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African American Resources for Delaware: Difference between revisions

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==Introduction==
==Introduction==
==Online Resources==
==Online Resources==
'''Record Collections'''
<table><tr><td>
 
'''Record Collections'''<br>
*[http://www.discoverfreedmen.org/ Discover Freedmen] - this site searches all of the Freedmen's Bureau record collections on FamilySearch altogether (and redirects there)
*[http://www.discoverfreedmen.org/ Discover Freedmen] - this site searches all of the Freedmen's Bureau record collections on FamilySearch altogether (and redirects there)
*'''1800-1932''' [https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1672 Delaware, Birth Records, 1800-1932] at Ancestry ($)
*'''1800-1932''' [https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1672 Delaware, Birth Records, 1800-1932] at Ancestry ($)
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*[https://digital.dehistory.org/slavery-collection-1749-1929 Slavery Collection, 1749-1929] at Delaware Historical Society-Digital Collections
*[https://digital.dehistory.org/slavery-collection-1749-1929 Slavery Collection, 1749-1929] at Delaware Historical Society-Digital Collections
 
<td><tr><table>
==Research Strategy==
==Research Strategy==
==History==
==History==


<li>[http://www1.udel.edu/BlackHistory/overview.html Black Americans in Delaware: An Overview]</li>
*[http://www1.udel.edu/BlackHistory/overview.html Black Americans in Delaware: An Overview]


==Resources==
==Resources==
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*[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1126 Selected African Americans in Delaware, 1890 U.S. Census] - lists name, occupation, enumeration district, and residence. Ancestry
*[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1126 Selected African Americans in Delaware, 1890 U.S. Census] - lists name, occupation, enumeration district, and residence. Ancestry
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1211469 List of selected African Americans from the 1890 and 1900 Federal population censuses of Delaware and related census publications; agriculture in the state of Delaware (1901) and Negroes in the United States (1904) : M1919; Record Group (RG) 29; Record Group (RG) 287] FamilySearch Catalog
*{{FSC|1211469|item|disp=List of selected African Americans from the 1890 and 1900 Federal population censuses of Delaware and related census publications; agriculture in the state of Delaware (1901) and Negroes in the United States (1904) : M1919; Record Group (RG) 29; Record Group (RG) 287}} FamilySearch Catalog


===Church Records===
===Church Records===
A few parish registers list slaves who attended church with their enslavers (see [[Delaware Church Records|Church Records]]).
A few parish registers list enslaved persons who attended church with their slaveholders (see [[Delaware Church Records|Church Records]]).


===Emancipation Records===
===Emancipation Records===
===Funeral Homes===
===Funeral Homes===
*[https://app.air.inc/a/borzvL1af/b/8dc76b25-27b0-42b5-a889-6c7027db068f CAAGS Obituary and Funeral Home Collection] at California African American Genealogical Society - index & images
===Genealogies===
===Genealogies===
===Land and Property===
===Land and Property===
Slaves in [[Delaware Genealogy|Delaware]] are sometimes mentioned in deeds (see [[Delaware Land and Property|Land and Property]]).
Enslaved persons in [[Delaware Genealogy|Delaware]] are sometimes mentioned in deeds (see [[Delaware Land and Property|Land and Property]]).


====Plantation====
====Plantation====


=== Law and Legislation ===
=== Law and Legislation ===
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/723107 State slavery statutes:Delaware, ca. 1790-1865 (13 fiche) FHL 6118904]
*{{FSC|723107|item|disp=State slavery statutes:Delaware, ca. 1790-1865 (13 fiche) FS Library 6118904}}
 
===Obituaries===
*[https://app.air.inc/a/borzvL1af/b/8dc76b25-27b0-42b5-a889-6c7027db068f CAAGS Obituary and Funeral Home Collection] at California African American Genealogical Society - index & images


===Oral Histories===
===Oral Histories===
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===Probate Records===
===Probate Records===
Slaves in [[Delaware Genealogy|Delaware]] are sometimes mentioned in wills (see [[Delaware Probate Records|Probate Records]]).
Enslaved persons in [[Delaware Genealogy|Delaware]] are sometimes mentioned in wills (see [[Delaware Probate Records|Probate Records]]).


