How to prove you're a descendent of American slaves
1. Gather Family Records
Interview Relatives: Talk to older family members to gather names, dates, and locations.
Collect Documents: Look for birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, military records, and other family documents.
Search Family Bibles or Oral Histories: These may contain names, dates, or other clues.
2. Research Census Records
1870 Census: This is the first federal census that included formerly enslaved African Americans by name. If you locate ancestors in the 1870 census, work backward to find evidence of enslavement.
1860 and Earlier Censuses: Slaves were listed by age, gender, and race under the enslaver's name, not by individual names. Look for enslavers' names that might be linked to your ancestors.
3. Identify Enslavers
If your ancestor was enslaved, their enslaver’s name might appear in wills, estate records, or deeds of sale. These can often be found in county courthouse archives or state archives.
Search plantation records and slave schedules (available through the 1850 and 1860 censuses).
4. Use DNA Testing
DNA testing through platforms like AncestryDNA, 23andMe, or MyHeritage can help connect you to distant relatives or communities linked to enslaved ancestors.
These tests can also suggest regions in Africa where your ancestors may have originated.
5. Search Historical Records
Freedmen's Bureau Records: These documents include labor contracts, marriage records, and other details about formerly enslaved people after emancipation.
Church Records: Some churches kept records of enslaved members.
Slave Narratives: Collections like the Federal Writers' Project may include interviews with formerly enslaved people.
6. Collaborate with Genealogical Resource
Use genealogical organizations like the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society or the National Archives.
Online resources like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, or Fold3.com can provide digitized records.
7. Document the Connection
Compile your findings into a clear narrative showing how each ancestor is connected, from you to the enslaved individual. Include supporting documents like census records, property records, or DNA matches.
8. Seek Expert Assistance (If Needed)
Professional genealogists specializing in African American or slavery-era research can assist with complex cases.