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African Diaspora Places and Ethnicities African American

Breaking the 1870 Brick Wall: Comprehensive Strategies for Tracing Formerly Enslaved African American Ancestors

Andre Kearns
Feb 13, 2026
339 views
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Free through February 20, 2026
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Syllabus
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Content

Play. Playing.
Welcome
1m 24s
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Speakers' Introductions
2m 18s
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Introduction
8m 38s
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Pitfall 1
6m 04s
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Pitfall 2
10m 36s
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Pitfall 3
10m 54s
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Announcements/ prizes
4m 32s
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Questions / answers
25m 39s

About this webinar

Overcoming the 1870 brick wall in African American genealogy is challenging, but possible. This session presents a clear, step-by-step roadmap for tracing formerly enslaved ancestors using the Genealogical Proof Method. Learn how to reconstruct the freedmen generation, identify potential enslavers, and mine enslaver records for hidden ancestral clues. We’ll explore records on Ancestry and FamilySearch, including census and vital records, Freedmen’s Bureau files, cohabitation records, and estate records. If you’re ready to move beyond 1870 and build a fuller picture of your family’s past, this webinar will equip you with the tools and confidence to begin.

Discount code: brickwall26 (valid at Familytreewebinars.com)

Valid through: February 17, 2026

About the speakers

About the speakers

Andre Kearns
Andre Kearns, founder and CEO of Black Ancestries is a recognized genealogist, author, and historian with 20 years of research experience, including tracing his own family’s history as early as 1619 and the first Africans to arrive in colonial Vir
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Ayo Heinegg Magwood
Ayo Heinegg Magwood is a Senior Genealogist with Black Ancestries and has worked closely with her father, Paul Heinegg, for several years. She co-authors many of his client reports on both enslaved and free African American families. Together, the
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Comments (61)

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  1. MF
    Marlene Ford
    20 hours ago

    I learn so much through these African Diaspora series! So much information, I know I will definitely have to look at this one several times!

    Reply
  2. CH
    Carol Harper
    20 hours ago

    Excellent presentations-clear, beautifully researched and enlightening!

    Reply
  3. CS
    Carol Stephenson
    20 hours ago

    The webinar was informative and provided me with valuable insights and methods for approaching my research.

    Reply
  4. JR
    June Richards
    20 hours ago

    Wonderful presentation! The information was explained very well. Quite easily understood.

    Reply
  5. JS
    Judith Sanford-Harris
    21 hours ago

    The presenters gave me some great ideas about broadening my search in order to get the information I need. I had only given the enslaver a cursory examination in the past but now I know there’s much more to be found by building his/her tree.

    Reply
  6. LF
    Lisa Fanning
    21 hours ago

    The webinar was very informative and chock full of tips and strategies. This is always helpful for genealogists of all levels.

    Reply
  7. DC
    Donna Chavarro
    21 hours ago

    Great information that can be used on any research… by using every field on every record and triangulating across records and reconstructing the entire family not just the vertical lineage! YES! Excellent takeaways from the webinar! Thanks!

    Reply
  8. MH
    Mary Helen Thompson
    21 hours ago

    Very helpful whether one is just starting or intermediate. Even for those of us who are advanced, one small clue can make a big difference. It’s something I always remember.

    Reply
Show all comments

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