What exactly are the 1850 and 1860 United States Slave Schedules and what is their value to researchers? A closer look at this enumeration of “slave inhabitants” will streamline interpretation of these records and will help define the do’s and don’ts of working with them.
Renate Yarborough Sanders is the descendant of formerly enslaved ancestors, enslavers, and free people of color. She authors two blogs: “Into the LIGHT” and “Genea-Related;” and produces a “(Mostly) African-American Funeral Programs” online databa
Thank you, Renate, for a very informative and easily-understandable presentation. Your visuals were on point and clearly demonstrated your lecture content. I learned so much and I now look forward to reviewing Slave Schedules in the course of my research. How fortunate to be able to add names to a “faceless” enumeration! I am thankful that you were so blessed. I trust and respect your research methods and I will heed your advice about identifying ancestors on the schedules or other non-explicit records. I love my ancestors and I seek their guidance as I do my family research so the last thing I want to do is to dishonor them by spreading inaccurate information. You are a wonderful inspiration and teacher — thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience so the rest of us can become confident researchers. May you continue to be blessed in all your endeavors!
Thank you so much for this amazing comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the webinar. Best wishes in your research!
Renate
DR
Deborah Robinson
2 years ago
Thank you Renate! This webinar was nothing less than phenomenal. You provided a blueprint for how one might provide names to those dreaded tick marks! Excellent work.
Good stuff – yummy! Thanks Renate. Great information about the 1850 and 1860 Slave Schedules that is very useful when researching enslaved ancestors and their enslavers. Thanks for sharing the new FamilySearch feature that allows us to enter the name of our enslaved ancestor on the slave schedules. This is remarkable!
From This Day Forward – Documenting Marital Unions of Enslaved and Emancipated Persons
Despite the fact that their marriages were not legally recognized before 1865, enslaved couples were uniting in "quasi-marital" relationships, and were cohabitating as husband and wife, as evidenced by many extant documents created during and after the end of America’s Civil War. In this presentation, we explore examples of documents that provide evidence of these relationships, and sources for finding them.
Despite the fact that their marriages were not legally recognized before 1865, enslaved couples were uniting in "quasi-marital" relationships, and were cohabitating as husband and wife, as evidenced by many extant documents created during and after the end of America’s Civil War. In this presentation, we explore examples of documents that provide evidence of these relationships, and sources for finding them.
Freedom Bound: Escaping Bondage for Life in the North
Before 1865, free blacks, as well as runaway and emancipated slaves, migrated or escaped to northern states (and Canada), hoping for a “better life” with more opportunities. In this presentation, we explore some of the reasons for this movement and review some of the many helpful records left by these antebellum northern migrants.
Before 1865, free blacks, as well as runaway and emancipated slaves, migrated or escaped to northern states (and Canada), hoping for a “better life” with more opportunities. In this presentation, we explore some of the reasons for this movement and review some of the many helpful records left by these antebellum northern migrants.
“We Were Supposed To Be Neals:“ Reconstructing an Enslaved Family Using DNA
Using DNA analysis, combined with documentary research and with only one hint of family lore, the presenter has found the family of her enslaved great-grandfather.
Using DNA analysis, combined with documentary research and with only one hint of family lore, the presenter has found the family of her enslaved great-grandfather.
In Their Own Words: Genealogy in the Slave Narratives
Uncovering the genealogy of the formerly enslaved can be challenging; but, sometimes, the information is left in first-hand accounts, commonly known as "Slave Narratives.” From books, to projects set up to learn about life during slavery, researchers can find an abundance of genealogical and other information about enslaved families, their…
Uncovering the genealogy of the formerly enslaved can be challenging; but, sometimes, the information is left in first-hand accounts, commonly known as "Slave Narratives.” From books, to projects set up to learn about life during slavery, researchers can find an abundance of genealogical and other information about enslaved families, their…
Finding Calvin: Following My Enslaved Ancestor Through Multiple Owners – A Case Study
In this presentation, Renate models the research process of verifying that her great-grandfather was enslaved, and shares the methodology and documents used to document his owners during 25 years of enslavement. Presented as a case study.
In this presentation, Renate models the research process of verifying that her great-grandfather was enslaved, and shares the methodology and documents used to document his owners during 25 years of enslavement. Presented as a case study.
