Category: Research Resources

A Valuable Resource for Studying African American History: “The Book of Negroes”

“The Book of Negroes” is an essential resource for those researching African American genealogy and slavery during the American Revolution. The British meticulously compiled this enumeration during their evacuation of New York at the end of the war in 1783. The ledger contains detailed information about approximately 3,000 self-emancipated and free Black people who evacuated alongside British loyalists and soldiers.

A page of Maryland entries from the “Book of Negroes.” Note the freedom seekers from Susquehanna Ferry and “Sussex County, Marland.” (Source: The Carelton Papers, Library and Archives of Canada)

Each handwritten entry provides vital information, including the individual’s name, age, and description. By consulting this remarkable source, researchers can uncover details about their journey to freedom, including the identity of their enslavers and the circumstances around their escape.

During the American Revolution, Sir Henry Clinton, the British Commander-in-chief in the colonies from 1778 to 1782, issued the Philipsburg Proclamation on June 30, 1779. This proclamation offered protection and freedom to enslaved individuals who escaped their patriot enslavers and sought refuge with the British. According to Maya Jasanoff, the author of Liberty’s Exiles: American Loyalists in the Revolutionary World, around 20,000 enslaved people joined the British, while approximately 5,000 Black men served in the Continental Army.

On November 30, 1782, peace negotiations between Great Britain and American diplomats resulted in the signing of the preliminary articles of peace. The peace treaty stipulated that owners of self-emancipated Black people who reached British lines by that date would receive compensation, and these individuals would be granted freedom.

Sir Guy Carleton, who assumed command of British forces in America, organized the orderly evacuation of New York, the final British port. Carleton ordered the creation of the ledgers to document the loss of enslaved property, which the British government would later compensate. Carrying certificates of freedom, approximately 3,000 Black people joined the Loyalist exodus from New York to Nova Scotia in 1783.

Here are several free digital resources online to help with mining these old enumerations:

A Page from the Inspection Roll of Negroes Book. No. 1, 1793, National Archives

Atlantic County Newspapers Available Online

When it comes to researching genealogy and history, old newspapers are a goldmine of information. Unfortunately, finding these papers can be challenging, especially when working with new collections in a new area. While some commercial online databases and the Library of Congress’s Chronicling America offer substantial collections of publications, many more papers are unavailable through these providers.

Fortunately, the Atlantic County Clerk of the Court and the local library system have digitized more Atlantic County newspapers, making them more accessible to researchers. One example is The Atlantic County Record, a Jersey Shore paper published in Mays Landing, which the Atlantic County Clerk has made available for free public access from the 1860s to the 1960s. In addition to this county-seat newspaper, Atlantic County, New Jersey libraries offer even more titles for researchers.

These resources have been invaluable to my work, saving me from using a clunky old microfilm reader to eyeball the film. This digitization of old newspapers significantly benefits anyone interested in uncovering the past, particularly genealogists and historians. With greater ease of access, we now have a vast wealth of information at our fingertips.

Thank you to the Atlantic County Clerk and libraries for making the past more accessible.

For access to Atlantic County newspapers, click these links:

Atlantic County Clerk of the Court

Atlantic County Library System

atlantic county newspapers include Atlantic County Record
The Atlantic County Record from Dec. 13, 1941, carries information about civil defense protection following the attack on Pearl Harbor (Source: Atlantic County Clerk of the Court)

Unearthing Genealogy Through Military Records – A Fallen Soldier

Bible page joseph v wise
A page from the Wise family Bible notes the death of Private Wise (Source: Tim Gavin)

During a genealogy class I led at the South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach, we delved into advanced methods for tackling complex family history inquiries. After asking the class to provide examples of challenging problems, Tim Gavin offered this fascinating account about his ancestor, Joseph V. Wise, who served in the 7th U.S. Calvary during the Indian Wars.

Tim and his cousin used military records to uncover many details about Private Wise’s life. They learned that he enlisted in the 7th U.S. Calvary on July 30, 1866, and was guarding cattle and horses near Fort Dodge, Kansas, when a Kiowa Indian raid occurred on June 12, 1867. Private Wise sustained wounds in three places and died the next day at the fort hospital.

While Tim and his cousin had some clues from various databases, the Family Bible, and stories passed down by the generations, they found the most valuable information in the military records of the National Archives. The 37-page pension file contained lots of information. For example, Wise’s mother, Elizabeth, began receiving a monthly pension of $8.00 from the U.S. Government starting April 1, 1868.

Through their hard work, Tim and his cousin also discovered that the Army Medical Museum had preserved the arrows that killed Private Wise. They were able to obtain photos of the arrows from the museum curator.

Tim’s research highlights how exploring historical records can unearth remarkable details about ancestors. If you face challenges in your genealogical research, check out digital collections at the National Archives, particularly military records. The institution has made significant progress in digitizing its collections, which can be a valuable resource for historians and genealogists.

I want to thank Tim for sharing his intriguing story and allowing me to view some family artifacts, such as the Wise Family Bible he brought to one of the classes.

Here are a few links from the FamilySearch Wiki that provide more guidance on military and pension records.

FamilySearch Resources for Military Records
pension military record joseph v wise
One of the 37 pages with the pension military record for Joseph V. Wise (Source: National Archives)

Harrington Newspaper Online–Research Tip

As part of its mission to make the past accessible and promote understanding of the past, the Greater Harrington Historical Society has digitized a Harrington newspaper.

The weekly, the Harrington Journal, runs from 1933 to 1998, and visitors to the museum’s webpage have free access to high-quality online images that brought hometown news to the community each week.

To access the newspaper, follow this link to the Harrington Journal.

While you are checking out the page, consider donating to the museum. A grant from the Delaware Humanities funded this project.

The Harrington Journal started publishing in 1913 after Frank Thomas Fleming purchased an earlier weekly, the Harrington Enterprise. The year 2020 saw the end of the town’s paper, as corporate owners, who had purchased it years earlier, shut it down.

Thanks, Harrington Historical Society, for creating greater access to the past. Developing ways to give a broader community open access to history is an important mission for heritage groups in the 21st century.

Harrington newspaper, the Journal
The Harrington Journal, a weekly Southern Delaware paper published on January 7, 1949 (Source: Harrington Historial Society)
For more on Delmarva Newspapers, see these articles

Online newspapers from the Eastern Shore of Virginia

More Online Maryland Newspapers available at Maryland Archives