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Documenting Slavery

Explore the unique features and insights this page provides...

Breaking down the challenges of doing African American genealogical research

Dr. Shelley Viola Murphy

Conducting African American research has its challenges and myths. This presentation will walk through the challenges, clear up the myths and provide some methods and strategies to help combat those challenges.

African American Research

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Marriage and Cohabitation Records

Cohabitation Records, are documents that list couples, often formerly enslaved, who were living together as husband and wife during slavery. These records became particularly important in the United States after the Civil War.

These records serve as valuable tools for researchers and descendants tracing African American ancestry, as they provide a rare glimpse into the personal lives of enslaved individuals whose experiences and relationships were often not formally documented during the era of slavery.

M1875 – Freedmen’s Bureau

 

Cohabitation Records

 

Marriage by States Pre-1900

Library of Virginia

 

Register of Free Negroes

These registers were part of the legal requirements imposed on free African Americans. The primary purpose of these documents was to certify and record the status of free African Americans, a necessity in a society where slavery was prevalent.

1700’s

 

1800’s – 1819

 

1820-1840

 

1841-1865

Slave Owners and Emancipation Records

Slave Owners and Emancipation Records play a crucial role in helping to locate formerly enslaved individuals, understand family connections, and shed light on the living conditions and hardships they endured.  

In essence, Slave Owners and Emancipation Records are essential tools for acknowledging the historical realities of slavery, honoring the experiences of those who suffered under it, and fostering a more accurate understanding of our shared history. They help ensure that the stories of enslaved individuals are not forgotten and contribute to broader conversations about social justice, equality, and human rights.

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Emancipation -vs- Manumission

Emancipation and manumission both refer to processes that lead to the liberation of enslaved individuals, but they differ in scope, context, and the mechanisms by which freedom is achieved.

A broad and systemic process that typically refers to the liberation of a large group of people or an entire population. It is often associated with legal or governmental actions that abolish slavery or bondage on a large scale.

Emancipation is usually enacted through legislation, executive orders, or societal movements that lead to the widespread end of slavery. It involves changes in the legal and social frameworks to ensure that individuals or groups are no longer considered property and have their rights restored.

Example: The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, which declared the freedom of slaves in Confederate states during the American Civil War.

Ancestry.com

FamilySearch

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  • Manumission is a more individualized process where a single enslaver frees one or more enslaved persons. It is a private act, often done voluntarily by the owner.
  • Manumission typically involves personal decisions by enslavers and can be carried out through various means such as legal documents, wills, or personal decrees. It often required compliance with specific legal procedures.
  • Enslaved individuals could sometimes purchase their freedom or earn it through loyal service.

 

  • Example: A slave owner deciding to grant freedom to an enslaved person through a formal document or a will.

 

Ancestry.com

Slave Narratives

The Slave Narratives, also known as the Federal Writers' Project Slave Narratives, are a collection of firsthand accounts and oral histories given by formerly enslaved individuals in the United States during the 1930s.

These narratives were collected as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a New Deal agency established to provide employment to Americans during the Great Depression. The narratives are incredibly important for several reasons, including helping to locate formerly enslaved individuals, slave masters, and family members:

1936 -1938

Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project

  • Vol. 1, Alabama
  • Aarons-Young
  • Vol. 2 Arkansas
  • Part 1, Abbott-Byrd
  • Part 2, Cannon-Evans
  • Part 3, Gadson-Isom
  • Part 4, Jackson-Lynch
  • Part 5, McClendon-Prayer
  • Part 6, Quinn-Tuttle
  • Part 7, Vaden-Young
  • Vol. 3, Florida
  • Anderson-Wilson
  • Vol. 4, Georgia
  • Part 1, Adams-Furr
  • Part 2, Garey-Jones
  • Part 3, Kendricks-Styles
  • Part 4, Telfair-Young
  • Vol. 5, Indiana
  • Arnold-Woodson
  • Vol. 6, Kansas
  • Holbert-Williams
  • Vol. 7, Kentucky
  • Bogie-Woods
  • Vol. 8, Maryland
  • Brooks-Williams
  • Vol. 9, Mississippi
  • Allen-Young
  • Vol. 10, Missouri
  • Abbot-Younger
  • Vol. 11, North Carolina
  • Part 1, Adams-Hunter
  • Part 2, Jackson-Yellerday
  • Vol. 12, Ohio
  • Anderson-Williams
  • Vol. 13, Oklahoma
  • Adams-Young
  • Vol. 14, South Carolina
  • Part 1, Abrams-Durant
  • Part 2, Eddington-Hunter
  • Part 3, Jackson-Quattlebaum
  • Vol. 15, Tennessee
  • Batson-Young
  • Vol. 16, Texas
  • Part 1, Adams-Duhon
  • Part 2, Easter-King
  • Part 3, Lewis-Ryles
  • Part 4, Sanco-Young
  • Vol. 17, Virginia
  • Berry-Wilson

