The Black Tree: November 2013

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Finding the Maiden Names of Women in Your Family Tree

This a , great video for researching maiden names of the women in your family tree. Keep in mind though African American women did not spent a lot of time doing social gatherings that they spent a lot of time in church and home after the Civil War era. I found that finding where they worked sometimes held a lot of clues. A late cousin of my family's was a "Womack" but had become a border and her name changed. After researching who she resided with (border, as they called it) she took on the name of the name of the lady of the house's Mother. I never found where perhaps our cousin started working for the Mother and why she took on her name. She never had children or married which sometimes limit the research options. This is a great video!

also...

Ask.com and Family Tree Magazine

Civil Rights Leaders - Conversation

Civil Rights Leaders - Conversation

I love it that you can share your stories! When you visit the page click the "share" link and check it out. I call Mr. Gates the "one man story teller of the real black history'.

"American Blackout"

"In this award-winning indictment of the election process, guerilla journalist Ian Inaba follows the efforts of Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney to expose disturbing tactics that systematically disenfranchise black voters and silence dissent. A passionate advocate for civil rights, McKinney calls on all citizens to question the political machinery and protect democracy from the institutionalized racism imperiling the country." "American Blackout" is a must see!

Women right to vote

and what history called "second class citizens" (Negro voters).

"In Search of our Roots"

In Search of our Roots

Good book, though the family trees were not visual.

He talks about the book in this video.

"The Human Tree"

I thought that video/documentary was very interesting. My opinion, it proves the human race origin as a whole.

Tracing Slave Ancestors-Family Tree Magazine

I thought this was an awesome article. Check it out! You should subscribe to this magazine, they have African American related articles from time to time. They will also answer any questions you may have regarding your family tree search.

Tracing Slave Ancestors_Family Tree Magazine

We have Slave Names by Malcolm X

His real name was Malcolm Little and this may be part of his family tree.

Abbreviations and Acronyms for Genealogy

There are more sites that are related, I found that this site was the better one.

Abbreviations and Acronyms for Genealogy

Do you have a Family Tree already started?

Sometimes before you begin a family tree, there may be another family member that may have started one. I Googled the "Thomas" side of my family tree and found a great deal of information though it did not link me to any of the Yarboroughs. Listed below are places where you can begin searching to see if you may have a family tree started:

ancestry.com

familysearch.org

RootsWeb.com

MyHeritage.com

Search Youtube, sometimes a family member will post a family reunion video with names listed or a family tree. If you find a video, listen for names in the video and definitely read the caption/description

Google (the family name)

Ask family members (especially your elders)

Public Libraries will sometime have archived family tree documentaries, books, diaries

National Archives (check your local National Archive location)

ancsetry.com How to for African Americans

A List of Slavery Movies upto 2013 - Wikipedia

This post is not meant to criticize, cause controversy to resurface or to mock anyone. It's purpose is related family tree search for African Americans. When I started my family tree search (Thomas/Wilson, paternal side and Womack/Payne, maternal side) I had a hard time in the beginning because I had not researched slavery enough. When I understood slavery, I understood the search of my slave ancestors. Here is a "List of Slavery Movies" Wikipedia.

Family Photo...what information does it hold?

It is unfortunate, rare to find that family members have written the names and dates on the back of photos. When doing your search, take a peek at the back of the photo to see what information you can find. The type of clothes they have on will give you clues, if they are wearing a uniforms, cars and other types of transportation, buildings will tell a story and the photo stamp. Search the web for family photos, who knows someone may have already started a family tree that you are unaware of. Unfortunately, I have search for family members by name and mug shots have come up.

This picture was from 1974. Look at the Buster Browns, do you all remember them? Surely there are photo albums and scrapbooks laying around your family's house.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Google Link to images of Slave Schedules

Link to Google images of slave schedules...

Click the link above to view some the of the different types of slave schedules.

Places to begin your search, after you know the family origin name.

1.)Check with your local library's Genealogy Department

2.)ancestry.com

3.)familysearch.org

Slave List~Wikipedia

Slave List~Wikipedia

When researching slaves in your family tree, you MUST know the slave owner name. The above link is just one of many, many list available for view. Remember they could have had more then one slave owner which means they would sometimes take on their name. My Great Grandfather's names were Womack/Payne (maternal side) and Thomas/Wilson (paternal side). There were many different spelling for Womack so it took me quite some time to trace the right J. Womack (the spelling for the slave owner was "Wommock"). Keep in mind that runaway slaves were listed as well.

What is the origin name of both your maternal and paternal side? Ask an elder in your family if you don't already know. You can also find slave list and schedules on the following sites, just click the link. (Note that most family search sites cost money)

Here are just a couple of sites to start with:

familysearch.org

ancestry.com

The Abolition of Slavery Movie

There are many different views and movies in regards to slavery. I thought this video was great!

Knowing about slavery will help you understand searching your family tree.

About Me

Hello Family Tree Researcher, my name is Jacqueline Joyce Thomas (born to Gene E. Thomas and Brendel Joyce Lewis) of Texas in '67 . I began doing my family tree search when my son (C. Hicks) was born. He was unfortunately born with Nephrogenic Insipidus Diabetes. When he was two weeks old I could not get him to take his formula, the only thing he would drink was water. We took him to the local emergency room, where the hospital staff spent hours doing test after test and the end result were "we are still uncertain of what is wrong with your son". My heart fell to pieces. The next few days, still nothing. Finally on the forty-fifth day of his prolonged stay , they decided to care flight him to a Children's Hospital where it still took nineteen days for the final results and even then they were not sure. The doctor came into the room with his long white doctor's coat and his glasses hanging from his nose with the final thought (not answer). Ms. Hicks (at the time), "could you have a seat?" My thought was, okay then comes "is you son mixed with Caucasian?" My reply with anger and confusion in my heart was, mixed, with who?...not what but who! And not that I was cared or anything, I have mixed nieces and nephews. Then he went on to explain to me that "that type of diabetes was uncommon, and that it only occurred in every three thousand children" annnnndddd'ah-Rah...here is the killer..."that it only occurred in Caucasian males." Gathering my thoughts and physical seemed to be out of the question. It was not until he turned four years old that I begin getting more and more curious. So next to my son being born with a rare type of diabetes that only (according the doctor) in Caucasian males and me being adopted, I became one curious Sista'. The search began.