Finding Enslaved Ancestors & Build an African American Family Tree

Your GUIDE to beginning African American genealogy research. You can discover the enslavers of your ancestors as well as amazing details about your family's history. Don't miss this video on building your African American family tree! Link's mentioned: 👩🏻✈️ Join Aimee's Crew for the most recent handout FREE. Each month you'll receive a handout for that month's video, plus a special member's only monthly livestream. Visit https://tinyurl.com/AimeesCrew - there are two membership levels, be sure to select Aimee's Crew. Visit Etsy to purchase the handout separately: https://ancestryaimee.etsy.com/listin... and view all of Aimee's handouts at: https://ancestryaimee.etsy.com Genealogy 101 Playlist:    • Start Here: Family History Basics   Video on Deeds:    • Deeds - a Top Family Search Secret - How t...   Video on Probate Records:    • How to Find Wills and Probate Records for ...   🌟 NEEED HELP? Zoom coaching now available starting at $35! Visit   / aimeecross   for more information! 👉 Subscribe at @AncestryAimee Find me at https://ancestryaimee.com Instagram:   / ancestryaimee   Facebook:   / aimeecross2   0:00 Intro 1:41 Caveats - I'm white - Why I can help 2:59 Underground Railroad - Thomas Filer 3:25 Words for research 3:51 Handout information 4:23 Census research from present to past 4:37 Using other records to verify 5:48 Freed People of Color 6:00 Importance of 1870 U.S. Census 7:27 FAN group 7:57 Name changes of former enslaved 8:37 Reconstruction Era Records 9:30 Freedmen's Bureau Records 10:30 Civil War Colored Troops 11:08 Freedman's Bank 10:24 Finding records at Ancestry.com 12:50 Finding records at FamilySearch 13:05 Finding records at the Smithsonian 13:22 Finding enslaver on Freedmen's Records 13:36 Finding enslaver in census records 16:11 Researching potential enslavers 16:31 Eliminating potential enslavers 16:55 Deed records for enslaved 18:10 Probate records to find enslaved 18:58 Southern Claims Commission 19:54 WPA Slave Narratives 21:08 Brick Walls or problems and what to do 21:25 Overcoming name changes 23:42 Online forums, genealogy groups and genealogical societies 24:05 Further education opportunities 25:07 When to put it down for a while #africanamericangenealogy #blackgenealogy #AAgenealogy #africanamerican #africanamericanresearch #enslavedancestors #ancestry #familysearch #familyhistory #genealogy Historical images from the National Archives. Intro music: "Something Elated" by Broke for Free. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Br... Aimee Cross, a professional genealogist based in the United States, shares practical, step-by-step strategies. On Ancestry Aimee we break down brick walls, use records correctly, organize family history research, build accurate, well-sourced family trees, all while avoiding common genealogy mistakes. Terrific for beginner and intermediate researchers who want real progress, not just hints. Be sure to catch reviews of the latest Ancestry, FamilySearch, MyHeritage, Find A Grave, and other genealogy platform features, essential for your family search. Aimee's goal is to make genealogy feel approachable, logical, and rewarding—so you can trust the discoveries you make. 👉 New videos and research guidance to help you build your family tree with confidence.