Showing posts with label African American. Show all posts

Friday, June 19, 2026

Congressional Serial Set

Using Serial Set to Research
The U.S. Congressional Serial Set, filled with genealogical tips, hints, and treasures, is not getting its fair share of attention by genealogists or other historical researchers. I can’t think of one reason why this free-resource is not being perused on a regular basis. It’s full of what we love – gossip, scandal, court cases and names of both supportive and vile neighbors. It covers topics on women, African Americans, Native Americans, students, soldiers, sailors, pensioners, landowners, and inventors. Is this not the genealogists’ dream? And, it’s free (with a library card).
Family researchers with enslaved ancestors or those descendants from their enslavers will want to peruse the Congressional Serial Set Records. This collections hold a great part of the US history; much from the "everyday " citizen.

Accessing the U.S. Congressional Serial Set
If you aren’t familiar with the Serial Set, be sure to read U.S. Congressional Serial Set for Genealogists, Part I. The Serial Set is an online resource available via your local library that subscribes to HeritageQuest Online; and, it’s accessible remotely using your home computer with a library card.

Tied to Juneteenth?

Listen to the full podcast: Finding Ancestors in The Congressional Serial Set

If you use the keyword “slaves,” there are 659 occurrences. Some of these documents give us social history and legal proceedings void of ancestors’ names and may be deemed less than helpful to the researcher. But the collection also includes claims for slaves killed in the military – especially useful if you are stuck in the War of 1812 era, pension appeals, land disputes, and even emancipation information like that of Jane Hall (above).
Emancipation Papers: Francis Hall and Others.
Maryland slave Jane Hall, born 1799 ran away from her master in 1820 and subsequently was manumitted (as were her heirs) by Alexander Claxton in 1821. (Francis Hall, 55th Congress, 1st Session, Senate, Rpt No. 123).
Pension: Richard Jackson 22 Jul 1890
Many pensions were settled at the congressional level and the US Serial Set has detailed accounts of the requests, proposals and appeals. Richard Jackson, a slave and teamster for the Union Army was shot, captured and imprisoned, attempted an escape, shot again. The account is pretty detailed, and it also gives his slave master’s name as Dr. Charles J. Manning. (Serial Set-ID:2815 House of Representatives, Report No 2784, 51^st Congress, 1^st Session).
Land: On the Application of a Cherokee Indian Woman to Sell a Reservation of Land Which Was Made to Her Husband, Who was Adjudged to be a Runaway Slave.
A difficult research project is the intermarrying of Native Americans and African Americans residing in the southeast. A report dated 8 Feb 1831 documents Sally Johnson, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation in Jackson County, Alabama married a runaway slave Peter Johnson. Peter was “reclaimed by his master.” The legality of selling of Peter’s 650 acres of reservation land was in question. (Serial Set: A3P033 Publ. land No. 892, 21^st Congress, 2^nd Session).
Runaway Slave Names: Benjamin Oden; 7 April 1834.
Slave Frederick ran away from his master, Benjamin Oden in Maryland,1814. He enlisted in the military as alias William Williams. Military men were entitled to bounty land and the master wanted to claim the bounty land that would have been given to William Williams, as if he were a free man. This one report gave us the name of slave, freeman alias and master. (Serial Set-ID 262; Benjamin Oden, Rep No 392, 23^rd Congress, 1^st Session, House of Representative).
In Honor of Juneteenth 2026, this excerpt is from Jan 2013 blogpost: Using U. S. Congressional Serial Set, Part II.

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Research Irish Battalion:Mexican-American War

Men of the San Patricio Battalion

Translation: "In memory of the Irish Soldiers of the heroic battalion of San Patricio Maritres that gave their life for the Mexican cause during the unjust North American invasion of 1847." (names) "With gratitude from Mexico to the 112 years of your sacrifice. Sept 1955

The Saint Patrick’s Battalion (San Patricios) was a group of 700+ mostly Irish immigrant soldiers who defected from the U.S. Army to fight for Mexico in the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). Driven by nativism, anti-Catholic sentiment, and better pay, they fought fiercely but were captured at the Battle of Churubusco; 50 were executed by hanging in September 1847, making it the largest mass execution in U.S. history. These men were hung in three different locations. The courts-martial were held in Mexico shortly after capture in Tacubaya and San Ángel and during the Battle of Chapultepec. The hangings were held from 10 - 13 Sep 1847

Seventy-two to eighty-five prisoners were court-martialed. Some were considered not-guilty. Fifty were hanged. Those executed below agree with the plaque above. are listed were to include those sentenced to death.

