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Researching Enslaved Ancestors
One of the challenges for many whose ancestors were slaves is to research the era of slavery. Part of the successful search involves indentifying the last slave owner, of one's ancestors. There are many methods and theories about how to document the enslaving family. This is particularly challenging when many records are still in private papers that include names of slaves. However, many researchers have still managed to have some success with this critical stage.
I have found military pension files to be wonderfully rich with data not only of a soldier and his service, but of the family, and in so many cases the name of the slave holders are mentioned in those files.
Other documents are often found in court houses in wills, deeds, and court records.
I would love to hear of how others have gone about this phase in their research---identifying and telling the history of those who were enslaved.
-Angela-
I have found military pension files to be wonderfully rich with data not only of a soldier and his service, but of the family, and in so many cases the name of the slave holders are mentioned in those files.
Other documents are often found in court houses in wills, deeds, and court records.
I would love to hear of how others have gone about this phase in their research---identifying and telling the history of those who were enslaved.
-Angela-
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Art Thomas on
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The LaForce Slaves – A different route to freedom
I have some history on two (2) lines of formerly enslaved ancestors and their route(s) to freedom are completely different. First, let me share the history of my ancestors “owned” by the family of Rene & Agnes (Moseby) LaForce.
The LaForce’s were a French Huguenot family that settled in the Henrico/Goochland County area of Virginia ca 1695-1700. By the mid-to-late 1700’s, this Rene, the son of Rene LaForce, sr. who died in 1728 had thirteen (13) of my ancestors among their slave holdings. I’m not sure of how he and his wife came about their slaves but by 1779 they owned three (3) generations of my ancestral lines. To wit, a slave named Betty/Bess, her seven (7) children and five (5) grandchildren.
When the Revolutionary War was beginning, the LaForce family, loyal to the British crown, left the environs of Henrico/Goochland and migrated west to what is now known as Kentucky and settled in an area between Ruddles Fort & Martin’s Station, today’s Bourbon County, KY. In what has been described as the largest Revolutionary War battle west of the Allegheny’s Ruddle’s and Martin’s Station were taken on 24 June 1780, by the British and their Indian allies. Among the 400, or so, captured in this raid were the LaForce family and their slaves. The captives were marched from KY to Detroit and into Canada. The whites were held as prisoners of war and the slaves were dispersed between the British in Canada and their Shawnee Indian allies. See the attached list for the disposition of the slaves, Betty/Bess, her children and grandchildren. My ancestors are Candis, her mother Hannah and her grandmother, Betty/Bess. Candis was taken by Alexander McKee, an Indian agent and a participant in the Ruddle’s/Martin’s Station raid.
Freedom for this ancestral line comes through the Simcoe Act of 1792, an act of gradual emancipation effectively ending slavery in Canada by 1822. So, this family line went from American slavery to slavery in Canada and then freedom with the LaForce’s and/or Alexander McKee being the last slave owner depending one’s interpretation.
I’ve also included links to attachments that demonstrate the path to freedom for these ancestors.
1) Slaves captured at Martin’s Station, Ky in 1780
http://artthomasfamily.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=artthoma...
2) Interviews by Lyman C. Draper of the Draper Manuscripts (2)
http://artthomasfamily.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=artthoma...
http://artthomasfamily.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=artthoma...
3) 1820 Census FPOC families in Champaign Co., OH (Adams & Reno)
http://artthomasfamily.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=artthoma...
4) 1864 Obit/Eulogy for Rachel Reno, daughter of Candis
http://artthomasfamily.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=artthoma... -
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Permalink Reply by M. Henson on
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Hi Angela,
I've used slave narratives, probate records, deeds, and estate records to research my ancestors during the slavery era. Amazingly, there are five slave narratives pertaining to my mother's family which indentified the slave owners. In other instances, when I was dealing with an uncommon name, I was able to connect my family with the only slave owning family in the county with the same name. I'm researching documents pertaining to these families. I've found some ancestors listed in deeds and probate records. There has only been one line which I have found estate records pertaining to. I was beginning to think they didn't exist for any of my ancestors. I'm still trying to sort through all of it though. What I've learned is that it may be difficult, but not impossible to research enslaved ancestors. I have not done any dna testing though. I'm still trying to decide and would appreciate any advice on that.
Thanks,
M. Henson -
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Permalink Reply by Angela Walton-Raji on
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That is really a unique story! The slave narratives are quite interesting, but to find five narratives all pertaining to your ancestors is a more remarkable story indeed!!
In which state was that particular family line located? You should write an article about that!! -
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They are from Jasper Texas. I would like to write about it at some point. My father's family is from a neighboring county and we cannot find much pertaining to his family. We are not sure why they zoned in on certain counties, but I'm just thankful to have the information.
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Permalink Reply by George Geder on
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Hello M. Henson,
I agree with Angela.
Please share with us your findings and how you were able to piece it all together.
What are your surnames and locations?
Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors" -
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