[https://www.americanorigins.org/delaware-enslaved-and-free-persons-and-slaveholders Delaware: Enslaved and Free Persons, and Slaveholders] is a database of enslaved and free persons extracted from Sussex County, Delaware will books from 1836-1851, with ongoing updates. Slaveholders occasionally provided surnames or exact birthdates in their wills.  
[https://www.americanorigins.org/delaware-enslaved-and-free-persons-and-slaveholders Delaware: Enslaved and Free Persons, and Slaveholders] is a database of enslaved and free persons extracted from Sussex County, Delaware will books from 1836-1851, with ongoing updates. Slaveholders occasionally provided surnames or exact birthdates in their wills.  
===Reconstruction Records===
===Reconstruction Records===
====Freedman’s Bank====
====Freedman’s Bank====
An excellent source is the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company (visit the [[African American Freedman's Savings and Trust Company Records]] page to learn more). This company was created to assist African American soldiers of the Civil War and freed slaves. Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company signature cards or registers from 3 March 1865 to 25 July 1874 may list the name of the depositor, date of entry, age, birthplace, residence, complexion, name of employer or occupation, wife or husband’s name, death information, children’s names, name of father and mother, brothers’ and sisters’ names, remarks, and signature. Early books sometimes contained the name of the former enslaver and the name of the plantation. Copies of death certificates were sometimes attached to the entries. The collection is organized alphabetically by state, then city where the bank was located, then date the account was established, then account number.<br>
An excellent source is the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company (visit the [[African American Freedman's Savings and Trust Company Records]] page to learn more). This company was created to assist African American soldiers of the Civil War and Freedmen. Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company signature cards or registers from 3 March 1865 to 25 July 1874 may list the name of the depositor, date of entry, age, birthplace, residence, complexion, name of employer or occupation, wife or husband’s name, death information, children’s names, name of father and mother, brothers’ and sisters’ names, remarks, and signature. Early books sometimes contained the name of the former slaveholder and the name of the plantation. Copies of death certificates were sometimes attached to the entries. The collection is organized alphabetically by state, then city where the bank was located, then date the account was established, then account number.<br>


Online collections of Freedman's Bank records:
Online collections of Freedman's Bank records:
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====Freedmen's Bureau====
====Freedmen's Bureau====
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands was created by the US government in 1865 until 1872 to assist former slaves in the southern United States. The Bureau created a wide variety of records extremely valuable to genealogists.  Such documents include censuses, marriage records, and medical records.  These records often include full names, former enslavers and plantations, and current residences.<ref>"African American Records: Freedmen's Bureau," "African American Heritage," ''National Archives'', accessed 11 May 2018. </ref> For 1865 and 1866, the section on abandoned and confiscated lands includes the names of the owners of the plantations or homes that were abandoned, confiscated, or leased. It gives the county and location, a description of the house, the number of acres owned, and the number of cabins of former slaves. These films do not appear to contain the names of former slaves.   
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands was created by the US government in 1865 until 1872 to assist formerly enslaved persons in the southern United States. The Bureau created a wide variety of records extremely valuable to genealogists.  Such documents include censuses, marriage records, and medical records.  These records often include full names, former slaveholders and plantations, and current residences.<ref>"African American Records: Freedmen's Bureau," "African American Heritage," ''National Archives'', accessed 11 May 2018. </ref> For 1865 and 1866, the section on abandoned and confiscated lands includes the names of the owners of the plantations or homes that were abandoned, confiscated, or leased. It gives the county and location, a description of the house, the number of acres owned, and the number of cabins of enslaved persons. These films do not appear to contain the names of the enslaved.   


To find Freedmen's Bureau records:
To find Freedmen's Bureau records:
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===School Records===
===School Records===
===Slavery Records===
===Slavery Records===
Slaves in [[Delaware Genealogy|Delaware]] are sometimes mentioned in deeds (see [[Delaware Land and Property|Land and Property]]), in wills (see [[Delaware Probate Records|Probate Records]]), in tax records (see [[Delaware Taxation|Taxation]]), and in court order books (see the [[Delaware Court Records|Court Records]] pages of these Delaware Wiki pages). A few parish registers list slaves who attended church with their enslavers (see [[Delaware Church Records|Church Records]]). <br><br>
Enslaved persons in [[Delaware Genealogy|Delaware]] are sometimes mentioned in deeds (see [[Delaware Land and Property|Land and Property]]), in wills (see [[Delaware Probate Records|Probate Records]]), in tax records (see [[Delaware Taxation|Taxation]]), and in court order books (see the [[Delaware Court Records|Court Records]] pages of these Delaware Wiki pages). A few parish registers list enslaved persons who attended church with their slaveholders (see [[Delaware Church Records|Church Records]]). <br><br>
For more information about slaves see the ''Place Search'' of the [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]] under:  
For more information about enslaved persons, see the ''Place Search'' of the [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]] under:  


:'''DELAWARE - MINORITIES'''
{{Block indent|'''DELAWARE - MINORITIES'''}}


:'''DELAWARE - COLONIZATION'''
{{Block indent|'''DELAWARE - COLONIZATION'''}}


:'''DELAWARE - EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION'''
{{Block indent|'''DELAWARE - EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION'''}}


===Vital Records===
===Vital Records===
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*{{RecordSearch|1609795|Delaware Marriage Records, 1913-1954}} at FamilySearch — [[Delaware Marriage Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]  
*{{RecordSearch|1609795|Delaware Marriage Records, 1913-1954}} at FamilySearch — [[Delaware Marriage Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]  