The 1847 court martial records can be found:

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Office of the Judge Advocate General (Army), Record Group 153.
Be sure to check the Regular Army muster rolls for 1846–1847

Charlotte. Newspapers 1845

Researchers can reconstruct the events from:

court-martial summaries
military orders
correspondence
newspaper accounts
Mexican archival sources

There are also records in the:

Mexican archives (Archivo General de la Nación)
Published trial summaries in military histories
Chapultepec campaign records

Why This Post? Shameless Plug

a3Gen Publishing is readying the historical and genealogical research guidebook by Kathleen Brandt of TracingAncestors.org. Volume I, The Early Wars, is the first relief of Behind the Uniform: Every soldier has a story.

We have mentioned its upcoming release on the Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen podcast. This guidebook covers not only how and where to research your ancestral veterans, but also facts proven using case studies and supporting documents. So much was missing from our History classes.

Volume I of Behind the Uniform: Every soldier has a story covers the French and Indian War to the Civil War (Union and Confederates).

Who were the Irishmen of the San Patricio Battalion?

These Irish ancestors deserted the U.S. Army in 1846 to fight on the Mexican side in the U.S. Mexican War (1846-1848). Where are the records go these Irishmen who deserted the American side to join and serve with their Mexican "Catholic brothers.""

The Fraternalist, Missouri Valley Independent, 1 Oct 1955. St. Joseph, MO

A popular novel by Carl Kreuger, "Saint Patrick's Battalion" may also be of interest:

The Solano-Napa News Chronicle, 19 Feb 1962, pg. 10

More References:

Mexicans Became USA Citizens

Mexico had abolished slavery by 1829, and this war was viewed as an attempt by the U.S. to reintroduce slavery on "free" Mexican soil. It did succeed in expanding slave land by way of the annexation of Texas.

Brainerd Dispatch, 31 Jul 2018, pg. 6

Approximately 80,000 to 100,000 Mexican citizens (California and New Mexico) became "free persons" under U.S. law. This was not extended to enslaved American persons.

This War ushered in the Civil War.

Monday, December 22, 2025

5 Definite Reasons to Use School Records

School records follow our ancestors from as early as five years old. Sure we an see them in their first census but the information is limited. Name, age, parents, some or all of the siblings depending on the birth order. Early census also share their education level. But, census do not reveal the whole story, and we can't be sure the informant to the Census Taker was accurate. Except in 1940 Census, we aren't even sure who provided the information.

Collaborating Data
Since genealogists use collaboration to uncover facts, and to uncover mistakes in records, I wonder why so few ferret out vital School Records. These are primary records, contemporary records, that shares your ancestor from abt 5/6 years old to 18.

1. Need a birth date?

2. Need parents' names and siblings?

1939 School Enrollment, Kemper MS.

Put Norms Aside

All research is not clean. It's complicated and the researcher must think out of the box. Ask "would that be possible." The answer is probably YES, regardless of the seemingly absurdity of the question.

3. Need to Identify An Abandoned Child

Was this abandoned child Helen, my mother? That's what a client asked. He knew his mother was raised by the Cannon family, but no one knew her birth name until we turned to school records. These school records married with court records solved this mystery.

Helen went to second grade using the Cannon surname. However, she was never legally adopted.

Of course, the question then was "How did the Cannon's get Helen?" Yes, we turned to the following

1) research on the children's orphanage/institution
2) research on the Cannon's
3) research on the court records and the judge's practices

Bracing Helen further, we uncovered her legal name when she registered earlier for Kindergarten while in a children's institution.

4. Need to Release A Historical "Untruth Assumption"
Sure, I could have just said a false assumption, but the assumption that all schools were segregated before Brown vs. Topeka is an argument I refuse to have anymore. My entire paternal grandfather's family integrated schools in Kansas, as did my mother's family, as seen below in 1890. Aunt Pearl, as known to the family, had perfect attendance in 1890, Coldwater, Kansas. And she kept all of her school records.

5. Need to Prove African Americans Attended Non-HBCU Schools

This is just one more Untruth Assumption. It is assumed that since Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) were in America as early as 1837, Cheyney University, PA , that black students were compelled to attend them. Yet, extant records prove this assumption to be false.

