Researching Persons of Color: African American Genealogy

[@sableindian]

I use obituaries. I'm so happy for the collections from my grandparents.

[@lisaknox4257]

This may not work for you, but I have asked funeral homes for info. Most families utilize the same one(s), traditionally. And a lot of them where I'm from have old records leather bound and in the historical societies. Like death certificates, they say who gave the info and has their info.

[@GenealogyTV]

Yes, and their information often contains other family members.

[@tanelise4673]

@@lisaknox4257 I actually got a funeral home to send me my great great grandmother's funeral record from 1935. Her funeral was $15 back then.

[@CocoAmanda]

OMG! This is the best information I have ever been given on researching African Americans/ Black people. Thank you! Can't wait for you to come back.

[@GenealogyTV]

Thanks. I’ll let Renate know about your comment.

[@Nada62]

Glad you enjoyed and found the video helpful!

[@judystallons6039]

So grateful for this information! Our daughter-in-law’s family knows very little about their ancestry, but I now feel better equipped to help with that research. Thank you!

[@GenealogyTV]

Wonderful!

[@Nada62]

So glad you found the information helpful!

[@malikagadsden6430]

Excellent presentation. Thank you so much Connie Knox for inviting Ms. Yarborough. I would like to see a part 2.

[@GenealogyTV]

You are so welcome. That is not a bad idea. I'll give it some thought. Are some other videos on African American research that might help too. kzbin.info/aero/PLiMXWjHlj5RQzojKOI1FmaCQDOXUeUd3C

[@fernie5128]

Renata, you are terrific! What a great presentation, thank you!

[@Nada62]

Thank you! I’m glad you found the information helpful!

[@nicolephillips1483]

This was a wonderful presentation.

[@GenealogyTV]

Excellent. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Nada62]

Thank you!

[@cefcat5733]

She is great! That opens up so many more doors for people to get in touch with their ancestors. Thank you both for this exciting, fascinating, generous, presentation.

[@GenealogyTV]

Thank you.

[@Nada62]

So glad you enjoyed the talk!

[@mpaige7081]

My boyfriend ancestors are the same couple. Same problem i ran into . It’s frustrating

[@ivamcole2304]

I'm trying to research my Black American ancestors in New Orleans, Greater New Orleans and Louisiana Cajun Country

[@5592susher]

l'm searching the same, both my maternal and paternal grandparents were from New Orleans, St. Mary and Berwick and other parts of Louisiana

[@ivamcole2304]

@@5592susher both my parents from New Orleans, my grandparents and some of my great grandparents are from there as well. One of my great grandmas are from Prairieville, Louisiana and another great grandma from Morgan City, Louisiana, and a great grandpa from Des Allemands, Louisiana

[@5592susher]

@@ivamcole2304 Im not sure if you are aware, but New Orleans public library has genealogy depart that can assist. Here is the site I also use for my research nolalibrary.org/page/212/e-resources/222/genealogy-local-history

[@kckillakrack9714]

I'm glad you used the correct words black American I salute you. Only in america can African American be a skin color. Cause everyone in africa is black right? Lol

[@kckillakrack9714]

@@shaffy856 I mean its not even that I respect all people its actions in judge never a person. My biggest issue with the african american is the fact that arabs, blacks, and whites all live and come from africa. I'm an arab from africa i could never claim to be an african american even though im from africa. Americas biggest enemy is itself. The priority here is to categorize everyone and everything and two use fear and hate instead of fact and truth to push agendas

[@skypt123]

I sooooo needed this! Thank you!

[@GenealogyTV]

You’re welcome. My pleasure.

[@Nada62]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@LauriPlaysOfficial]

I love her! What a great speaker and such interesting information!! Thanks for bringing her on.

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Nada62]

Thank you!

[@genneancroker9925]

Fantastic Episode Connie I loved all the golden Nuggets of information that was given Keep up the great work you do many Thanks to you and your guest Love it , Love it ,Love it

[@GenealogyTV]

Thanks Gennean. I can't take credit for this one... it was all Renate.

[@Nada62]

Connie, you deserve so much credit for bringing this important info to your followers! Thanks for having me! :)

[@GenealogyTV]

@@Nada62 Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us Renate!

[@gregorygivens1327]

Excellent information, this has been very helpful.

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad to hear it!

[@anellawrites]

Thanks for this. I am an amateur genealogist, but all of my closest friends are Black people and I am doing four different genealogy projects for them. I’ve used Ancestry to find all of their ancestors and have found records dating to slavery. Of course that’s where it stops. But they are all from Alabama.

