October has been officially designated as Family History Month in the United States. It is a great time to get into your family history as there are several online resources being made available for those who want to who research their family history. Here are a few of the FREE resources I've been able to locate online.
Ancestry
For the entire month of October, Ancestry.com is offering 15 days of free records daily from October 1st through 15th to celebrate their 15th anniversary. While you are there, you can create a free account with Ancestry in order to access and create family trees. This is a limited time free offering of Ancestry's records.
Family Search
Family Search is one of the best free online genealogy resource tools available. The website offers record collections from the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. The best part about Family Search is that it is absolutely free 100% of the time! They currently have two websites for records searches.
http://familysearch.org/eng
http://familysearch.org/
HeritageQuest Online
HeritageQuest Online is another great resource for researchers. The website offers collections including census records, books, The Freedman's Bank, Revolutionary War records and PERSI. This is free, but only if you access it from your local library, school or college.
Afrigeneas
If you are looking for your African-American ancestors and want to connect with others who are looking for their families or need help in this specialized area, Afrigeneas is where you should be. In addition to a sizable collection of documentation related to African-Americans, Afrigeneas has live chat discussions three times a week; Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday. Notable African-American genealogists such as Angela Walton-Raji, Drusilla Pair, Arthur Thomas and founder Valencia King-Nelson contribute frequently to the chat discussions and message boards. The message boards cover topics on specific areas of African-American genealogy. One of the best features is the "Beginner's Guide" written by the late Dee Parmer Woodtor, another pioneer in the area of African-American genealogy. Awarded the Family Tree magazine "Best African American genealogy website" consecutively over the years, Afrigeneas is one of the best resources available on African-American family research.
Family Griot
Showing posts with label African-American. Show all posts
Showing posts with label African-American. Show all posts
Monday, October 10, 2011
Friday, June 26, 2009
R.I.P. Michael Jackson
In light of the events of the past 24 hours, it would be remiss for me not to honor the memory of one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century. Michael Joseph Jackson was born to Joseph and Katherine Jackson on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana. As a young man he joined with his siblings to form the group, The Jackson 5 and later The Jacksons. In his adult years, Michael Jackson became a solo artist, actor and an international superstar. His breakthrough album 'Thriller' produced by himself and Quincy Jones, became the best selling record of all time. He helped usher in an entirely new concept in music videos with his breakthrough video 'Thriller'. Michael blended the art of music story telling and movie making to create this new genre in music videos. Another later breakthrough video was for the hit "Remember the Time" which depicted Egyptians as black Africans and showed the wide range in physical appearance of native born Africans. Michael Jackson will be fondly remembered by his family, his multi-generational fans and people all over the world as the man who broke the mold when it came to entertainment. Michael, as a fan as long as I can remember, I will truly miss you! Go with the Ancestors in peace!
The Family Griot
REMEMBER THE TIME
ROCK WITH YOU
THRILLER
The Family Griot
REMEMBER THE TIME
ROCK WITH YOU
THRILLER
Friday, April 10, 2009
Benjamin Thompson on the African American Civil War Memorial
I want to thank Khathu from Afrigeneas for sending me these pictures! This is the plaque bearing the name of my ancestor Benjamin Thompson who served in the 82nd and photos of the Civil War Memorial. Enjoy!
Journey of Discovery. . .
Today I had a chance to reflect on exactly why I am researching my family genealogy and history. For me, it's a part of a greater journey of discovery. One that is within me and outside of me.
My journey on a quest to find my people began with a realization that African descended people in America were mostly missing from history books in the context of intellectual and humanitarian accomplishments. I began to research everything that I could about African descended people in America who had contributed anything of significance to American society. Along the way I discovered that as a group of people we are the most creative and most connected people that I know of. Our branch of the African Diaspora has survived and thrived under some of the most oppressive conditions in the Americas.
However, studying African-Americans wasn't enough, I had to take a look inward. I realized that I didn't know much about my own family, their achievements or their lives. These are the very people whose DNA and blood flows through me, their very existence allowed me to be brought me into being. As to date, I'm finding that success runs in my family in terms of their material wealth, spiritual wealth and gifts.
This journey has been eye opening for me in various ways. As I am journeying through this search for my family, I'm discovering more about myself, more about my people and more about my spirit.
