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Subject: [OHGREENE-L] Re: Freedmen's surnames/research
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 20:12:16 EST

In a message dated 2/8/2004 1:00:59 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:
If it were not for some very thoughtful researchers at several universities
who are painstakingly taking the 1860 slave schedules and comparing them to
the 1870 Censuses in many, many southern states we wouldn't have a clue as to
who was an owner and who was owned.
HI:
There's an alternative way for individuals to research this info; wills,
deeds, and military records. My great-great-grandfather, who was born in KY and
moved to Brown Co., Ohio, did not take the surname of his last slave owner
before Emancipation. But he and his oldest son were listed on the inventory of the
2nd to last slave owner's will.

In my research I've run into some unexpected sources of info -- my great-aunt
submitted family info to the Ripley Bicentennial history book back in the
1950s. It really spoiled me because all I had to do was document what I found;
some of it was inaccurate, but not much. Also, my family shows up in the Ripley
city directory before 1900. Very helpful!


So far, unfortunately, I have not been able to figure out the origin of his
surname. He could've simply chosen it upon Emancipation. However, I have read
that many slaves chose surnames and kept them secret from slave owners over
several generations.

I also attended a seminar on researching slave ancestry before 1870; the
researcher is convinced that surnames were "fluid" (in my words) among ex-slaves
and their descendants till about 1880-1900 and that you should stick to
mathcing up first names when checking records.

My g-g-grandfather, like 180,000 others, also served in the U.S. Colored
Troops, in the Union Army. Those records -- who served where, etc. -- are on the
National Archives Web site. You can also send for military and pension records
of your ancestor if he served.

Kberry
Researching LONG/WALKER/ENOCH in Greene and Clark counties after 1900,
ALAMANCE & CASWELL Counties, NC; BERRY/PRIOR/WILLIAMS/ in Mason Co., KY

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