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Researching records that document slaves can be very challenging because
  1. Some records are not available because they were burned etc.
  2. Transcription issues when searching for researching that are made available online. Volunteers/Researchers guess the text data incorrectly.)
  3. Digitized records are misfiled within other records.
  4. Records not available online so you have to go to the probate office.
  5. Records are digitized but not indexed so you can't search them.
  6. Ancestry and FamilySearch DO NOT have all of the probate records for EVERY COUNTY. Even if a county is listed, they may not have all of the documents available so unless you actually do your research in the County, your results are “limited”.
  7.  The records on Ancestry and even Family Search have been grossly mis- labeled or mis-filed. Names were misspelled, and even given the wrong name. For instance, if someone died in 1830 but had an open NOTE with someone else in 1818, on Family Search the date is labelled as 1818 but it was really 1818 (a few sources were mislabeled like like). These records and sources are a phenomenal and less expensive source for your research, but if you don’t look at EVERYTHING, you will miss a lot. That is why I did this project because you can be overwhelmed and confused if you don’t have all of the facts and information. Start there, but eventually we will all GO THERE!
When someone died and they had children, someone was appointed the guardian of the estate. Instead of the record being listed as that, you start looking at a record then you realize it is for a child and not the person who died. You have to still review those records, but you eventually have to know who the true person was that died so that you can combine this record with the true source.
If you have successfully traced your family lineage back to the 1870 Census, you are in a fortunate position to explore your ancestors’ history further. The 1870 Census serves as a critical starting point in identifying family members who may have been enslaved prior to emancipation. Here’s how you can leverage this information to construct a migration timeline and uncover deeper connections:

Utilizing the 1870 Census for Family Research

  1. Understanding Family Relationships: Begin by examining the family structure presented in the 1870 Census. Pay attention to the ages, birthplaces, and relationships of each individual listed. This will provide valuable clues about family connections and dynamics.
  2. Tracking Migration Patterns: Use the birthplaces of family members to establish a migration timeline. For example:
    • If the father was born in North Carolina (NC), the mother in South Carolina (SC), and their children were born in various locations such as SC, Georgia (GA), and Alabama, you can deduce a potential migration route:
      • Mother’s Family Migration: The mother’s family likely migrated from SC to NC.
      • Marriage: The parents may have met and married in NC.
      • Children’s Birthplaces: The family then moved to GA, where some of their children were born, before eventually settling in Alabama for the births of the remaining children.
  3. Creating a Migration Timeline: Document the identified migration route to visualize the family's movements over time. This can help contextualize your ancestors’ experiences and the factors influencing their decisions to relocate.
  4. Cross-Referencing Enslaved Individuals: Once you have established a timeline, compare the birth years of enslaved individuals recorded in the 1870 Census with the birthplaces of family members. This information may assist in identifying a potential connection between your ancestors and the individuals who enslaved them. Look for:
    • Age Proximity: Enslaved individuals whose ages align with the family members’ timelines.
    • Regional Connections: Common geographic areas where your ancestors lived and where enslaved individuals were recorded.
  5. Identifying Links to Slaveholders: Tracking patterns of birth and migration can lead you to establish links between your ancestors and specific slaveholders. Understanding where families lived and moved can reveal the potential slaveholding families in those areas during the period of enslavement.
By thoroughly analyzing the 1870 Census and using the information about birthplaces and family connections, you can construct a clearer picture of your ancestors' lives before emancipation. This process not only enriches your understanding of your family's history but also aids in uncovering the complex narratives surrounding slavery, migration, and resilience in your lineage. This journey can ultimately provide a deeper connection to your heritage and the experiences of your ancestors.
Understanding the familial connections of enslaved individuals is crucial, as slaves were considered the property of their enslavers. To locate your ancestors effectively, it is essential to investigate records related to slaveholders who share your last name or were active in the regions where your family lived.

Key Points to Consider

  1. Widows and Inheritance: When a slaveholder passed away, provisions were often made for their widow, which could include the continuation of ownership of enslaved individuals. In many cases, daughters-in-law were bequeathed enslaved people until they remarried, at which point those individuals could either be purchased by the new husband or sold to other family members.
  2. Marital Changes: It’s important to note that when a woman remarried, her enslaved individuals were frequently identified under her new husband’s name in census records. Tracking the marriages of these women, along with their subsequent residences, is vital for understanding the distribution of enslaved individuals.
  3. Family Bequests: Enslaved individuals were often bequeathed to women from their paternal or maternal lines. As a result, it’s important to consider that the enslaved individuals associated with a family may have originated from the maternal line as well.
  4. Distribution and Sale: Enslaved individuals could be bequeathed to one family member but later end up with another, especially following sales or transfers. Thoroughly reviewing transaction records, including bills of sale and court records, is essential to uncovering these relationships. Do not rely solely on probate records; a comprehensive investigation of all relevant documentation will yield a clearer picture.
  5. Broader Ownership: It's important to recognize that enslaved individuals were also owned by Native Americans and free African Americans. This broader context can provide additional avenues for research and may reveal surprising connections in your family history.
By understanding these dynamics, you can enhance your research strategy and uncover valuable information about your ancestors and their experiences within the context of enslavement.
The 1850 and 1860 U.S. Census are unique in that they are the only censuses in American history that recorded enslaved individuals by race and sex. However, the absence of names for these individuals presents a significant challenge in establishing a direct link between your ancestors and the enslaved individuals associated with identified slaveholders.

Utilizing the 1850 and 1860 Censuses

  1. Understanding Census Data: While the censuses do not provide names, they offer crucial information about the age, sex, and race of enslaved individuals. This data can be instrumental in tracing family connections to specific slaveholders or managers.
  2. Age Estimations: It is important to note that the ages of enslaved individuals were often estimated or exaggerated. Therefore, when attempting to establish a link between your ancestors and the enslaved individuals recorded in the census, it is reasonable to consider enslaved individuals whose ages fall within a range of 3 to 5 years of the person you are tracking.
  3. Cross-Referencing with Slaveholders: By comparing the ages and sex of the enslaved individuals recorded in these censuses with the records of known slaveholders or their managers, you can begin to construct a narrative that connects your ancestors to specific individuals within the context of slavery.
Despite the challenges posed by the lack of names in the 1850 and 1860 Censuses, careful analysis of age and sex data can aid in uncovering your ancestral connections to the enslaved population. This process is essential for piecing together the history of your family and understanding their experiences during this tumultuous period in American history.
Understanding the historical context of your research area is crucial when tracing your ancestors. Boundary lines for regions frequently changed over time—sometimes within just 5 to 10 years. As a result, even if your ancestor or the slaveholder did not relocate, changes in jurisdictional boundaries may mean that records are documented in different locations than you might expect.

Key Considerations

  1. Historical Boundary Changes: Be aware that the administrative divisions, such as counties and townships, often underwent significant changes due to factors like population growth, political decisions, and territorial disputes. These alterations can impact where records are kept and how they are categorized.
  2. Researching Different Locations: When conducting your research, consider looking into neighboring counties or jurisdictions. If your ancestor was living in a particular area, their records might have been moved to a different county due to boundary changes, so it's important to check surrounding areas.
  3. Consulting Historical Maps: Utilize historical maps to visualize how boundaries have shifted over time. This can provide valuable context and help you track down records that may not be where you initially expect them to be.
By recognizing the fluid nature of boundary lines and their impact on record-keeping, you can enhance your research strategy. This awareness will help you locate the documentation necessary to uncover your family history and better understand the circumstances surrounding your ancestors' lives.
Once you have identified the slaveholder by surname and established their family connections, it is essential to determine the dates of their deaths. This information will allow you to search probate records for all family members, which can provide valuable insights into the lives of enslaved individuals.

Importance of Probate Records

  1. Gifting of Enslaved Individuals: Probate records often reveal that enslaved individuals were "gifted" to family members such as children, grandchildren, siblings, and spouses. Understanding these relationships is crucial for tracing the ownership and distribution of enslaved individuals within families.
  2. Continued Relevance of Probate Records: Even after the Emancipation Proclamation, many probate records continued to list enslaved individuals as part of the estate. While these individuals may have been considered "lost property" following emancipation, the records can still provide essential information about their names and relationships.
  3. Researching Until 1870: It is beneficial to examine probate records for slaveholders up until 1870. These documents can shed light on the status and treatment of enslaved individuals during this transitional period and may help you make important connections to your ancestors.
By diligently researching probate records, you can gain a deeper understanding of the relationships and circumstances surrounding your ancestors and the enslaved individuals who were part of their lives. This knowledge is vital for constructing a comprehensive family history and appreciating the complexities of your heritage.
The sale of property, including enslaved individuals, was typically required to be announced and recorded in local newspapers. Therefore, searching historical newspapers from the relevant time period can be a valuable resource in your research.

