407,336
edits
African American Resources for Virginia (view source)
Revision as of 18:23, 26 May 2012
, 26 May 2012no edit summary
(deheaded) |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
== Strategies == | == Strategies == | ||
[[Image: | |||
African American research in Virginia can be divided into two general time periods - before and after the Civil War. | [[Image:Africa ethnic groups 1996.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Africa ethnic groups 1996.jpg]] African American research in Virginia can be divided into two general time periods - before and after the Civil War. | ||
This Wiki page describes research strategies, and major sources of information about African American families from [[Virginia]]. As you read this Wiki page, also study the [[African American Research]] Wiki pages, which will help you understand more strategies, and the contents and uses of other African American genealogical records. | This Wiki page describes research strategies, and major sources of information about African American families from [[Virginia]]. As you read this Wiki page, also study the [[African American Research]] Wiki pages, which will help you understand more strategies, and the contents and uses of other African American genealogical records. | ||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
=== Genetic Testing === | === Genetic Testing === | ||
Many African Americans alive today are having their DNA tested to learn which tribes in Africa they descend from. To learn more about this procedure, read [[Hiring a DNA Testing Company]]. | Many African Americans alive today are having their DNA tested to learn which tribes in Africa they descend from. To learn more about this procedure, read [[Hiring a DNA Testing Company]]. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
| Line 33: | Line 33: | ||
Slaves are sometimes mentioned by first name in '''slavemasters' deeds''' (see the [[Virginia Land and Property]]),'''slave schedules''' (see [[Virginia Census#Online_indexes_and_images|Virginia Census]]), '''wills''' (see [[Virginia Probate Records]]), '''tax lists''' (see [[Virginia Taxation]]), and in '''court order books''' (see [[Virginia Court Records]]). A few '''parish registers''' (see [[Virginia Church Records#Church_of_England_.28Anglican.2C_Protestant_Episcopal.29|Virginia Church Records]]) list slaves who attended church with their masters. In Virginia the births of slave children should be listed in '''county birth registers''' starting in 1853 (see [[Virginia Vital Records]]). | Slaves are sometimes mentioned by first name in '''slavemasters' deeds''' (see the [[Virginia Land and Property]]),'''slave schedules''' (see [[Virginia Census#Online_indexes_and_images|Virginia Census]]), '''wills''' (see [[Virginia Probate Records]]), '''tax lists''' (see [[Virginia Taxation]]), and in '''court order books''' (see [[Virginia Court Records]]). A few '''parish registers''' (see [[Virginia Church Records#Church_of_England_.28Anglican.2C_Protestant_Episcopal.29|Virginia Church Records]]) list slaves who attended church with their masters. In Virginia the births of slave children should be listed in '''county birth registers''' starting in 1853 (see [[Virginia Vital Records]]). | ||
The [http://www.slavevoyages.org/tast/index.faces Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database] Internet site contains references to 35,000 slave voyages, including over 67,000 Africans aboard slave ships, using name, age, gender, origin, and place of embarkation. The database documents the slave trade between Africa, Europe, Brazil, the Caribbean, and the United States. | The [http://www.slavevoyages.org/tast/index.faces Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database] Internet site contains references to 35,000 slave voyages, including over 67,000 Africans aboard slave ships, using name, age, gender, origin, and place of embarkation. The database documents the slave trade between Africa, Europe, Brazil, the Caribbean, and the United States. | ||
