Tracing Family History - AfroChat - African American

Mr Gumbo · April 15th, 2008, 03:02 PM

Any of yall tried doing it? I'm doing it for my family, to date all the history we know has been passed down by word of mouth to a few here and there. I've always wanted to do it but never did until my pops found some old slave papers from 1885. It was a bond for marriage from my Great Great Grandfather and he also found something from 1896. Now I'm all gung ho over tracing it but hit brick walls because you have to pay for information. Does anyone know any good sites where you can find useful information for free? I know I'm eventually gonna have to pay but I'd like to get alot of background info before I'm ready for all that.

TJ dad · April 15th, 2008, 10:06 PM

Yeah, I am in need of the same information. I think I need to travel to MS to investigate things myself.

s8loud · April 16th, 2008, 01:19 PM

In my research of my own family (which hasn't been too extensive), I've found that, if you're looking for documentation beyond oral history, you're gonna need time and money (for travelling) to do the research yourself. Otherwise, you might consider enlisting the services of a genealogist, but again, that can be quite costly as well.

Mr Gumbo · April 17th, 2008, 09:42 AM

Yeah, I'm finding that out. What's been great so far is the oral history from family members that have all this knowledge of the past in my family but never told it before. I'm hitting the library this weekend so I'll see what I can find there but I'm not to confident.

warrior · April 17th, 2008, 07:28 PM

Personally, I always found the use of the tree metaphor concerning family heritage to be racist and a creation of YT to insinuate a connection to apes.
When they decided to run that racist ROOTS miniseries years ago, I was even insulted then. I don't come from trees.

JamieC · April 20th, 2008, 01:35 AM

I just wanted to say thank you Mr. Gumbo and give you props on this post because my mother, father, grandmother and grandfather gave me valuable information on this topic when I was a little girl.

The reason I point this one out and really touched me is because the first thing that comes out of (some peoples) mouths is "I'm Part Indian or Native American". Now me personally, I can't speak on that note because I have no proof, documentation, or affilation with even being considered an indian. However, I can say that growing up as a child, I did find out that my great great grandmother was from Ireland and she married a strong black man from the south who took pride in his family.

Each day I breathe I learn more

Thank you once again for this post.

JamieC · April 20th, 2008, 02:17 AM

This topic was initially brought up on April 26, 2005 in the forum "WHATS THE WORD" Check it out.

http://www.afrochat.net/forums/whats...genealogy.html

April 21st, 2008, 11:11 PM

I really want to do this but have never had the money to. I'm searching the BARNETT, SEALES (SEALS) and BRYANT families from East Texas to Louisiana. I'm also searching the THOMAS, BRAXTON and DUGGAR families from Southeast Texas to Louisiana.

If any of you have some info, maybe you've got family with those names in those areas, please let me know.

April 15th, 2008, 03:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mr Gumbo Afro Resident Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Louisiana Born Living In D-Town Texas Gender: Posts: 1,035 Thanks: 193 Thanked 371 Times in 223 Posts Rep Power: 47 Credits: 6,627	Tracing Family History Any of yall tried doing it? I'm doing it for my family, to date all the history we know has been passed down by word of mouth to a few here and there. I've always wanted to do it but never did until my pops found some old slave papers from 1885. It was a bond for marriage from my Great Great Grandfather and he also found something from 1896. Now I'm all gung ho over tracing it but hit brick walls because you have to pay for information. Does anyone know any good sites where you can find useful information for free? I know I'm eventually gonna have to pay but I'd like to get alot of background info before I'm ready for all that.

April 16th, 2008, 01:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
s8loud Afro Resident Resident Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles Gender: Posts: 159 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts Rep Power: 7 Credits: 1,036	In my research of my own family (which hasn't been too extensive), I've found that, if you're looking for documentation beyond oral history, you're gonna need time and money (for travelling) to do the research yourself. Otherwise, you might consider enlisting the services of a genealogist, but again, that can be quite costly as well. __________________ "The power of truth is final." - John Africa

April 17th, 2008, 07:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
warrior Afro Resident Occasional 2Cents Join Date: Feb 2008 Gender: Posts: 52 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Rep Power: 0 Credits: 352	Personally, I always found the use of the tree metaphor concerning family heritage to be racist and a creation of YT to insinuate a connection to apes. When they decided to run that racist ROOTS miniseries years ago, I was even insulted then. I don't come from trees. __________________ For those who can will surely be. For those who cannot will suffer defeat- Tyrell Duane Malone

April 20th, 2008, 01:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
JamieC SuperModerator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Diego, Ca Baby And Proud Of It!! Gender: Posts: 5,924 Thanks: 52 Thanked 76 Times in 65 Posts Rep Power: 53 Credits: 22,712	I just wanted to say thank you Mr. Gumbo and give you props on this post because my mother, father, grandmother and grandfather gave me valuable information on this topic when I was a little girl. The reason I point this one out and really touched me is because the first thing that comes out of (some peoples) mouths is "I'm Part Indian or Native American". Now me personally, I can't speak on that note because I have no proof, documentation, or affilation with even being considered an indian. However, I can say that growing up as a child, I did find out that my great great grandmother was from Ireland and she married a strong black man from the south who took pride in his family. Each day I breathe I learn more Thank you once again for this post. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. It's Like That Last edited by JamieC : April 20th, 2008 at 01:43 AM.

April 20th, 2008, 02:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
JamieC SuperModerator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Diego, Ca Baby And Proud Of It!! Gender: Posts: 5,924 Thanks: 52 Thanked 76 Times in 65 Posts Rep Power: 53 Credits: 22,712	This topic was initially brought up on April 26, 2005 in the forum "WHATS THE WORD" Check it out. http://www.afrochat.net/forums/whats...genealogy.html __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. It's Like That

April 15th, 2008, 10:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
TJ dad Afro Resident Occasional 2Cents Join Date: Dec 2007 Gender: Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 0 Credits: 209	Yeah, I am in need of the same information. I think I need to travel to MS to investigate things myself.

April 17th, 2008, 09:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mr Gumbo Afro Resident Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Louisiana Born Living In D-Town Texas Gender: Posts: 1,035 Thanks: 193 Thanked 371 Times in 223 Posts Rep Power: 47 Credits: 6,627	Yeah, I'm finding that out. What's been great so far is the oral history from family members that have all this knowledge of the past in my family but never told it before. I'm hitting the library this weekend so I'll see what I can find there but I'm not to confident.

April 21st, 2008, 11:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
LiseYates Posts: n/a Credits: 0	I really want to do this but have never had the money to. I'm searching the BARNETT, SEALES (SEALS) and BRYANT families from East Texas to Louisiana. I'm also searching the THOMAS, BRAXTON and DUGGAR families from Southeast Texas to Louisiana. If any of you have some info, maybe you've got family with those names in those areas, please let me know.

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