I invite all my readers to continue with me on this journey of discovery. . .
The Family Griot
My journey on a quest to find my people began with a realization that African descended people in America were mostly missing from history books in the context of intellectual and humanitarian accomplishments. I began to research everything that I could about African descended people in America who had contributed anything of significance to American society. Along the way I discovered that as a group of people we are the most creative and most connected people that I know of. Our branch of the African Diaspora has survived and thrived under some of the most oppressive conditions in the Americas.
However, studying African-Americans wasn't enough, I had to take a look inward. I realized that I didn't know much about my own family, their achievements or their lives. These are the very people whose DNA and blood flows through me, their very existence allowed me to be brought me into being. As to date, I'm finding that success runs in my family in terms of their material wealth, spiritual wealth and gifts.
This journey has been eye opening for me in various ways. As I am journeying through this search for my family, I'm discovering more about myself, more about my people and more about my spirit.
I invite all my readers to continue with me on this journey of discovery. . .
The Family Griot
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Williams/Smith Family lineage
My branch of the Callins family originated with the marriage of George Callins and Lucy Stroggins on 23 December 1886 in Dallas County, Alabama. I am still researching the Callins family because I don't have much information on them at this time.
However, many details are emerging about his wife Lucy Stroggins family. Lucy Callins mother was named Celie Smith (b. abt 1850). It appears as if she had two marriages. The first to Joe Scroggins on 15 January 1870 in Dallas County, Alabama. From this union, Lucy was born. I have been unable to locate any additional records on Joe Scroggins. I then was able to locate a marriage to Pierce Williams on 4 April 1875, also in Dallas County, Alabama. By this time Celie had two daughters, Lucy Stroggins and Phillis Smith. Note that Phyllis' has Celie's maiden name of Smith.
Celie and Pierce had five (5) children: Andrew, Martha, Thomas and Alphie(Alfy). I'm unsure exactly what happened to Martha, Andrew, Thomas or Phyllis. However, I do what happened to Alfy.
According to census records, oral history and a little figuring on my part Alfy left Woodlawn, Alabama and moved to Bessemer, Alabama. While in Woodlawn, she was apparently a paramour. According to family members who knew her while she was living, she had eight (8) light skinned children, but never married. This is what leads me to believe she had a status as a paramour. Her children are the following: Phillis(Anderson) Williams, Edward Williams, Coleman Willilams, Ernestine Williams, Robert Williams, Eugene Williams, and John Williams.
Between 1920 and 1930, Alphy moved to Bessemer, Alabama with her children, her widowed mother Celie and son-in-law Junius Anderson. Also according to family oral history because of their light skin and the move to Bessemer, the Williams' children were afforded better opprotunities. From this branch of the family we have educators and college presidents.
If there are any Williamses from Dallas or Jefferson County, Alabama, I am actively seeking family members to contact. My e-mail address is familygriot@gmail.com.
In the meantime, there will be more to come on this lineage and the Callins lineage including our foreign roots.
However, many details are emerging about his wife Lucy Stroggins family. Lucy Callins mother was named Celie Smith (b. abt 1850). It appears as if she had two marriages. The first to Joe Scroggins on 15 January 1870 in Dallas County, Alabama. From this union, Lucy was born. I have been unable to locate any additional records on Joe Scroggins. I then was able to locate a marriage to Pierce Williams on 4 April 1875, also in Dallas County, Alabama. By this time Celie had two daughters, Lucy Stroggins and Phillis Smith. Note that Phyllis' has Celie's maiden name of Smith.
Celie and Pierce had five (5) children: Andrew, Martha, Thomas and Alphie(Alfy). I'm unsure exactly what happened to Martha, Andrew, Thomas or Phyllis. However, I do what happened to Alfy.
According to census records, oral history and a little figuring on my part Alfy left Woodlawn, Alabama and moved to Bessemer, Alabama. While in Woodlawn, she was apparently a paramour. According to family members who knew her while she was living, she had eight (8) light skinned children, but never married. This is what leads me to believe she had a status as a paramour. Her children are the following: Phillis(Anderson) Williams, Edward Williams, Coleman Willilams, Ernestine Williams, Robert Williams, Eugene Williams, and John Williams.
