African-American genealogy research.

Having researched through MANY Louisiana documents: some in English, some French, and some Spanish; I can only imagine how hard it is for those who research individuals who were slaves in this state.  I have personally read through many records and "slave holdings" records.  Most are single names and age.  Then there are also records of sale of "property" and successions where "property" was handed down through families.  Each time I have feelings of sadness about what these innocent people had to have endured being captive in a brutal life. 

I salute anyone who is able to piece all these tidbits together.  I do understand how important it is to us all that we find our lineage and somehow understand more about our ancestors lives.  Even though I struggle to push through my own genealogy brick walls, I am in awe of anyone who has the determination and can piece together their ancestry using slave records.

I SALUTE YOU!!!!!!

Major Release of records for African-American genealogy research

Newly unveiled records may help you trace family roots

MARY FOSTER
The Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 6:46 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 6:46 a.m.

NEW ORLEANS — In a development that one expert calls a "monumental contribution" to historians, the New Orleans Archdiocese is making available online the sacramental records for slaves and free people of color that date back before Louisiana's 1812 statehood.

"Our sacramental records here in the New Orleans Archdiocese are some of the most detailed you will ever find," Archbishop Gregory Aymond said.

All the records, dating from 1718 to 1812, will be available in the next two years, archdiocesan archivist Emilie Leumas said Tuesday.

"We don't have the resources at the archdiocese to operate a research center," Leumas said. "Through our website we are able to make a PDF image of the original documents containing the records available."

The first five books, written in Spanish by priests in Louisiana's earliest colonial days, are now available at no cost through the archdiocese's web site. They contain the baptismal records of slaves and free people of color, mostly listing only one name for those documented.

During colonial time, the Catholic Church was the recorder of births, deaths, marriages and other stages of life for not only the city's white population, but also for the slaves and free people of color.

Colonial law during both the Spanish and French eras required every baby to be baptized. Because of that, there are far more extensive records for slaves and free people of color in New Orleans than in most of the rest of the country.

"Scholars from all over the world come and do research here," Leumas said. "There is no place else that has that abundance of records that we have."

The archdiocese had published 17 volumes of sacramental records for white parishioners in the past, but had not made the records of those without surnames available. Opening those records is a "monumental contribution," said Elizabeth Shown Mills, of Samford University Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research.

The records list the name of the mother, sometimes the father, the sponsor of the baptism, the name of the slave owner and those who witnessed the event. Many of the baptismal records had notations added later such as when the person married, listing the husband, and sometimes an added surname.

"Traditionally, genealogists, historians, and archivists alike have assumed that genealogical research was not possible for ancestors without surnames," Mills said.  That has since been disproved.

Simone Barnes, chairman of the Board of Directors of Rhode Island Black Storytellers, recalled a 10-year-old girl named Priscilla, who was taken from Sierra Leone in the 1700s and brought to South Carolina on a slave ship. Seven generations later, her great-granddaughter was honored in Priscilla's native land.

"Sometimes even the smallest detail can be the one that sparks other discoveries," Barnes said.

Research will remain painstaking. With hundreds of "Maries" baptized over the years, for example, each one in the time period in question will have to be inspected.

"It helps if someone has an ancestor with an unusual name," said Megan Smolenyak, who researched the ancestry of President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, and discovered a connection between the Rev. Al Sharpton and the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond. "But every piece of data you can get your hands on helps and this is a massive step forward."

Historical records of Archdiocese of New Orleans released

This undated photo released Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, by the Office of Archives of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, shows a 1799 record of baptism, written in Spanish and French. Sacramental records that date back before Louisiana's statehood of April 30, 1812, are being made available online by the New Orleans Archdiocese. Sacramental records include baptisms, first communions, confirmations, marriages and deaths. The archdiocese says their availability will help more people research their family history. The records are without surnames which, the archdiocese says, means they encompass mostly slaves and free people of color.

Here is the link for the site.  http://www.archdiocese-no.org

NEW ORLEANS — In a development that one expert calls a "monumental contribution" to historians, the New Orleans Archdiocese is making available online the sacramental records for slaves and free people of color that date back before Louisiana's 1812 statehood.