Readings from the Slave Narratives

"Unchained Memories" is a poignant and powerful documentary that brings to life the harrowing experiences of former slaves as recounted in the WPA Slave Narrative Collection. Directed by Ed Bell and Thomas Lennon and produced by HBO in 2003, the film employs the voices of renowned actors to recreate the narratives collected during the Federal Writers' Project in the 1930s. These narratives, derived from interviews with over two thousand former slaves, offer an intimate and profoundly personal glimpse into the lives of individuals who lived through the brutal reality of slavery in America.

Additional Slave Narratives

Library of Congress
Library of Congress Collection Items
Audio

Slavery Era Insurance Policies Registry

During the slavery era, enslaved people were considered property under the law. Slave owners could purchase insurance policies on their enslaved people, much like they would for livestock or other assets. These policies would pay out in the event of the death or injury of the enslaved person, ensuring that the slave owner did not suffer a financial loss.

Insurance companies provided coverage for various risks, including the death of enslaved people due to disease or accidents, as well as their escape or rebellion. These policies were a way to protect the investments of slave owners and were an integral part of the economic structure supporting slavery.

The Mississippi Slave Certificates from 1858-1871 refer to a collection of historical records found in the Adams County Courthouse in Natchez, Mississippi. This collection contains slave certificates from the years 1858 to 1871, which are part of a book labeled “Record Book Adams County” discovered in 1999. These records include vital statistics of enslaved individuals brought from various states, including Kentucky, Virginia, Missouri, and Tennessee, to Mississippi before the Civil War​​​​.

These certificates are a transcription of the vital statistics of the enslaved people and typically include information such as names, genders, colors, ages, and weights of the slaves. These records provide crucial historical data, especially considering the gaps in census records and other official documentation from that era​​​​.

The significance of these records lies in their detailed account of the sale and transfer of slaves in the period leading up to the Civil War, offering a glimpse into the harsh realities and complexities of slavery in the United States during the 19th century​​.

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Adams County, Mississippi Slave Certificates 1858-1871

Public Claims & Free Blacks, 1781-1865

Contains tax records for free blacks and slaves, records of condemned blacks who were executed or transported out of state, and records of runaway slaves who were caught and whose owners could not be found. The runaway slaves became the property of the state and were sold to new owners.

 

The General Assembly of Virginia passed restrictive laws in response to white fears of slave rebellion. Free blacks were also subjected to harsh laws and taxes.

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FamilySearch

Chancery Records and  why they are so important

Chancery Records, particularly in the context of the United States and other countries with a history of slavery, are important historical documents that can be invaluable for locating formerly enslaved individuals, slave masters, and family members.

 

These records provide a wealth of information that can help piece together the stories of those who were directly affected by slavery and its aftermath.

Chancery Records refer to court documents and proceedings from chancery courts, which dealt with equity and fairness issues. These records often include wills, estate settlements, property disputes, and lawsuits related to enslaved individuals. Legal documents are crucial for tracing the ownership and movements of enslaved people, as well as their interactions with their owners or other parties.

Chancery Records can contain information about the names, ages, familial relationships, and even physical descriptions of enslaved individuals. For genealogical research, these records can provide key details that enable researchers to establish connections between enslaved people, their owners, and their descendants.