'''African American Families Database online''' The Central Virginia History Researchers (CVHR) has now released the [http://www.centralvirginiahistory.org/index.shtml ''African-American Families Database''] online. The first stage of this website provides a template for researchers trying to locate specific African- Americans who lived between circa 1850 and 1880. This period is particularly challenging for African-American family research because of the difficulty in relating ante-bellum and post-bellum records. The two plantations on which the website currently focuses are Hydraulic Plantation (5 miles north of Charlottesville, W.V.), and the Bleak House Plantation (9 miles northwest of Charlottesville W.V.).The site contains information on the plantations and information on the enslaved people living on these two plantations. The site also contains a blog focusing on the activities of the CVHR group, and details about the Database project. | '''African American Families Database online''' The Central Virginia History Researchers (CVHR) has now released the [http://www.centralvirginiahistory.org/index.shtml ''African-American Families Database''] online. The first stage of this website provides a template for researchers trying to locate specific African- Americans who lived between circa 1850 and 1880. This period is particularly challenging for African-American family research because of the difficulty in relating ante-bellum and post-bellum records. The two plantations on which the website currently focuses are Hydraulic Plantation (5 miles north of Charlottesville, W.V.), and the Bleak House Plantation (9 miles northwest of Charlottesville W.V.).The site contains information on the plantations and information on the enslaved people living on these two plantations. The site also contains a blog focusing on the activities of the CVHR group, and details about the Database project. | ||
| Line 59: | Line 59: | ||
*Virginia Historical Society: inventory, {{FHL|754137|item|disp=FHL Book 975 H2sm Ser. M}}; original records, films beginning with {{FHL|752708|item|disp=FHL Film 1985945}}. | *Virginia Historical Society: inventory, {{FHL|754137|item|disp=FHL Book 975 H2sm Ser. M}}; original records, films beginning with {{FHL|752708|item|disp=FHL Film 1985945}}. | ||
The Family History Library has microfilms of most of the records described in the guide booklets. Virginia plantation records are scattered throughout. | The Family History Library has microfilms of most of the records described in the guide booklets. Virginia plantation records are scattered throughout. | ||
=== Free People of Color === | === Free People of Color === | ||
Not all blacks were slaves in Virginia before the Civil War. Many black families had been free since the 1600s. Some of the largest families had the surnames Cumbo, Driggers, and Goins. A large percentage of free people of color descend from black slave men who had children by white indentured servant women. Counties with large numbers of free African Americans in 1790 included: [[Accomack County, Virginia|Accomack]], [[ | Not all blacks were slaves in Virginia before the Civil War. Many black families had been free since the 1600s. Some of the largest families had the surnames Cumbo, Driggers, and Goins. A large percentage of free people of color descend from black slave men who had children by white indentured servant women. Counties with large numbers of free African Americans in 1790 included: [[Accomack County, Virginia|Accomack]], [[Dinwiddie County, Virginia|Dinwiddie]], [[Henrico County, Virginia|Henrico]], [[Nansemond County, Virginia|Nansemond]], [[Northampton County, Virginia|Northampton]], and [[Southampton County, Virginia|Southampton]].<ref>Paul Heinegg, ''Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware,'' http://freeafricanamericans.com/, accessed 25 May 2012.</ref> | ||
Prior to the Civil War, each Virginia county court kept a '''register of free negroes'''. Documentation of a black person's freedom status prevented them from being forced to be slaves. These registers may give the person's name, age, color, stature, marks and scars, and name the court of emancipation. Several of these registers are found at the Library of Virginia. The Family History Library has copies of some of these registers. They are usually found in the Family History Library Place Search under VIRGINIA, [COUNTY] - COURT RECORDS. | Prior to the Civil War, each Virginia county court kept a '''register of free negroes'''. Documentation of a black person's freedom status prevented them from being forced to be slaves. These registers may give the person's name, age, color, stature, marks and scars, and name the court of emancipation. Several of these registers are found at the Library of Virginia. The Family History Library has copies of some of these registers. They are usually found in the Family History Library Place Search under VIRGINIA, [COUNTY] - COURT RECORDS. | ||
| Line 75: | Line 75: | ||
