| 1. There are many free resources to assist you. | | | | Advisor. |
| Getting started can be overwhelming. One of the | | | | 6. I discovered the Freedmen's Bureau. "The full |
| best places to begin is familysearch.org. This | | | | name of the bureau was The Bureau of Refugee, |
| website is sponsored by The Church of Jesus | | | | Freedmen and Abandoned Lands often referred |
| Christ of Latter Day Saints. You can search by | | | | to as the Freedmen's Bureau, was established in |
| name, country of birth date, marriage date death | | | | the War Department by an act of March 3, 1865. |
| date, or social security number. | | | | The Bureau supervised all relief and educational |
| 2. Another free resource is cemetery records. | | | | activities relating to refugees and freedmen, |
| Use Google to locate the graveyards where | | | | including issuing rations, clothing and medicine. The |
| families are buried. Search for cities and counties. I | | | | Bureau also assumed custody of confiscated lands |
| located the cemetery in Mount Pleasant, Texas | | | | or property in the former Confederate States, |
| where the descendants of the White Traylor | | | | border states, District of Columbia, and Indian |
| family were buried. There are separate | | | | Territory. The bureau records were created or |
| cemeteries for whites and blacks even if the | | | | maintained by bureau headquarters, the assistant |
| family names are the same. I called my Dad and | | | | commissioners and the state superintendents of |
| asked him did he recognize the names I found. He | | | | education and included personnel records and a |
| verified that were his uncles, therefore my great | | | | variety of standard reports concerning bureau |
| uncles. | | | | programs and conditions in the states." This is the |
| 3. I discovered that the spelling of names vary. | | | | agency that kept track of the slaves once freed |
| As you research you will at some point end up | | | | and allocated the 40 acres promised to them by |
| making use of the Federal Census records. In the | | | | President Lincoln. You will also find records of |
| earliest census names were spelled by sound only. | | | | slave rebellions. These are events that are not |
| When it comes to African American names, this | | | | common knowledge, but these rebellions |
| name spelling variation is a real challenge. Here is | | | | happened and records were kept. |
| an example of what I am talking about: When I | | | | 7. - there are son things worth paying for. |
| searched for the Traylor family members, I | | | | provides birth, marriage, U. S. military records, |
| ended up finding the name spelled "Trailer". If you | | | | slave ship records, Ellis Island records, and more. |
| look at my family tree website I compiled. | | | | There is a section to save your searches and |
| Another example of name spelling variation is the | | | | begin to build your family tree. There are books |
| name Fleming. I found it spelled "Flemming" and | | | | and updates for records that have been digitized |
| "Flemings". I suggest that you make a list of as | | | | recently. Family Trees that others have created |
| many possible spellings of the name for which you | | | | called "One World Tree". The following are |
| plan to search. Write down first name and last | | | | available: Immigration and Emigration, Court, Land |
| names before you start your search. | | | | and Financial, U.K. Collection and more! |
| 4. Personal Ancestral File: I discovered this free | | | | 8. Some Census records are not available. From |
| software that will help you get organized. You can | | | | the first federal census of 1790 to the 1930 |
| download software at failysearch.org. This | | | | census (the most recent census available to the |
| software also compiles all of your records into a | | | | public), the records present a vast resource that |
| format that allows you to create a webpage. The | | | | is rich in personal information and very accessible. |
| software creates GEDCOM files. These GEDCOM | | | | 9. Native American Records - You will not find |
| files are a special format that formats the | | | | records of Native Americans among the |
| records you find. You can also download and read | | | | information Federal Census records. So when you |
| these types of files from other websites. Click on | | | | search look for Native American records by state |
| Order/Download Products Link. | | | | or county. check this link. There is a ton of |
| 5. Rootsweb.com: This is a genealogy site that is | | | | information! |
| available for every state. This website houses | | | | 10. Library of Congress: Slave Narratives This is |
| records from all the cities and counties. There are | | | | an amazing find! There are audio files of actual |
| resources such at Genealogical Societies and | | | | interviews with former slaves. They talk about |
| forums where other researchers can | | | | their lives as slaves. Listening to the voices of |
| communicate with you and you with them. is the | | | | former slaves really brings it home just how real |
| "oldest and largest free genealogy site"-its | | | | that part of American History was. The library of |
| purpose is to connect people and give them a | | | | Congress is a phenomenal resource for |
| forum for sharing their research. (Tracing Your | | | | documents of all kinds. |
| Family Tree Online ; Regina Lewis -AOL Online | | | | |