Dorchester County, South Carolina Marriage Licenses, ca. 1918-1950
FamilySearch has digitized 15 microfilms of Dorchester County, South Carolina Marriage Licenses, ca. 1918-1950. The microfilms may be accessed via the FamilySearch catalog here. To view the microfilms, click on the camera icon to the right of the microfilm...
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Found on FamilySearch: Miscellaneous Records of Slaves and Freedmen (Onslow County, North Carolina), 1763-1912
FamilySearch has digitized one microfilm of Miscellaneous Records of Slaves and Freemen (Onslow County, North Carolina), 1763-1912. The microfilm may be accessed via the FamilySearch catalog here. Contents of the microfilm include: Bills of sale of Negroes, 1763-1795,...
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Found on FamilySearch: Records of Slavery and Free Persons of Color (Wayne County, North Carolina), 1783-1869
FamilySearch has digitized Records of Slavery and Free Persons of Color (Wayne County, North Carolina), 1783-1869. The microfilm, a compendium of records concerning enslaved and free African Americans in Wayne County, may be accessed via the FamilySearch catalog...
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Found on FamilySearch: City of Savannah Voters Registers, 1856-1896
FamilySearch has digitized 10 microfilms of City of Savannah voters registers, 1856-1896. The microfilms can be accessed via the FamilySearch catalog here. To view the microfilms, click on the camera icon to the right of the microfilm description, as in the example...
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Found on FamilySearch: Jasper County, South Carolina Marriage Licenses, ca. 1912-1950
FamilySearch has digitized 26 microfilms of Jasper County, South Carolina Marriage Licenses, ca. 1912-1950. The microfilm can be accessed via the FamilySearch catalog, here. To view the microfilms, click on the camera icon to the right of the microfilm description,...
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Found on FamilySearch: Slave and Free Persons of Color Records, Tyrell County, NC, 1793-1868
FamilySearch has digitized Slave and Free Persons of Color Records, Tyrell County, NC, 1793-1868. The microfilm can be accessed via the FamilySearch catalog here. The microfilm contains a compendium of records concerning enslaved and free African Americans in Tyrell...
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Found on FamilySearch: Marion County, SC Marriage Registers, 1929-1952
FamilySearch has digitized Marion County, South Carolina marriage registers for the years 1929 through 1952. The earliest registers, for the years 1911 through 1928, have yet to be digitized. The digitized microfilms can be accessed through the FamilySearch catalog...
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Found on FamilySearch: Independent Congregational Church, Stoney Creek, Beaufort, South Carolina Computer Printout; Marriages, 1744-1756
FamilySearch has digitized a computer printout of abstracts of the register of the Independent Congregational Church, Stoney Creek, Beaufort, South Carolina computer printout; marriages, 1744-1756. The microfilm can be accessed in the FamilySearch catalog here. To...
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Found on FamilySearch: Independent Congregational (Circular) Church, Charleston, South Carolina, Computer Printout, Births or Christenings, 1732-1815
FamilySearch has digitized a computer printout of abstracts from the register of Independent Congregational (Circular) Church, Charleston, South Carolina, computer printout, births or christenings, 1732-1815 in Beaufort, SC. You can access the microfilm in the...
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Found on FamilySearch: St. Helenas Parish, Beaufort, South Carolina Computer Printout; Births or Christenings, 1683-1822
FamilySearch has digitized a computer printout of abstracts from the register of St. Helenas Parish Church in Beaufort, SC. You can access the microfilm in the FamilySearch catalog here. Sample Image Antebellum church registers for South Carolina can be a treasure...
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Use Tax Records to Document Your Ancestor or the Enslaver in South Carolina
If you have never searched tax records when looking for an ancestor, it is a great place to start when trying to fill in details about your ancestor. The census tracks a person every ten years from 1790 to 1940 with the exception of the 1890 US Census which was almost...
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Finding Ancestors and Enslavers in SC Agricultural Non-Population Schedules
You can search the US, Selected Federal Non-Population Schedules 1850-1880 at Ancestry.com to locate your ancestor or the people who enslaved your family. It is a good idea to first search them out on the 1880 and 1870 Censuses to get an idea who would be listed on...