Between 1920 and 1930, Alphy moved to Bessemer, Alabama with her children, her widowed mother Celie and son-in-law Junius Anderson. Also according to family oral history because of their light skin and the move to Bessemer, the Williams' children were afforded better opprotunities. From this branch of the family we have educators and college presidents.
If there are any Williamses from Dallas or Jefferson County, Alabama, I am actively seeking family members to contact. My e-mail address is familygriot@gmail.com.
In the meantime, there will be more to come on this lineage and the Callins lineage including our foreign roots.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Who is Roxie Earl?
One key person that I have been doing research on is my great-great grandmother, Roxie Earl. I know very little about her. The information that was presented to me is that she resided in Lanehart, Mississippi a small town in Wilkinson County, MS. She died when her youngest son, Elijah, was an infant and is buried in a cemetery called Bunker Hill. She was also a widow. That was the only information that I had to go on in an attempt to find out anything about her life.
I made several attempts in earnest to locate her using different spellings of her name, first and last. I then knew that I would have to take another approach to locating her through census records since the 1890 federal census records have been destroyed. After searching for her daughters Kate and Jane, I was able to ascertain a very good lead on Roxie. Here is the information that I was able to acquire from ancestry.com. I will demonstrate the records that I used to acquire this information.
First I found Jane Lutcher, my great grandfather's sister in the 1920 census.
Jane Lutcher 37 born abt 1883 in Tennessee
Clarence Lutcher 17
Allen Parker 38
Next I found sister Kate/Katie Earls in the 1900 census records raising brother Will.
Katy Earls 23 born in Mississippi in Sept 1876
Leola Earls 1
Chester Earls 3
Willie Washington 11 (my great grandfather)
From this information I know that Katy was born in Mississippi and Jane was born in Tennessee. Information I hadn't known prior to my search. On a wing and a prayer, I searched in Tennessee for Kate. This is what I found.
1880 census record for Shelby County, Tennessee
Jacob Earl 48
Charlotte Earl 47
Steven Earl 26
Mary Earl 18
Lee Earl 4
Henry Earl 2
John Earl 24 Roxana's husband
Roxana Earl 21 born about 1859 in Mississippi
Kate Earl 3 born abt 1877 in Mississippi
Millie Earl 2
Lucy Earl 1
Mary Earl 1M
This is a very strong match for my great-great grandmother, who was called Roxie and her eldest daughter Kate/Katie. As I stated previously, Jane is listed as being born in Tennessee. If this is in fact, my great-great grandmother and her children, I wonder what happened to her husband and her three daughters Millie, Lucy and Mary.
I made several attempts in earnest to locate her using different spellings of her name, first and last. I then knew that I would have to take another approach to locating her through census records since the 1890 federal census records have been destroyed. After searching for her daughters Kate and Jane, I was able to ascertain a very good lead on Roxie. Here is the information that I was able to acquire from ancestry.com. I will demonstrate the records that I used to acquire this information.
First I found Jane Lutcher, my great grandfather's sister in the 1920 census.
Jane Lutcher 37 born abt 1883 in Tennessee
Clarence Lutcher 17
Allen Parker 38
Next I found sister Kate/Katie Earls in the 1900 census records raising brother Will.
Katy Earls 23 born in Mississippi in Sept 1876
Leola Earls 1
Chester Earls 3
Willie Washington 11 (my great grandfather)
From this information I know that Katy was born in Mississippi and Jane was born in Tennessee. Information I hadn't known prior to my search. On a wing and a prayer, I searched in Tennessee for Kate. This is what I found.
1880 census record for Shelby County, Tennessee
Jacob Earl 48
Charlotte Earl 47
Steven Earl 26
Mary Earl 18
Lee Earl 4
Henry Earl 2
John Earl 24 Roxana's husband
Roxana Earl 21 born about 1859 in Mississippi
Kate Earl 3 born abt 1877 in Mississippi
Millie Earl 2
Lucy Earl 1
Mary Earl 1M
This is a very strong match for my great-great grandmother, who was called Roxie and her eldest daughter Kate/Katie. As I stated previously, Jane is listed as being born in Tennessee. If this is in fact, my great-great grandmother and her children, I wonder what happened to her husband and her three daughters Millie, Lucy and Mary.
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