African Americans were attending non-segragated schools and since at least 1799 when John Chavis is on record of attending Liberty Hall Academy in VA. Alexander Twilight, though, is the first African American to be awarded a bachelor's degree in 1823 - Middleburg College, VT.
***Just a Name Dropping Note: Kathleen Brandt also took 9 hours toward her Master's Degree at Middleburg in the 1980's.

Early emancipated African Americans may have been educated in free state schools. The Moseley children of Jackson, Mississippi, were emancipated by their white father William O. Moseley. They were sent to Ohio, a free state, to be privately educated and to attend Oberlin Prep School (1870-1872).

(Moseley family has been DNA and papertrail proven.)

School record research is your homework for this Holiday Season!

a3Genealogy blog is now under TracingAncestors.org (501c3)

Monday, October 27, 2025

10 Connections: Enslaved Persons with Enslavers

I am not of the camp of an 1870 brickwall. I have not found a brickwall to exist when records name our ancestors, and census records are the least of them. It's not easy, but it is surely possible to trace your ancestor to colonial records, pre-Revolutionary War. These are just a few of my favorite resources. Let's remember, Census Records research is not genealogy. They're just secondary (or tertiary) records that point back in history. They aren't even a primary source. It doesn't tell a story of our ancestors; it barely gives us a glimpse at them in a two-day range, over 5, or more likely, a 10-year span. That's not a story! That's not your ancestor's story.
Let's dig deeper together.

Tracing the Enslaver's records may be the key to uncovering information on our enslaved ancestors. As a brickwall expert, I also use these records to distinguish common-named enslavers. The enslaved names may be my only clue between that Wm. Smith and the other Wm. Smith.

Objective: Did you know the connection may be found after 1865? Marriage records, death records, wills, deeds, and court records, plus more, may make this connection for you. You just have to dig! Here are examples and 10 suggestions to add to your Research Checklist:

This blog is part of the Connecting Enslaved Persons with Enslavers: The Unexpected presentation.

The following ten research resources should be added to your enslaved / enslaver Research Checklist. Get used to seeing the enslaver and the enslaved person having different surnames (family names).

This post purposely does not cover the Freedman Bureau. Most are familiar with Freedman's Bureau, and it is not often overlooked. However, the Freedman Bureau did not reach all of the states or communities. So, this blog post is not about low-hanging fruit, where we expect to see enslavers' names, but where we might not see them. Since we are working with brickwall research, we need to leave no paper trail untouched.

Note: I was going to transcribe the following records for you. But decided this is a learning opportunity. You can just as easily use AI (try ChatGPT) to help with the transcribing. Of course, the familysearch.org links also have transcriptions for their records below. Great time to test your AI skills.

1. Marriage Records

In Upson, GA, it was common. Actually, in many areas, it was common. We also see this in Caldwell, NC, 1866-1872. It was the best way to distinguish which Tom married Mary, which John married Betty, and which William married Tempy. Here is just one page of registered marriages of former enslaved persons.

FamilySearch: Upson Marriage Records, 1868-1876

2. Death Records

Yeah, I know...death records, especially those 50 years after the Civil War, rarely host the enslaver's name. But this is one of a half dozen or so that we have unearthed as a tool to beat down that brickwall. This record also confirmed that Anderson Stanton's former enslaver was Charles S. Bruce. Even more special, Staton's parents were named

Familysearch, Virginia Death Certificate, 1914

3. Apprentice Court Record

After the Civil War, many of the formerly enslaved were established as apprentices through their former enslaver. These apprentice agreements were not only put in place, but they were often witnessed by the former enslaver.

Logan (KY) Court Records, 1870-1870

4. Orphans Court Records

There are times (ok, always) that additional background to a court record is needed. But in Howard County, MD, there were several records in the court proceedings after the war that asked formerly enslaved persons to justify why their formerly enslaved child, underage, "should NOT be bound as an apprentice. Again, this is one example in one county, in one state. However, this practice was not unique to Maryland.