*Paul Heinegg, ''Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware'' at [http://freeafricanamericans.com/ http://freeafricanamericans.com/] (accessed 25 May 2012). About 2,000 pages of family histories based on colonial court order and minute books 1790-1810 census records, tax lists, wills, deeds, free Negro registers, marriage bonds, parish registers, and Revolutionary War pension files. | *Paul Heinegg, ''Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware'' at [http://freeafricanamericans.com/ http://freeafricanamericans.com/] (accessed 25 May 2012). About 2,000 pages of family histories based on colonial court order and minute books 1790-1810 census records, tax lists, wills, deeds, free Negro registers, marriage bonds, parish registers, and Revolutionary War pension files. | ||
For an index of slaves and free men of color, listed in the ''Index to Sons of the American Revolution'' applications, see the [[Virginia Periodicals|Virginia Periodicals]] section. | For an index of slaves and free men of color, listed in the ''Index to Sons of the American Revolution'' applications, see the [[Virginia Periodicals|Virginia Periodicals]] section. | ||
[http://www.archives.com/Patriots '''Patriots of Color'''] is a free database at Archives.com. Includes details about 700+ black Virginians in the Revolutionary War.<ref>Dick Eastman, "Archives.com to Publish the Patriots of Color Database," ''Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter,'' 24 February 2012, http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2012/02/archivescom-to-publish-the-patriots-of-color-database.html.</ref> | |||
=== 1865 to the Present === | === 1865 to the Present === | ||
| Line 107: | Line 109: | ||
*[http://blackcemeteriesportsmouthva.org The African American Historic Cemeteries of Portsmouth Virginia] (web): A friend's group of descendants and volunteers of the African American Cemeteries of Portsmouth: The Mt. Calvary Cemetery Complex (est. 1879), Lincoln Memorial Cemetery (est 1912), and Grove Baptist Church Cemetery (est. 1840). | *[http://blackcemeteriesportsmouthva.org The African American Historic Cemeteries of Portsmouth Virginia] (web): A friend's group of descendants and volunteers of the African American Cemeteries of Portsmouth: The Mt. Calvary Cemetery Complex (est. 1879), Lincoln Memorial Cemetery (est 1912), and Grove Baptist Church Cemetery (est. 1840). | ||
*[https://www.facebook.com/pages/African-American-Cemeteries-of-Hampton-Roads/126726900775531 African American Cemeteries of Hampton Roads] on Facebook. A community forum for the African American cemeteries of Hampton Roads, Virginia. Included are burial sites located in Norfolk, Hampton, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News, and additional areas throughout the Tidewater region. | *[https://www.facebook.com/pages/African-American-Cemeteries-of-Hampton-Roads/126726900775531 African American Cemeteries of Hampton Roads] on Facebook. A community forum for the African American cemeteries of Hampton Roads, Virginia. Included are burial sites located in Norfolk, Hampton, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News, and additional areas throughout the Tidewater region. | ||
*[http://www.africanamericancemeteries.com/va/ Cemeteries in Albemarle and Amherst Counties] at [http://www.africanamericancemeteries.com/ African American Cemeteries Online] - free. | |||
== Websites == | == Websites == | ||
| Line 113: | Line 116: | ||
*[http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/whats_new Register of Colored Persons…cohabiting together as Husband and Wife on 27th February 1866] Under "What's New" are listings of various digital collections. You will find the "Cohabitation Registers" at the bottom. Click on the thumbnail picture rather than the link which does not work at this time. | *[http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/whats_new Register of Colored Persons…cohabiting together as Husband and Wife on 27th February 1866] Under "What's New" are listings of various digital collections. You will find the "Cohabitation Registers" at the bottom. Click on the thumbnail picture rather than the link which does not work at this time. | ||
*[http://freedmensbureau.com/ Freedmen's Bureau] | *[http://freedmensbureau.com/ Freedmen's Bureau] | ||
*[http://www.virginia.edu/woodson/projects/bell/ J. F. Bell Funeral Home Records, Charlottesville, VA 1917-1989] | *[http://www.virginia.edu/woodson/projects/bell/ J. F. Bell Funeral Home Records, Charlottesville, VA 1917-1989] | ||
*[http://www.accomacroots.com/default.asp African American History of Accomac County, Virginia] at Accomac Roots. Includes genealogy, census data, tax lists, indentures, cemeteries, maps, pictures, documents, and sources. | *[http://www.accomacroots.com/default.asp African American History of Accomac County, Virginia] at Accomac Roots. Includes genealogy, census data, tax lists, indentures, cemeteries, maps, pictures, documents, and sources. | ||