Do Freedmen’s Bureau Records Show the Marriage of My Kin?
Many years ago, I located my maternal great-great-grandparents, Lucy Hoffman and Ben Hoffman, in census records for…
Who Were My Enslaved Ancestor’s Parents?
How do I go about finding the parents of my maternal second great-grandfather Spencer Mott, born about 1820 in Georgia?…
Was My Black Ancestor Named After a Confederate General?
I visited Charleston, S.C., last week and walked past a statue of Wade Hampton III and stopped dead in my tracks. You…
Is My Family’s ‘Slave Name’ the Wrong One?
I have been working on my family tree for years and cannot find anyone on my father's side earlier than my…
Did My Black Forebear Have Kids With a White Employer?
Dear Professor Gates:
My fourth great-grandmother Delilah Yates was listed as a "domestic servant” in a white household…
Help Me Find My Ancestors in Slave Records
I have been unable to find any records of the Armstrong branch of my family before the 1870 census and look to you for…
How Do I Connect With Kin of My Ancestor’s Slave Owners?
I have uncovered an interesting and tragic family story. I was able to trace my family to a couple of former slaves: my…
The Brick Wall: Where Was My Black Ancestor Before 1880?
My maternal second great-grandmother was named Sarah Riddick, born around 1862 in Washington County, N.C. Records show…
Tell Me More About My Runaway Slave Ancestor
In my father’s family, there is a story about three brothers: Nash, Kush and Hardy. Our surname is Graham. The brothers…
How Do I Research My Kin’s Jamaican Origins?
My great-grandparents migrated from Jamaica. I have everyone’s name but no other information about them. Can you tell…
The Lynching of My Husband’s Ancestor Shocked a Nation
Dear Professor Gates: