freedmen marriages
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Tracing Your Roots: Were My Married Slave Ancestors Forced to Live Apart?
A historical document that appears to legalize a marriage formed under bondage in 1858 suggests a heartbreaking scenario for one woman’s ancestors. Professor Gates and his team of genealogy researchers address the answers she seeks. Dear Professor Gates: I am trying to learn more about my enslaved ancestors Sandy Butner and Mary Jane Powe in…