Benefits of Newspaper Research

  1. Record of Property Sales: Newspapers often published advertisements for the sale of enslaved individuals. These announcements can provide specific details about the individuals, including their ages, skills, and the names of the slaveholders involved in the transactions.
  2. Additional Context: Newspapers can also contain stories and accounts related to enslaved individuals, including incidents that may have resulted in their deaths. Such narratives may not be documented in probate records or official documents, offering a broader understanding of the lives and experiences of those who were enslaved.
  3. Understanding Local Dynamics: By examining newspapers, you can gain insight into the social and economic context of the time, including the prevailing attitudes toward slavery and the treatment of enslaved individuals within the community.
Utilizing historical newspapers as part of your research strategy can significantly enhance your understanding of your ancestors’ experiences and the broader narrative surrounding slavery. This approach may uncover valuable information that is not available in other records, ultimately enriching your family history.

The Role of Deeds in Understanding Enslaved Individuals

Deeds play a crucial role in documenting the sale or transfer of enslaved individuals, as these transactions were typically recorded in various notes and deeds. These records can provide essential information regarding the names and ages of those who were sold or gifted.

Insights Gained from Deeds and Notes

  1. Documentation of Sales and Gifts: Deeds offer detailed accounts of the transactions involving enslaved individuals. By examining these records, you can gain a clearer understanding of how enslaved people were transferred between owners, including important information such as their ages and relationships.
  2. Bequests and Delayed Sales: Many slaveholders bequeathed their enslaved individuals to family members, particularly when the heirs were children. To prevent the forced sale of these individuals until the youngest child reached the age of majority (21 years), enslaved individuals were often hired out to generate income for the estate.
  3. Extended Probate Records: Some families maintained probate records for extended periods, sometimes exceeding 25 years. In these instances, enslaved individuals were not sold until the youngest child came of age, and in certain cases, even until a grandchild reached adulthood. This practice can indicate that enslaved individuals remained with the family or within the local area until Emancipation in 1865.

Understanding Promissory Notes

Additionally, it is important to recognize the role of promissory notes in financial transactions. A promissory note serves as an IOU, containing a promise to repay a loan and outlining the terms of repayment. Key components of a promissory note include:
  • Name(s) of the borrower
  • Property address/Location
  • Interest rate (fixed or adjustable)
  • Late charge amount
  • Total loan amount
  • Term (number of years)
Unlike mortgages or deeds of trust, promissory notes are not recorded in county land records. The lender retains the note while the loan is outstanding, and once the loan is fully repaid, the note is marked as paid in full and returned to the borrower. By exploring deeds, notes, and promissory records, you can deepen your understanding of the transactions involving enslaved individuals. These documents not only provide critical information about the individuals themselves but also shed light on the complex relationships and financial arrangements that existed within families during this period.

Understanding Slave Sales and Ownership

Many enslaved individuals were sold in family units, which can significantly aid in tracing their relationships and understanding family dynamics. In instances where families were not sold together, they were often purchased by neighbors, allowing them to remain in the same community.

Key Considerations Regarding Slave Ownership

  1. Census Records vs. Actual Ownership: It is important to note that not every slaveholder recorded in the census actually owned the enslaved individuals listed. Some landowners had properties in other counties or states, which can complicate the understanding of their actual ownership status.
  2. Location of Children and Property: Investigating where the children of slaveholders resided or where they owned property can provide additional context and insights into the dynamics of enslaved individuals in those areas. This information may reveal connections that are not immediately apparent from census records alone.
  3. Overseers and Managers: Some individuals recorded as slaveholders were actually overseers or managers rather than direct owners of the enslaved individuals. In these cases, enslaved individuals might have been hired to work on plantations or other properties, which would typically result in a financial obligation or “note” owed to the slaveholder.
  4. Probate Records and Financial Notes: When examining probate records, it is likely that many slaveholders had outstanding “notes” associated with hired-out enslaved individuals. While it is possible that some individuals owed money to the slaveholder, it is also probable that if they owned enslaved individuals, those individuals were hired out for labor as well.
Thus, when reviewing census records, it is critical to understand that the presence of enslaved individuals listed under a particular slaveholder does not necessarily indicate actual ownership. A thorough examination of the context surrounding each individual’s circumstances, including property ownership and financial arrangements, is essential for gaining an accurate understanding of the relationships and dynamics at play.
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