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful. Here is a playlist for researching African American ancestors kzbin.info/aero/PLiMXWjHlj5RQzojKOI1FmaCQDOXUeUd3C

[@tharatazahonewest2497]

They need to tell you they aren’t black!

[@lynneporter1351]

i i just found this video after looking at my library virtual presentation on looking for ancestors in 1870... well it was no use really to me because it was not about Black Americans... this video is soooooooo helpful..oh man this is what i have been requesting of my library but you can give information on stuff you don't know. i have subscribed to your video series and will subscribe to Ms. Yarboroughs sites also.. Just thank you.. this gave me so much..... i need some more before i declare i cant find my great grandparents on the 1870 census... thank you... so much...

[@GenealogyTV]

I would never give up completely. There are new records coming online all the time. Thank you for the compliments. There are more videos on my channel that may be helpful to your research.

[@Nada62]

Thanks for watching! I'm so glad you found the information helpful and relevant to your research. :)

[@t.horvath4104]

Thanks! I'm a Family History Consultant. This infor will come in handy assist the African Americans.

[@deanareich6264]

Hi Connie I just listened to Researching Persons of Color. This is awesome! I learned about so many places I didn't know about to search. My son in laws ancestors were from Tennessee. So I am going to use some of the info that she gave. I hope to find his ancestor's parents at least. Thank you so much! Deana

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the compliments

[@MonicaDavis3233]

Awesome job...I'm going to use this for more searching... Thank you...

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@renebrown995]

Thanks so much for all this information. I now feel you have fuelled my flame to want to pick up again my family search. I set it aside for awhile because if anyone have been doing searching for long knows how daunting it can be. I have been at so many bricks walls because all my elders passed on when I was young and there is no one left to question. Any help I can get I will appreciate.

[@lisaknox4257]

My problem is the "gray fog", as I call it, from the 1880 Census to the 1900. I have over 7,000 on my tree, but there are "lost" ones in that time frame. Also, Blacks who traveled with the Trail of Tears. A great-aunt supposedly did: I live in West KY in a town that was a stopping place for the Trail. The story was that she was taken. I have her picture and she looked so Indian (my guess is my family has some Chickasaw), it wasn't hard to blend her in. The late grandson of the White fisherman who admitted he saw her said his grandfather maintained that he thought she looked familiar, but wasn't certain until my paternal 2nd great-grandfather was searching for her. He told me his grandfather was always sad about the story because the men had been friends.

[@SarV1]

Yes! I have been trying to trace my ancestors enslaved families and I loose a lot of them after 1880. Many moved from the rural farms of Georgia to Atlanta during this period, Im guessing to find work and hopes of a better life, but they seem to "get lost in the crowd" 😕

[@deellaboe437]

This is what I'm afraid of as well. Especially in the south.

[@deellaboe437]

Yay, I knew you'd have a video on the topic. I commented on another video asking how to research AA history and what do I find. Ty for all your information and knowledge.

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad you’re finding them helpful.

[@deellaboe437]

@@GenealogyTV very helpful, thanks a ton!

[@tanelise4673]

Enjoyed the presentation. I’m researching my family in Mississippi. Finally found them in 1870. No one nearby with the same surnames. I guess this is the beginning of looking for a needle in a haystack.

[@GenealogyTV]

Look in surrounding counties and states. People moved. Also look for changing borders.

[@tanelise4673]

@@GenealogyTV I’m now at the point of looking for slave holders. Wish me luck!

[@shaffy856]

My father's maternal line comes from the Quann family in Shenandoah VA. They are the only ones with this surname even amongst other Free Blacks. It's as if it came out of nowhere.

[@Nada62]

@@tanelise4673 Take a look at records of the Freedmen's Bureau - in particular, those related to transportation and to labor contracts. It might be a long shot, but you could possibly find mention of your ancestors being hired to work in a different area than where they were enslaved.

[@Nada62]

@@shaffy856 That surname is very similar to "QUANDER" and may be a derivation of it. Google "Quander family" and you'll find tons of info.

[@melodiepatton2651]

Thank you for this video. I’m from eastern Kentucky and when I started researching my family I found a few records that had some of my ancestors as Mulatto and FPC from Hawki s Tenn, I have actually traced 4 of my ancestors to Shirley Plantation

[@GenealogyTV]

Nice work.