Howard County, MD Orphans Court Proceedings, Sept 1864; Image 141/715

5. Southern Claims Commission

It's important to know that the practice of tying a former enslaved person to a former enslaver can be found in very deep southern states. The Southern Claims Commission record collection is replete with such connections like this one from Benton, Mississippi, where the former enslaved person witnessed for their former enslaver, or vice versa. Yes, the former enslavers were also credible witnesses for their enslaved people. We see this especially when an enslaver had gifted a donkey or tool, but that gift was taken as war bounty, or to assist the war efforts..

Southern Claims Commission, Benton, MS, 1871 - 1880

6. The local newspaper. Really, that's not the first place you looked? I know most people won't get this lucky, but I have found over a dozen for clients.

The Courier Journal, Louisville, KY, 29 Dec 1906

Plus, if you are looking for that missing ancestor, the newspapers reported the gory parts too:

The Daily Galveston, TX, Jul 1890

7. Wills and Probates

We know not all enslaved persons took their enslaver's surname. Matter of fact, many kept an earlier surname, perhaps from the previous enslaver or the enslaver of their childhood. Either way, it makes tracing our enslaved ancestors challenging to trace. Or maybe they are just making sure we are not being lazy! Ancestors can be filled with folly and tricks!

So, when I look at the Brunswick County, VA Will, dated 1875, years after the Civil War, we not only get the ancestor's name of Alfred Wilkes, we are also able to confirm his former enslaver, W. W. Tally, also had a "former slave" Archer Fagans.

Brunswick County, VA, will Books, 1875

8. Deed books

We've all seen it. The enslaver bequeaths freedom along with property to enslaved people in their Wills, or emancipates them at a particular age. For a no-question court case, the former enslaver is often named. This is a direct path for pulling all associated records (wills, deeds, probates, etc) to prove ownership of land.

Campbell County, VA, Deed Book 1874 -1877

9. Military Records

It's not enough to know that your enslaved ancestor served in the Civil War. Your key to reconstructing your enslaved ancestor's records and family may be buried in the Military Records.

Military Service Records, familysearch.org, 1861 - 1865

Many of these letters are in the Adjutant General's office also.

10. Territorial Records

Mention to me African Americans' research in early territories - LA, MO, IL, FL, (ok...all of them) and you will get my "panda" cuddly face🐼. I love these records. There are territorial church records, mostly for the French and Spanish Code Noir and Catholic sacraments, that name "former slave of ..." or "slave of..." Keep in mind that a common early practice was to emancipate the enslaved ones at a certain age, upon completion of specified years of service, or upon the death of the enslaver. Some researchers, like myself, translated many entries for books and finding aids. Territorial Records are usually located in local repositories, but be sure to check your regional National Archives.

Here's a blog that may assist you with this research: 5 Resources to Tracing Missouri Territorial Ancestors. The rules apply, in general, across all early territories.

Here's what an abstract / transcript looks like:

Meridian, Evangeline, Louisiana; 1733-1735

I know I can go on forever. This is just an excerpt of the Connecting Enslaved Persons with Enslavers presentation.

Sunday, June 8, 2025

Juneteenth - What Are You Celebrating?

Juneteenth, a blend of “June” and “nineteenth” marks the day in 1865 (19 Jun 1865)when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, TX, were finally informed of their freedom. Texas, the most remote slave-holding state, was the last to receive Union troops to enforce emancipation hence Juneteenth’s powerful legacy. That's when the Union troops arrived in Galveston, TX. This was over two years after President Abraham Lincoln had issued the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation.

Everyone Did Not Celebrate

Due to the mass exodus of ex-slaves from Texas to other states and communities, small Juneteenth celebrations were held across the nation as early as the 1866's, not just in Texas. It was also customary, especially in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas, for the previously enslaved Texans to return to their family community for the Juneteenth festivities annually. Early celebrations included readings of the Emancipation Proclamation. Plus, it was a great time to have a family reunion!

Did You Know?

All Enslaved People Were Not Freed by the Emancipation Proclamation (1863)

36 U.S. states by end of the Civil War
  25 Union States: 21 Free State
                                  4 Slave States
  11 Confederate States (claimed secession)

A small forgotten detail by the masses is the fact that the Emancipation Proclamation only freed the enslaved people of the eleven states that formed the Confederacy. The Emancipation Proclamation did not free the enslaved people in the other Union states.

Texas joined the Confederacy in 1861. Their enslaved people were freed 1 Jan 1863, by the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation could only be enforced if the Union military was in place and had the military power to free the enslaved people.
Note: This was easier on the states along waterways.