The Trifecta: Giving Light to the Lives of the Formerly Enslaved
Take a deep dive through case studies to learn how Civil War Pensions, the Freedmen’s Bureau, and Probates/Successions come together to reveal the pre-emancipation, post emancipation, and 20th Century lives of the formerly enslaved and their families.
Take a deep dive through case studies to learn how Civil War Pensions, the Freedmen’s Bureau, and Probates/Successions come together to reveal the pre-emancipation, post emancipation, and 20th Century lives of the formerly enslaved and their families.
Applying the Genealogical Proof Standard to Researching Enslaved Families (a 2024 Reisinger Lecture)
Using several families that were enslaved on the same plantation as case studies, this presentation will demonstrate research that meets the Genealogical Proof Standard. Examples of reasonably exhaustive research, evidence analysis, correlation, and resolving conflicts will be presented.
This class is presented live at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City as part of the Joy Reisinger Memorial Lecture Series and is being broadcasted by Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
Using several families that were enslaved on the same plantation as case studies, this presentation will demonstrate research that meets the Genealogical Proof Standard. Examples of reasonably exhaustive research, evidence analysis, correlation, and resolving conflicts will be presented.
This class is presented live at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City as part of the Joy Reisinger Memorial Lecture Series and is being broadcasted by Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
Collecting and Compiling Plantation Records: Thomas Terrell Case Study
Thomas Terrell was a lawyer born in Louisa County, Virginia in 1761. His plantation in Greene County, Georgia and the people he enslaved there have connections to a Civil War battlefield, the University of Georgia, Wells Fargo, a United States Congressman, and northern enslavers from Connecticut and New Jersey. Thomas’ death in 1822 created the only comprehensive list of his enslaved population, requiring the use of unconventional sources to gather more information about them. Many were separated due to devastating slave sales, but 200 years later, their descendants have been reunited by DNA testing.
Thomas Terrell was a lawyer born in Louisa County, Virginia in 1761. His plantation in Greene County, Georgia and the people he enslaved there have connections to a Civil War battlefield, the University of Georgia, Wells Fargo, a United States Congressman, and northern enslavers from Connecticut and New Jersey. Thomas’ death in 1822 created the only comprehensive list of his enslaved population, requiring the use of unconventional sources to gather more information about them. Many were separated due to devastating slave sales, but 200 years later, their descendants have been reunited by DNA testing.
In the summer of 2023 American Ancestors/New England Historic Genealogical Society announced the collaborative 10 Million Names project, an undertaking to recover the names of people of African descent who were enslaved in the area of the United States. This monumental task of centralizing datasets about African Americans is likely to take years to accomplish; in the interim, this webinar provides a useful survey of the many existing databases that serve a similar purpose though limited in scope.
In the summer of 2023 American Ancestors/New England Historic Genealogical Society announced the collaborative 10 Million Names project, an undertaking to recover the names of people of African descent who were enslaved in the area of the United States. This monumental task of centralizing datasets about African Americans is likely to take years to accomplish; in the interim, this webinar provides a useful survey of the many existing databases that serve a similar purpose though limited in scope.
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Fabulous!
Thank you, Renate, for a very informative and easily-understandable presentation. Your visuals were on point and clearly demonstrated your lecture content. I learned so much and I now look forward to reviewing Slave Schedules in the course of my research. How fortunate to be able to add names to a “faceless” enumeration! I am thankful that you were so blessed. I trust and respect your research methods and I will heed your advice about identifying ancestors on the schedules or other non-explicit records. I love my ancestors and I seek their guidance as I do my family research so the last thing I want to do is to dishonor them by spreading inaccurate information. You are a wonderful inspiration and teacher — thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience so the rest of us can become confident researchers. May you continue to be blessed in all your endeavors!
Thank you so much for this amazing comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the webinar. Best wishes in your research!
Renate
Thank you Renate! This webinar was nothing less than phenomenal. You provided a blueprint for how one might provide names to those dreaded tick marks! Excellent work.
Thank you!
Oh, Renate! This presentation has brought me tears! Amazing work, as always! Thank you!
Excellent and informative presentation!
Good stuff – yummy! Thanks Renate. Great information about the 1850 and 1860 Slave Schedules that is very useful when researching enslaved ancestors and their enslavers. Thanks for sharing the new FamilySearch feature that allows us to enter the name of our enslaved ancestor on the slave schedules. This is remarkable!
Awesome Renate.
Just absolutely excellent! Great information, especially about the changes for FamilySearch. Thanks very much.