[@Stephfie32]

Thank you for such a concise, energized, and well-organized presentation. I learned so much, but I will have to watch it again since I forgot to make notes. LOL I was so engrossed with the information that was being presented, and there was plenty information and examples, that I was truly mesmerized with the presentation. I have never gained so much knowledge about researching people of color all in one spot!! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, experiences, and knowledge with us!! You are AWESOME!! PS. One question that has been bothering me for years {and I hope you can clear it up for me.}: Were there any Blackfoot Native people in the Raleigh area or Buncombe County or Ashville? My grandmother told us a long time ago that she was a "Blackfoot Indian"!!! I have been spinning my wheels trying to answer this question for years. Thank you for any information you can offer to help me with this issue!! Again, thank you for such a wonderful and exciting presentation!! God bless!!!

[@GenealogyTV]

Thanks for the kind words. That would take some research, for which I don't have time. I did find this reference which might help. www.native-languages.org/iaq18.htm and www.cmlibrary.org/blog/history-native-americans-north-carolina and ncadmin.nc.gov/public/american-indians/nc-tribal-communities

[@Nada62]

I'm so glad you found the information helpful. Happy researching!

[@rebimac1619]

Thank you so much so loss with this research

[@GenealogyTV]

Hang in there. Keep learning, hopefully you’ll figure it out.

[@jeremiahdavisj]

Thanks for this information. I found an estate record listing my enslaved family and a transcribed family Bible listing their exact births. I have a suspicion that the enslaver may be my ancestors father but I am still actively looking! Thanks!

[@GenealogyTV]

A DNA test might help.

[@Katrina782]

I’m researching in South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi

[@sableindian]

Katrina: what part of MS and GA?

[@Katrina782]

@@sableindian sorry I’m just noticing your comment. Pike county and greenwood Mississippi, and Talbot Georgia

[@amt0423]

This was awesome!

[@GenealogyTV]

Super. Thanks for the comment. Glad it was helpful.

[@Nada62]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@cherylpuzon6616]

Thank you so much!!

[@GenealogyTV]

You're welcome!

[@gfjchs3n1]

As usual LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. I share your videos. So I came to an 1870 brick wall many years ago. And my brother one day not knowing he had given me a hint for our great-grandfather asked me to lookup his full name as listed on his marriage certificate (1888). Well I like to search numerous ways and it came to me to lookup him his middle name as his last name. And there was the whole family him included. How did I know. He was listed and the children he eventually had was named after his parents and a brother and living in the same area. But for some reason when he married that last name was recorded as his middle name. So was that last name for a former slave owner? Was his family even slaves? The search goes on. Oh and by the way. After finding that info it was told at the next family reunion that that is our family name and we don't really know why he changed it. I don't know why they rejected the information. But I am keeping it for my records and working on more research. Thank you for all you do.

[@GenealogyTV]

Wow great story. Have you looked in the Southern Claim Commission Records? Just a thought. There's an episode on that too.

[@gfjchs3n1]

@@GenealogyTV No I haven't but will do. I do know the courthouse where I got some information has beautiful records. With what's going on now I thank God for online research. Thank you and have a great day and stay safe.

[@GenealogyTV]

Thank you, you too.

[@buntingy]

Great subject

[@GenealogyTV]

Yes... thanks.

[@Trapezoid2]

This was an excellent and informative video, I learned a lot. This is especially useful to me because my father’s side descends primarily from enslaved people in Virginia. I had a question about marriage records: Are the bride and groom the ones who give their age and the names of their parents? Or is it the witnesses or someone else? The reason I ask is because I am researching my 3rd great-grandfather, Robert Hairston, born in 1858 in Ridgeway, Virginia. He married my 3rd great-grandmother Mary Draper on February 14th, 1879 in Leaksville Township, North Carolina, just south of Ridgeway. On the marriage record, Robert’s father is listed as “unknown” and his mother as “Lucy Hairston”. Mary’s parents are listed as Peter and Milly Draper, just as other documents show. The problem is, Lucy, Robert’s mother, was married to her husband Squire Hairston since 1856 according to the cohabitation records. Marriage, census, and plantation records show Robert’s year of birth as 1858. This does not add up to Robert not knowing the name of his father. There is also a question on the marriage record that asks if the father is alive or not, and it is also filled out as “unknown”. This did not make sense to me since Squire lived in Ridgeway with his wife, Lucy, until his death in 1888. I thought it may be a possible that my Robert’a mother was a different Lucy, but Squire and Lucy’s proximity on the 1880 census to Robert and Mary, along with 3rd cousin DNA connections between one of my relatives on the older generation and another one of Lucy’s great-great granddaughters shows that it was this Lucy and no other. I tired using DNA, but since many families intermarried into others in Henry County (Hairston, Marin, Eggleston, Dillard, Gravely, etc) it gets fuzzy past Squire and Lucy. In addition to this, Squire’s father is also named Robert as well, and I do have matches that descend from Squire’s siblings, but those matches also sometimes share different DNA matches with us or different common ancestors with each other. I also thought it may be a possibility that Robert was Squire’s step-son, and the year of the cohabitation may be off by a few years, but I’m just not certain anymore. Was this a simple oversight Robert’s part on the marriage record or did someone else give the info?