The Freedmen's Bureau (1865-1872) was created by the US government to assist former slaves in the southern United States. One of their responsibilities was to record the marriages (past and present) of the former slaves. These records can be found in the collections below and include the lists of marriages that occurred previously, marriage certificates, and marriage licenses.  The information contained on the records may include the name of the husband and wife/groom and bride, age, occupation, residence, year or date of marriage, by whom, number of children, and remarks.
The Freedmen's Bureau (1865-1872) was created by the US government to assist formerly enslaved persons in the southern United States. One of their responsibilities was to record the marriages (past and present) of the formerly enslaved. These records can be found in the collections below and include the lists of marriages that occurred previously, marriage certificates, and marriage licenses.  The information contained on the records may include the name of the husband and wife/groom and bride, age, occupation, residence, year or date of marriage, by whom, number of children, and remarks.


*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1414908 United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1414908 United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872]
Line 130: Line 135:


====Divorce====
====Divorce====
===Voting Registers===
===Voting Records===
==Archives and Libraries==
==Archives and Libraries==
==Societies==
==Societies==
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<references />
<references />


{{African American|African American}}
{{Delaware|Delaware}}
{{Delaware|Delaware}}


Latest revision as of 02:31, 19 August 2025

Delaware Wiki Topics
Delaware flag.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Delaware Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources

Introduction

Online Resources

Record Collections

Digital Archives

Research Strategy

History

Resources

Biographies

Cemeteries

Census Records

Church Records

A few parish registers list enslaved persons who attended church with their slaveholders (see Church Records).

Emancipation Records

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

Land and Property

Enslaved persons in Delaware are sometimes mentioned in deeds (see Land and Property).

Plantation

Law and Legislation

Obituaries

Oral Histories

Other Records

Military Records

Newspapers

Probate Records

Enslaved persons in Delaware are sometimes mentioned in wills (see Probate Records).

Delaware: Enslaved and Free Persons, and Slaveholders is a database of enslaved and free persons extracted from Sussex County, Delaware will books from 1836-1851, with ongoing updates. Slaveholders occasionally provided surnames or exact birthdates in their wills.

Reconstruction Records

Freedman’s Bank

An excellent source is the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company (visit the African American Freedman's Savings and Trust Company Records page to learn more). This company was created to assist African American soldiers of the Civil War and Freedmen. Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company signature cards or registers from 3 March 1865 to 25 July 1874 may list the name of the depositor, date of entry, age, birthplace, residence, complexion, name of employer or occupation, wife or husband’s name, death information, children’s names, name of father and mother, brothers’ and sisters’ names, remarks, and signature. Early books sometimes contained the name of the former slaveholder and the name of the plantation. Copies of death certificates were sometimes attached to the entries. The collection is organized alphabetically by state, then city where the bank was located, then date the account was established, then account number.

Online collections of Freedman's Bank records:

Freedmen's Bureau

The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands was created by the US government in 1865 until 1872 to assist formerly enslaved persons in the southern United States. The Bureau created a wide variety of records extremely valuable to genealogists. Such documents include censuses, marriage records, and medical records. These records often include full names, former slaveholders and plantations, and current residences.[1] For 1865 and 1866, the section on abandoned and confiscated lands includes the names of the owners of the plantations or homes that were abandoned, confiscated, or leased. It gives the county and location, a description of the house, the number of acres owned, and the number of cabins of enslaved persons. These films do not appear to contain the names of the enslaved.

To find Freedmen's Bureau records:

Other FamilySearch collections not included:

School Records

Slavery Records

Enslaved persons in Delaware are sometimes mentioned in deeds (see Land and Property), in wills (see Probate Records), in tax records (see Taxation), and in court order books (see the Court Records pages of these Delaware Wiki pages). A few parish registers list enslaved persons who attended church with their slaveholders (see Church Records).

For more information about enslaved persons, see the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under:

DELAWARE - MINORITIES
DELAWARE - COLONIZATION
DELAWARE - EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION

Vital Records

Birth

  • Delaware, Birth Records, 1800-1932 at Ancestry ($) - information usually includes name; birth date and place; gender; race; father's name, age, occupation, and birth place; mother's name, age, and birthplace; and child's number in the family

Marriage

The Freedmen's Bureau (1865-1872) was created by the US government to assist formerly enslaved persons in the southern United States. One of their responsibilities was to record the marriages (past and present) of the formerly enslaved. These records can be found in the collections below and include the lists of marriages that occurred previously, marriage certificates, and marriage licenses. The information contained on the records may include the name of the husband and wife/groom and bride, age, occupation, residence, year or date of marriage, by whom, number of children, and remarks.

Death

Divorce

Voting Records

Archives and Libraries

Societies

Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage
Delaware Historical Society
504 N. Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware, 19801
Phone: (302)656-0637
Website: Center for African American Heritage Slavery Collection, 1749-1929

References

  1. ↑ "African American Records: Freedmen's Bureau," "African American Heritage," National Archives, accessed 11 May 2018.


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