Year	Event	Notes
1861	Start of the Civil War	Eleven Southern states secede, forming the Confederacy.
Sept 22, 1862	Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation	Lincoln warns that enslaved people in rebellious states will be freed if rebellion continues.
*Jan 1, 1863*	Emancipation Proclamation	Slaves in Confederate states are declared free, but enforcement relies on Union military success.
April 1865	Civil War ends	Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders. Slavery remains in border Union states.
*June 19, 1865*	*Juneteenth*	Union troops arrive in Galveston, Texas. Slavery officially ended in Texas.
Dec 6, 1865	13th Amendment ratified	Slavery becomes illegal in all U.S. states, including Union states

There were five non-Confederate States, the "Border States," that held enslaved peoples. It was legal to have "slaves" in the Union States until there was a state-level action or through the 13th Amendment, ratified on December 6, 1865.

The enslaved people in the following states were not freed by the 1861 Emancipation Proclamation

Delaware - Never seceded. Rejected both the Emancipation Proclamation and voluntary abolition before the 13th Amendment.
Maryland - Abolished slavery on November 1, 1864, through a new state constitution.
Kentucky - Maintained slavery until the 13th Amendment.
Missouri -The pro-Union government abolished slavery in January 1865 by state action before the 13th Amendment was passed.
West Virginia (A new state in 1863)
Allowed slavery at statehood but abolished it in February 1865.
West VA had just become a state in 1863, and is historically lumped in with the "Border States."

For more reading:
Juneteenth - Our Ancestors Knew: Celebrated Across the Nation

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

8 More Revolutionary War Resources

American Revolutionary Museum

6 Steps Revolutionary War Era Research
https://blog.a3genealogy.com/2024/09/who-are-parents.html
Women Legally Voted in Revolutionary Era
https://blog.a3genealogy.com/search?q=revolutionary
1-2-3 Researching Revolutionary War Veteran - Virginia / Kentucky
https://blog.a3genealogy.com/2015/05/1-2-3-researching-revolutionary-war.html
Identifying Revolutionary War Era Parents
https://blog.a3genealogy.com/2010/08/back-to-basics-on-identifying.html
African American Revolutionary War Soldiers
https://blog.a3genealogy.com/search?q=revolutionary&updated-max=2018-03-20T10:24:00-05:00&max-results=20&start=6&by-date=false
Canadian Connection to American Revolution? (Loyalists)
5 Resources to Researching Your Loyalist (Tory)
https://blog.a3genealogy.com/search?q=revolutionary&updated-max=2018-03-20T10:24:00-05:00&max-results=20&start=6&by-date=false
Revolutionary War Research - Ridiculous Mistakes
https://blog.a3genealogy.com/2024/03/revolutionary-war-research-ridiculous.html
Revolutionary War Era Artifacts
https://blog.a3genealogy.com/search?q=revolutionary&updated-max=2013-02-28T13:32:00-06:00&max-results=20&start=14&by-date=false

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

White Slavery Law: The Mann Act Records

The Mann Act, also known as the White-Slave Traffic Act, is a United States federal law passed in 1910. Its original purpose was to combat human trafficking, particularly the transportation of women across state lines for prostitution or other "immoral purposes." It is also said The Mann Act prohibited the transportation of any individual across state or international borders for the purpose of engaging in not only prostitution, but also "debauchery." Today, it's used primarily to prosecute sex trafficking, child exploitation, and similar offenses

You Asked...Here's More on Aunt Bird
The ancestors are so much fun. Aunt Bird, as we called her when I was young, lived in Wichita, Kansas. She was actually my great Aunt, Great-grandpa Roy's sister.

AncestryBlog, ancestry.com

She died at the age of 100 in Tulsa, OK., just short of her 101 birthday. The Arrow Rock, Saline County, MO 1900 census has her born Dec 1891. She was not the ideal wife or mother, so it seems. But, she was a wonderful great-aunt.

Aunt Bird, Bertha Tumbleson
Pratt (Ks) Union, 30 Apr 1914

The Pratt Independent

Wed, Apr 29, 1914 Page 7

Since posting this podcast 14 March, people have asked for pics of Aunt Bird. Well, here she's seated on the far right at age 90. I was eleven at the time! She died 10 years later 18 Oct 1981, after I graduated from College. So I remember her well!