[@Nada62]

Hi. I've had situations like that, also, and it's sometimes difficult to know what is really going on. It's quite possible that someone else is giving the info, although you'd think the bride and groom to be were standing right there. But, it could have possibly have been the person who applied for the bond. Another consideration is that maybe Robert was fathered by someone unknown to him, but raised by Squire. Maybe he really didn't know who his "real" father was. The years could also easily be off. If you're really concerned with verifying his paternity, DNA could help. Happy researching!

[@Trapezoid2]

@@Nada62 Hello Renate, and thank you for the response! Fortunately, in terms of DNA, we have Robert’s paternal haplogroup, thanks to one of his great-great grandsons testing on 23andMe (it is E-U290). No direct male descendants of Squire’s father, Bob, have taken the test to my knowledge, so maybe in time they will and we can see if the two haplogroups match. DNA has helped a little, but since people in my, and other descendants of Robert’s match list also share other ancestors besides Bob and Kate Hairston sometimes, it’s difficult to discern who that common ancestor was. Unfortunately, the text on the marriage record is very faded, but I can makes some things out. I see three witnesses there, and have identified one. He lives a few pages away from Robert on the census, so I am guessing he is his friend or associate. I have another question: Who else would have applied for the bond besides Robert and Mary? Thank you for all your help

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad you enjoyed it. Renate is great!

[@tanelise4673]

My great great grandmother was born around 1848 and her daughter, who was the informant indicated the place of birth was “Mudock, Mississippi”. I have found no such place. There is a ‘Murdock Crossing” which appears on the Itta Bena US Genealogical Survey Map, in Mississippi but I can’t assume this is the right place. Also, I found a Murdock county on a website that I can’t seem to locate. Is there a branch of government, or a state department that would know if Mudock, Mississippi was perhaps renamed? I don’t know where to go with this one.

[@GenealogyTV]

Look for a gazetteer for the state or area. They often have small little crossroads and townships.

[@tanelise4673]

@@GenealogyTV I believe I found the “extinct” Mississippi city. It appears the location listed as the birthplace on my gg grandmother’s death certificate as “Mudock” is really Modoc. I found it on the Mississippi 1885 Atlas & Gazeeter (Cram’s Unrivaled Family Atlas of the World). There are actually 2 Mississippi counties with this city name. Thanks again!

[@shaffy856]

I've learned that using maps from the specific area and time period are the most helpful. Borders were very different back then.

[@jyoung5102]

This is really valuable. My question is, once I know what to look for, and where they arise from, how do I find these records. I can’t easily travel to a courthouse. Is there a way to find them other than physically going to the repository? HOW do I the records that I know may exist without traveling to the repository? Thank you

[@GenealogyTV]

First, go to the FamilySearch.org/wiki and drill into the location to the county level. Look for information about the county court. Then if records are not available online, pick up the phone and call them for advice on how to access their records. They'll let you know how to apply and how much it will cost for them to send you the records.

[@patriciascott1717]

I loved the presentation. Are slides available to be used as reference material. Thank you.

[@GenealogyTV]

First thanks for supporting the channel Patricia. Slides are not available, because this was presented by Renate. Feel free to watch the video as often as needed.

[@dianadunham768]

Very helpful thank you!

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@amberphillips9315]

Amazing

[@GenealogyTV]

Thanks

[@Katrina782]

She talked about church records. How do I find church records? Are they only searchable if it’s listed on family search.

[@GenealogyTV]

Go to the FamilySearch Wiki and look for the area you're researching in for church records. Drill down by location first.

[@KitKat-kg4ku]

I'm wondering, what was the earliest record you have examined. Did it go all the way to Africa?

[@GenealogyTV]

I'll ask her Kit.

[@Nada62]

I have not gotten back to Africa in my personal research but have witnessed a few others who have.

