Genealogy Thread

[im_sleep]

Not sure if there's one buried in the past here, but if not lets have one.

How far have yall gone back?
Any interesting or cool finds?
Any sobering discoveries?

I got about 90% of my fam traced back to the 1870 census, the farthest ancestor born in the early 1800's.

Got one ancestor on my side and two on my wife's side reported their parents being born in Africa.

Found out one of great-grandmas ran a brothel.

Got a very recent ancestor (dad's great uncle, died in the mid 60's) who had an African first name.

Another line of fam with Cherokee slave owners.

And plenty more stuff.

Most of my discoveries have been oral history, ancestry.com, family search.com, freedman's bureau documents.

Any of yall got any additional online sources? Cuz Im assuming Im at a point where Id have to move on to county records, slave owner records, etc. that Id have to search in person.

 

[™BlackPearl The Empress™]

I've been doing a lot of research on the topic. I found a lot of information however I can't really get past a certain family that owned a large portion of my GGMother's side of the family. One of the slave owner's sons actually fathered other ancestors but so far I haven't found anyone directly related to me. However, I did find a book that was written about a man that was also owned by the same man. I order it on Amazon. Hopefully it should be here today or tomorrow. As far as the slave owner, I have been able to trace his family back to England.

 

[timeless]

I can't go any further back than the late 1800's, around the time slavery was abolished, but I have a good understanding of both sides of both of my patent's family.

 

[im_sleep]

I've been doing a lot of research on the topic. I found a lot of information however I can't really get past a certain family that owned a large portion of my GGMother's side of the family. One of the slave owner's sons actually fathered other ancestors but so far I haven't found anyone directly related to me. However, I did find a book that was written about a man that was also owned by the same man. I order it on Amazon. Hopefully it should be here today or tomorrow. As far as the slave owner, I have been able to trace his family back to England.

By get past do you mean how they may have acquired your ancestors?

I know narrowing down the last slave owner has been the new challenge for me lately. I've been successful just once so far, but than I have other cases where its hard to narrow down. For example, I have a line of Drayton's that are from South Carolina, but exactly who owned them is where Im stuck at right now cuz that family owned a gang of slaves

 

[™BlackPearl The Empress™]

By get past do you mean how they may have acquired your ancestors?

I know narrowing down the last slave owner has been the new challenge for me lately. I've been successful just once so far, but than I have other cases where its hard to narrow down. For example, I have a line of Drayton's that are from South Carolina, but exactly who owned them is where Im stuck at right now cuz that family owned a gang of slaves

I mean because of the ownership I can't really tell who fathered who or said person's origin ie whether they were born in the state or came from somewhere else.

 

[im_sleep]

I mean because of the ownership I can't really tell who fathered who or said person's origin ie whether they were born in the state or came from somewhere else.

Oh ok gotcha. Yeah it seems at a certain point unless its specifically on paper, whether that be a letter or document, you gotta settle for an educated guess when you really want a solid answer. That's whats frustrating.

 

[™BlackPearl The Empress™]

Oh ok gotcha. Yeah it seems at a certain point unless its specifically on paper, whether that be a letter or document, you gotta settle for an educated guess when you really want a solid answer. That's whats frustrating.

Well I am hoping this book may shed some light on the situation. We'll see

 

[Listen]

As a white person, I can't imagine how hard that search must be for African Americans. I am stumped on two areas of my family where we think the last name got changed coming from Europe, but the majority of my ancestors were from countries with the Catholic Church (they kept immaculate marriage records going back hundreds of years) so I have some lines literally documented back to the 1400's.

I just ordered the ancestry.com DNA test as well, hoping that will fill in the blanks on these few stumped areas.

Did find a great, great, grand father who fought for the Union in a bunch of the important civil war battles, even has his name on some Gettysburg monuments and such. That was cool stuff to find.

 

[xoxodede]

I've been doing a lot of research on the topic. I found a lot of information however I can't really get past a certain family that owned a large portion of my GGMother's side of the family. One of the slave owner's sons actually fathered other ancestors but so far I haven't found anyone directly related to me. However, I did find a book that was written about a man that was also owned by the same man. I order it on Amazon. Hopefully it should be here today or tomorrow. As far as the slave owner, I have been able to trace his family back to England.

Have you tried to contact the Counties Historical Society or Historian? Also, have you requested their death certificates?

 

[xoxodede]

By get past do you mean how they may have acquired your ancestors?

I know narrowing down the last slave owner has been the new challenge for me lately. I've been successful just once so far, but than I have other cases where its hard to narrow down. For example, I have a line of Drayton's that are from South Carolina, but exactly who owned them is where Im stuck at right now cuz that family owned a gang of slaves

It's probably time for some visiting South Carolina - or numerous phone calls to to track down more info.

Tips:
Look for a Drayton Family South Carolina Facebook Club: They are really good and can help you find your family.
Do you have the Census/Slave Schedules? If so, do you know the district/county? Say it was Lauren's. You can contact Lauren's Historical Society
Do you know any of their names or children's names?
Did you find any older relatives with that name on Find-A-Grave? Usually they are buried around the same area - it's it will be a slave cemetery at the planation.
Have you taken an Ancestry DNA test? This is VERY helpful cause you will find relatives you match with after. And they will have names - so you might luck up. You can also be added to GEDMATCH.

I would call/contact the plantations + county historians and ask them to research for you - based of what you know. Here are some links below. Let me know if you need help.

South Carolina plantation offers an unretouched look back
The Bowens Family South Carolina National Heritage Corridor
Genealogy of Enslaved Communities on Drayton Family Plantations: A Research Project Sponsored by the Magnolia Plantation Foundation of Charleston, SC - Genealogy
Home | Drayton Hall
Drayton Hall Plantation - West Ashley, Charleston County, South Carolina SC

 

[xoxodede]

Another line of fam with Cherokee slave owners.

And plenty more stuff.

Most of my discoveries have been oral history, ancestry.com, family search.com, freedman's bureau documents.

Any of yall got any additional online sources? Cuz Im assuming Im at a point where Id have to move on to county records, slave owner records, etc. that Id have to search in person.

So many things...

- I found out my one set of my 3rd Great Grandparent parents were enslaved by the Choctaw in Alabama.

- found out another 3rd Great Grannie was forced to be a slave breeder and I don't know who my 3rd Great Grandad is from that line.

- I already knew this - but searching just made it real. My dad took his mom's husband last name - so my last name is not supposed to be my last name. And granddaddy was a player like to mess with married women.

- My paternal 2nd Great Grannie and Great Grannie were the town's "rootworkers" (which I kinda new lowkey) - and one is actually in "Hoodoo - Conjuration - Witchcraft - Rootwork" by HARRY MIDDLETON HYATT - Hoodoo Conjuration WItchcraft & Rootwork : Harry Middleton Hyatt : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

It's so much - but it's been real. And very emotionally draining - but a blessing.

 

[™BlackPearl The Empress™]

Nevermind

 

[xoxodede]

Nevermind

You sure!? I'm here to help.

It's one of hobbies. And I have been lucky to have many men and women help me - so please feel free to ask away. I can at-least try to direct you to a resource - if I can't help

 

[™BlackPearl The Empress™]

Have you tried to contact the Counties Historical Society or Historian? Also, have you requested their death certificates?

No.

 

[xoxodede]

No.

What's the book you ordered? Or plantation?