Thursday, February 2, 2017

BLACK HISTORY MONTH - CENSUS RECORDS

BLACK HISTORY IS ALSO YOUR HISTORY. THIS FEBRUARY, WHY NOT TRACE YOUR OWN FAMILY HISTORY?




HERE IS A BRIEF SUMMARY ON CENSUS RECORDS




CENSUS RECORDS




Since the year 1790 and presently up until 2010, the United States government has collected census information every 10 years to document the people residing in the country at the time of the enumeration.


However, there is a 72 year privacy act so currently census records are only available until 1940.




In genealogy, these records are a valuable resource for reconstructing the lives of your ancestors. The reason why is that each census schedule represents a point in time or chapter in the lives of the people listed on the schedules. Each record tells a story about the person(s), where they were and to a great extent who they were.


While the early census schedules only listed the head of household, subsequent ones also list the other members of the household.




It is important to point out that census records from 1790 to 1860 only listed free persons. Hence, most African Americans unless they were free persons of color were not listed in the Southern states. Most were not enumerated until 1870 census, 5 years after slavery ended.




However, if you are African American, you should always check the prior census records anyway since your ancestors may have been a free person of color or a person of another race. Also, for certain Northeastern states such as Vermont, freedom came early as 1777 for African Americans so again it is important determine when slavery ended in the state where your ancestors resided.




So what can these records tell you? A whole lot. There is a wealth of history hidden in these records.
You can learn the paternity of known ancestors which may enable you to locate different branches of your family. You can also find out when and where your ancestors were born and some census records give the birth places of their parents. The names of their spouses, children, ages and their birth order are also provided on most census records.


You can also learn the occupations of the members of the household and whether they were educated. The location where your family was living and whether or not the Head of Household owned or rented property is documented on some census records.


Again, census records are like a snapshot of your ancestors lives at a particular point in time. By locating them on multiple census records over the span of their lives, you can follow the progression and changes that occur over time with regards to their family structure.


Review of a series of records on a particular familial line can reveal a newly married couple, a growing family with a few children, a household full of children, the children leaving home to start their own family, "Empty Nesters" and finally widowed spouses.


Here is an excerpt from a census record.


Census records can be found on various websites including Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.





Tuesday, December 17, 2013

SLAVERY AND THE MAKING OF AMERICA

If you have never seen this documentary, I invite you to do so. It is a very powerful narrative about the origins and centuries long practice of slavery in the Americas. It explores the reasons people were kidnapped and enslaved and how the institution evolved and continued for generations.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

8TH ANNUAL AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY HISTORY SEMINAR



Mark your Calendars! The 8th Annual African American Family History Seminar on March 9, 2013. We will have a variety of classes with more than 20 Genealogists speaking including myself, plus a Keynote Speaker and Meghan Mullins of 23andMe, the organization that conducts DNA testing on hand.
 
This years' theme is "Celebrating 150 years of Emancipation" in honor of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln.
 
Be sure to stay posted for additional information and a scheduled of classes which will be coming soon.
 
 
 

Saturday, January 5, 2013

THE 2012 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION - A HISTORIC EVENT


As a genealogist, I usually teach people how to trace their family history but last September 2012, I made a little history of my own. I was a Delegate at the Democratic National Convention for California's 6th Congressional District.

As a Delegate, I attended caucuses and briefings in order to learn what we needed to do to get President Barack Obama re-elected. Needless to say, it went very well and our President is once again in office leading our country to economic recovery.

I was very happy and proud to be a part of this historic occasion especially since there was irony in me doing so. A little over 150 years ago, the slave owner, Henry Marshall who owned some of my ancestors was a Delegate from Louisiana to the Confederate Provisional Congress from 1861-62.  His driving force in doing so was to preserve "states rights" and protect the institution of slavery.

 I am sure that Marshall's conviction to his cause was just was strong as mine was when I attended the Democratic National Convention. However, the outcome was thankfully quite different. The Confederates lost the war, my ancestors were freed and 150 years later, their great-great-great grand-daughter became a Delegate to re-elect the nation's first African American President! God is good.

Now, I have a bit of genealogy to pass down to my descendants.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY! CELEBRATING AND REMEMBERING THOSE AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO FOUGHT FOR AND DIED IN THE PURSUIT OF FREEDOM DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND OTHER AMERICAN WARS.

Monday, July 2, 2012

UPCOMING CLASSES

Beginning Genealogy - Using Records to Tell the Stories of Your Ancestors

When: Saturday, July 7, 2012

Where: Sacramento Central Public Library
828 I Street
Sacramento
(916) 264-2920

Click below for flyer

http://www.saclibrary.org/?pageId=1396

Saturday, April 28, 2012

UPCOMING GENEALOGY CLASSES

UPCOMING GENEALOGY CLASSES

Latter Day Saints Family History Center
2745 Eastern Ave, Sacramento, CA


May 2 - Mocavo.com - Linda ToddHave you tried using Mocavo to search for your family history? Mocavo is a search engine that only searches genealogy specific blogs and websites. Come learn how to use this genealogy search engine and possible locate some of your missing information.

May 9 - Understanding the Basics of Cloud Computing for Genealogists - Marian Kile
Cloud computing is using the Internet for functions that we used to do on our local computer. Marian will explain more of Cloud Computing, its terms, advantages and drawbacks. She will cover a number of different types of Cloud Computing so we can decide which one might work best for us.

May 16 - Irish Research - Part 1 - Ron McDowell


May 23 - Irish Research - Part 2 - Ron McDowell
The Sacramento German Genealogical Society provides research assistance with tracing German ancestors every Thursday from 1:00pm-5:00pm in the Center.


Downtown Central Library
828 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814



April 29, Sunday, 1:30 pm to 3 pm
Genealogy - How Much Proof Is Enough?
Adult Program

May 6, Sunday, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Genealogy - American Migration Trails: Eastern United States
Adult Program


May 20,
Genealogy - The FamilySearch.org Website
Adult Program