[@melimelz6850]

My ancestors last name is also Ross. Wonder if there is a connection.

[@Nada62]

Hi, Meli Melz. My Ross ancestors were in Warren County, NC as far back as I have them. If you think there might be a connection, please reach out via email.

[@luvdink24]

I've been researching for years and never ran across a cohabitation record before. Can you tell me how to find them in the ancestry card catalog or where or how I can find them?

[@GenealogyTV]

Go on Ancestry to search>card catalog>keyword search “cohabitation” and you should find a collection.

[@luvdink24]

@@GenealogyTV Thank You!

[@luvdink24]

@@GenealogyTV No records came up on Ancestry

[@Iamyoung4094]

is it true that in the 1870 census, the slaves were listed following the former slave holders? Which indicates who they were still employed by.

[@GenealogyTV]

I would not say that is a hard and fast rule. However, it was common for former enslaved to continue to work for their former enslavers, especially if they were treated decently. Keep in mind that this time of emancipation was a difficult time for the recently freed. Where were they going to go? They suddenly had choices to make and leaving the place they had known as home (good or bad) was a stressful time. Keep in mind that by 1870 everyone was named who was in the household. So if the formerly enslaved decided to stay on and live with their former masters (now employers), they would be listed after the Head of the Household including their relationship to the HOH.

[@Iamyoung4094]

@@GenealogyTV I am thankful for your work, I have learned alot from you.

[@sharonbeasley8130]

Do it again!!!!

[@bipolarexpress830]

Realistically, would it be possible to trace my African-American ancestors back to Africa using Ancestry?

[@GenealogyTV]

It totally depend on your ancestors and how documented they were. It is possible to trace them back to their arrival in the U.S. in many cases. DNA might tell the rest of the story.

[@tharatazahonewest2497]

We are our ancestors so yes these are the same people!

[@GenealogyTV]

Yes!

[@RoughStoneRollingLapidary]

Virginia doing it right with those forms.

[@dexterjones8172]

Plan A the Freedmen bank research..❤

[@dejuanwelch2351]

This was very helpful! I am trying to figure out who owned my ancestors William and James Brinker. James was living in Lowndes county on the 1870 census but I believe he may have moved from Chickasaw county Mississippi. James was born in South Carolina about 1823, a son Henry was born about 1855 in Mississippi, and a son William born about 1860 in Mississippi. James knew how to read according to the 1870 census could this be true or a mistake? DNA cousin matches has also been a help because I matched to descendants of a man named Henry Brinker born about 1825 in South Carolina. Could they be brothers? Also I matched to people who descended from a man named George Kilgore born about 1849 in Mississippi. I believe George's father to be a man named David Kilgore born about 1823 in South Carolina. There was a Slave owner who was living in the area named Benjamin Kilgore born in 1792 in Greenville county South Carolina. There is also a slave owner named Isaac Brinker born in 1792 in Shenandoah county Virginia. Benjamin Kilgore had a daughter who married a son of Isaac Brinker. Maybe when Benjamin's daughter was married he gave some of his slaves as gifts. Benjamin was interested in slave trade according to the amount of slaves he owned and the newspapers. I did search the 1860 slave schedule in Chickasaw county and I did find a man 36 years old listed next to 5, 3, and a 1 year old. Maybe that's James, Chanie, Henry, and William. The slave owner was Henry Hugh Brinker the son of Isaac Brinker. What does anyone else think about this information.

[@GenealogyTV]

It's a lot to digest. What you can do is create a grid (Excel) with all the names on the left, dates of records across the top and note the age in the crosshairs of the cells to review all your data in one view... that way you can see if the clusters of siblings or FAN club members line up. That might help confirm you have the right people that moved from one place to another.

[@robsmiley1256]

I have seven other cousins with the same name as me so I know all about it

[@GenealogyTV]

Oh boy. Perhaps you document all of them so that future generations have a guide to help keep them all straight.

[@robsmiley1256]

@@GenealogyTV That's a great idea there all older then me it should be easy enough to do

[@tharatazahonewest2497]

I really hate this for my people!

[@GenealogyTV]

I hear you.

[@mareerogers1114]

ADOS are not POC!

[@makingmoney8470]

We are not Africans smh

[@worldpeace4231]

not from Africa 😂🫷🏾

[@RoughStoneRollingLapidary]

For Jewish people tracking ancestry, our 1870 is 1938-43ish. Talk about a brick wall.

[@jaewise6198]

Yay!

[@GenealogyTV]

Yay!