"Our sacramental records here in the New Orleans Archdiocese are some of the most detailed you will ever find," Archbishop Gregory Aymond said.

All the records, dating from 1718 to 1812, will be available in the next two years, archdiocesan archivist Emilie Leumas said Tuesday.

et ux, et vir, et al

OK I meant to post this weeks ago.  I read a blog that said ET UX meant " and spouse".  Well that is not quite correct.  ET UX actually means "and wife".  Legal-Explanations states: (et uhks) n. abbreviation for the Latin words et uxor meaning "and wife." It is usually found in deeds, tax assessment rolls and other documents in the form "John Alden et ux.," to show that the wife as well as the husband own property. "

Now about ET VIR.  This is used when a wife is listed before the husband and means "and husband".  AnswerBag states: "Et vir" is a Latin term that translates to "and man." In legal circumstances, "et vir" is often used to mean "and husband," such as when naming defendants or plaintiffs in a case.

And lastly ET AL  is used when several people are listed on a document and instead of putting all 50 peoples names in the title ET AL is added behind the first name and means " and others".   The free dictionary defines it as: et al - and others ('et al.' is used as an abbreviation of `et alii' (masculine plural) or `et aliae' (feminine plural) or `et alia' (neuter plural) when referring to a number of people); "the data reported by Smith et al."

ET AL is used to include multiple names and both genders (ex. Susie Smith, ET AL).  ET UX is used as "and wife" behind the husband's name (ex. John Doe, ET UX).   ET VIR is used behind the wife's name to mean and husband (ex. Jane Doe, ET VIR).

I have used caps (ET UX) to emphasize the abbreviations. Hope this might clear things up for those of you who are reading docs and trying to make sense of it all!

MacGIRLver strikes again!!!!!!

Ok, Ok I admit it.  I AM my father's daughter.  I can fix most anything..that's why my friends call me MacGIRLver.  Those of you old enough will get it......I'm also a Gadget Girl (that's almost a rule as MacGIRLver don't you think).  Again, I come by it very honest--my Dad, again.

SO, not to get lost in my ADHD; I recently read a story about this handheld scanner.  I was jazzed.  I started reading about it and searching on it and GUESS WHAT.  I found the exact scanner under another name and at Overstock.com for less.  I research people, places and things for a living, so naturally I'm going to find the least expensive highest quality way to get all my gadgets.

http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Vividscann-PS4100-Handyscan-Portable-Scanner/5151873/product.html

Check it out!! it's even cheaper today than when i bought it last week.  Works great and is a genealogists dream.  I get NOTHING for saying this...just thought those of you interested would like the heads up!  YAWSEEERRRR!!!

Finding interesting and funs reads....

Lately, I"ve been reading history and many diversified documents to try and understand the life and times of my dear GGGF, Lawrence.  I came across "The History of Omro" where his name is mentioned.  This would be Omro, Wisconsin in the 1830-40's. 

Of course as I read through the contents of this piece, I found an entry in the table of contents titled " Home Remedies".  VERY Interesting!!!!!! They sure loved their turpentine in those days.............blah!

I offer these pics for your viewing and reading pleasure....

The link is http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=article&did=WI.WFHistoryOmro.i0138&id=WI.WFHistoryOmro&isize=M

I hope all of you find such interesting tidbits along your journey..........gg

You never know when family history "treats" will arrive.

Recently I had the pleasure of visiting with a cousin that I've not seen for some time.  The last time I saw him, he was fleeing the predicted onslaught of Hurricaine Katrina, and stayed he with me until it was afe to return.

Anyway...he now tells me that he has a box of old photos that he has been saving "for the family".  You can imagine the thrill I felt in hearing this information.  I hope they are still where he has "stored" them.  I contacted the holder about having them shipped to me.  I really hope they are there.

In addition to all this,  he is able to tell me all kinds of history about his Dad's side of the family.  I'm sure he will be able to give me additional tales about my side of the family.  I am trully excited.

I guess you never know when valuable family info will show up on your doorstep.....