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Finding Ancestors on the 1869 State Census for South Carolina
The 1869 South Carolina State Population Census is available on FamilySearch.org. It was the first census taken that lists African Americans. This index lists the number of children from 6 to 16 by race and gender, number of males over 21 by race, and number of...
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African American Genealogy: Was Your Male Ancestor Listed in the South Carolina 1869 Militia Enrollments?
South Carolina has 1869 Militia Enrollments for males 30 to 45. You can see if your ancestor was listed among the other males who were in the militia. The series is arranged alphabetically, by township, by age group, and alphabetically by first letter of the last...
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Did Your Ancestor Serve in the United States Colored Troops (USCT)? Here’s How to Find Out
More than 178,000 free blacks and freedmen served in the United States Colored Troops (USCT) during the Civil War, comprising one-tenth of all Union troops by the war's end. Their service contributed greatly to the Union's war efforts and marked a turning...
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Find Millions of Free FamilySearch Records for Your Area of Research Interest
FamilySearch has digitized hundreds of record collections that are freely available online. Some digitized collections are indexed and searchable, while others are not. Indexed collections can be searched, while unindexed collections (labeled "Browse...
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African American Genealogy: Comparing City Directory Resources
My great uncle, Clarence Adam Chick was born in Union County, South Carolina in 1896. I first discovered him on the 1900 US Census with his father and mother and siblings. He was younger brother to my great grandmother, Daisy B. Chick (Tucker). The family moved to...
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Finding Ancestors in Bible Records
Not too long ago it was very common for families to keep Bibles where they recorded basic information about family members such as births, marriages, deaths, and religious ceremonies such as christenings and baptisms. It is good to know about this tradition of...
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Our Fathers’ Fields – A Southern Story Tells Part of the Story
Our Father’ Fields: A Southern Story by James Everett Kibler, University of Georgia English professor, came to life in Newberry County, South Carolina. An antique pen came out from where it was stuck behind the mantel during a storm, and led eventually to the telling...
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Revisiting GenealogyBank
It has been several years since I tried finding ancestors on GenealogyBank.com, but I just recently was surprised to come across My Folder as well as a couple of articles I had never seen before. It prompted me to start a new subscription, and do some searching. My...
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More Substitutes for Birth Records in South Carolina
Because we know identifying an ancestor's birth can be a challenge, we are sharing more records that you can use as substitute to vital records. See Substitute Records for Births in South Carolina to catch up with the resources we have already shared. Cemeteries...
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African American Genealogy: Substitute Records for Births in South Carolina
In Documenting a SC Birth, we discussed how to find your ancestor using birth certificates. Not everyone was recorded on a birth certificate, and birth records are the hardest to find. Fortunately, you can use substitute records to find clues to the date and place where you ancestor was born. Use the record types discussed below where you may discover more about your ancestor’s birth.
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Documenting a South Carolina Birth
Birth records are usually the documentation that you seek after you have found the existing death and marriage record for your ancestor. Birth certificates are the hardest to find. Here, we will help you learn how to access birth records in SC and suggest substitute records to use in case your ancestor did not have a birth certificate.
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Avenues of Research From a Will
What do you do with a will when you find one? Wills can reveal a great deal of information that can fuel your genealogy research. Treat each new detail like a clue that will link you to more information. We will use the will of George Epps Tucker (1860-1927) which we...
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Run Out of Records to Research?
Many avid researchers hit a stumbling block in identifying more about their ancestors, and they do not know how to overcome it. They get stuck for long periods of time not being able to find historical documentation. You must know how to keep your own research going. What do you do after you have exhausted all the records at your disposal online or in local repositories?
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Sold With the Courthouse as a Backdrop
In Sold on the Courthouse Steps, we discussed three types of sales of enslaved people through the local court system. We suggested that you search through newspapers to discover sheriff sales, equity court sales, and chancery court sales. Here are a few more sales...
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Sold on the Courthouse Steps
An auction block at a commercial slave market is probably the most common visual that comes to mind when you think of people being separated from families during enslavement. You may be familiar with the sale of enslaved people through private parties, but numerous people were also sold through local courts with the courthouse as their backdrop. How would you find documentation of such cases, and what are examples of situations that would have brought about this end result? One quick way to find clues would be through historical newspapers.
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