Forced Settlement – Part I: Getting Started in North America

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Introduction

Materials gathered by Dr. Shelley Viola Murphy

When conducting family history research, it's important to combine various sources. Also figure out how you will maintain the records and where will you record of your findings. Individuals always want to verify information across multiple records and information when possible. It is always recommended that you develop an annotated list of resources for genealogical research, especially if you are a descendants of enslaved people and their enslavers. This will require accessing a range of archives and utilizing various research tools. Below is a list to help someone get started on their own family history research. The focus of this list will highlight Virginia records to Scotland as an example.

The first step is to decide how you will maintain your files, which line of your family will you focused on, the maternal or paternal line? Once you target your area of research you will need to obtain a map and plan out your research. Begin with what you know, and who else might know of any information. You begin with yourself, then on to your parents and so forth. Make a list of family members that are considered “elders”, craft 3 to 4 questions you want to ask them, today. It is good to focus on locating birth, death, marriage, and any public records for each generation of ancestors. In addition, look for anyone who might have served in the military, and seek out events that might of occurred within the community and along with buying and selling land, as well as human property, etc.

Murphy’s Rule: Follow the Money, Land, Water, Community, and the Faith of the People.

Selected Resources for Getting Started

Printed

  • The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy by Loretto Dennis Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking (New York: Ancestry Publishing, 2006).
    • An essential guide for genealogical research that provides strategies and references for tracing ancestry in America, including chapters on African American genealogy.
  • Black Roots: A Beginners Guide To Tracing The African American Family Tree by Tony Burroughs (New York: Fireside Division of Simon & Schuster, 2001).
    • Step by step guide in researching African American ancestry.
  • Somerset Homecoming: Recover a Lost Heritage by Dorothy Spruill Redford (New York: Doubleday Publishing, 1988).
    • The author’s personal story of her search for her lost heritage by tracing her mother's lines back to the year 1790 to Somerset Place in Washington County, N.C. to her earliest known ancestor Fred Littlejohn.
  • At the Feet of the Elders: A Journey into a Lowcountry Family History by Darius M. Brown (Independently published, 2023).
    • The author’s personal story of his extensive research journey on various lines of his family, tracing them back to the colonial period.
  • Also, search for books, dissertations, articles, and blogs on Google, including the county and state of your research.

Organizations

Online

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Selected Repositories and Records

Regional

Local

  • Local Courthouses
    • They hold deeds, marriages, divorces, wills, probate records, emancipation and manumission records that often contain information about enslaved ancestors. Register of free negroes, co-habitation records, etc.
  • Church Records
    • Baptismal, marriage, and burial records sometimes list enslaved individuals, providing vital data.
  • Local Historical and Genealogical Societies
    • They often have unique resources such as family Bibles, private manuscripts, and oral histories.
  • Oral Histories
    • Compilations of stories passed down generations, can be a primary or secondary source. Tremendous number of leads and hints, and resources.

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Additional Resources

Academic Journals and Databases

  • Journal of African American History
    • Offers scholarly articles that can provide context and historical details that may be relevant to family research.
  • Slavery, Abolition, and Social Justice
    • This database contains a wealth of documents and collections related to the transatlantic slave trade and the movements for abolition.

Printed Narratives

  • Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley
    • The book offer context and methods used for African American genealogical research.
  • The Black Family in Slavery and Freedom, 1750-1925 by Herbert Gutman
    • Provides an analysis of African American family structures and is useful for understanding the societal context.
  • Slaves in the Family by Edward Ball
    • The author's account of his family's history and their ownership of slaves, offering a framework for how descendants of enslavers can approach their ancestry.

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About the Compiler

Dr. Shelley Viola Murphy, known as "familytreegirl," is a dedicated genealogist with over three decades of experience. Murphy serves on the boards of the Library of Virginia, Albemarle Charlottesville, and Fluvanna Historical Societies. She coordinates and teaches at the Midwest African American Genealogy Institute (MAAGI) and develops educational programs for the International African American Museum's Center for Family History. Since 2009, she has been an Adjunct Professor at Averett University and conducts personal research across several states.

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