Chancery Records may include cases related to manumission (the act of setting slaves free) and emancipation (the legal process of ending slavery). These records often reveal the reasons behind an individual’s freedom and provide insights into the lives of the formerly enslaved after they gained their freedom.

Enslaved individuals were often treated as property, and their ownership could change due to various factors such as inheritance, sales, or disputes. Chancery Records can document these transactions, shedding light on the movement of enslaved people and potential changes in ownership.

Estate Settlements 1853

On March 13 and 14, 1855, the firm of J. A. Beard & May placed on the auction block 178 enslaved men, women, and children at the Banks Arcade in New Orleans, Louisiana. They were part of the estate of William M. Lambeth, who had died in 1853. To settle the estate, Judge J. N. Lea had ordered the sale of 127 slaves from the Waverly plantation and 51 from the Meredith plantation, both in Avoyelles Parish.

New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., Historical Notaries

Indexes, 1770-1966

This collection has records made by notaries in New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1770 to 1966. These records list important events like financial deals, estate proceedings, and other legal events witnessed by a notary public. Before the Civil War, the records also include transactions involving enslaved people. Each notary kept a brief record of their activities.

The collection does not have the full contracts, wills, or marriage records but only the indexes to those events. Many of these records are handwritten and can be in English, Spanish, or French, making some difficult to read. The original documents are kept by the Clerk of Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans. 

Unlike other places in the U.S. that had centralized indexes for deeds, New Orleans kept these records with individual notaries. This could make it hard to find records if you didn’t know the notary’s name. This collection makes it easier to search for notary records, even if you don’t know the name of the family notary.

 

Unlike other places in the U.S. that had centralized indexes for deeds, New Orleans kept these records with individual notaries. This could make it hard to find records if you didn’t know the notary’s name. This collection makes it easier to search for notary records, even if you don’t know the name of the family notary.

Ancestry.com
State of Louisiana
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Virginia Untold

The African American Narrative

Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative is a digital initiative spearheaded by the Library of Virginia aimed at uncovering and preserving the untold stories of African Americans in Virginia from the state’s early colonial period through the Civil War and into the Reconstruction era. This project provides access to a wealth of primary source documents that shed light on the experiences and contributions of African Americans, particularly those who were enslaved.

 

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Account Books / Journals

Slave Owner / Overseer's / Trader / Plantation

  • George Washington - Mount Vernon VA Estate
  • Greenwood Plantation 1863-1866 Near Danville Montomery County Texas
  • Robert Jemison Jr & Family - Alabama University
  • William Wingfield Simpson-owner, Hancock County Georgia
  • Ormonde Plantation 1861 - University of Mississippi
  • Punishment Record Book of Friendship Plantation

Documenting Slavery

Additional Research Tools

  • Slave Biographies
  • Anti-Slavery Manuscripts
  • A Gateway to Georgia's History
  • 7 Steps to Finding Your Enslaved Ancestors
  • Ancestry.com - Researching African American Ancestors
  • Finding African Americans on the 1870 Census - PDF
  • Finding Local Black Ancestors: a Genealogy Road Map
  • Claire Kluskens - Identify Former Enslaved and Slave Holder - PDF
  • Researching Your African-American Family History Before 1870
  • Slavery Inventory Database
  • Roots Revealed
  • Northern Virginia History Notes
  • SLNC - Records of Enslaved People
  • Virginia Untold: Free Registers (indexing)
  • Library of Virginia, Free Negro Registers
  • The Beyond Kin Project - How to Research Enslaved Ancestors
  • Free African Americans in Colonial Maryland and Delaware
  • Free African Americans in Colonial, VA, MC, SC, MD, DE
  • 10 Million Names
  • Anti-Slavery Manuscripts
  • Virginia Slaves Freed After 1782
  • Slavery and Abolitionist Movement (1790-1860)
  • Free Black Registers, Albermarle County
  • FamilySearch - Quick Guide to African American Records
  • Lowcountry Africana - Beginning Genealogy
  • The Brue Family Learning Center, Researching Enslaved Ancestors
  • The Land Between the Rivers
  • Researching Free Blacks