It is very difficult for many African Americans to trace their ancestry during slavery. The federal census did not record negroes by their first and last names until 1870.Prior to this, only free people of color were listed by name in the censuses, except for a few counties that listed slaves by first and last names in the 1850 and 1860 local censuses. Although challenging, new database websites such as AfricanAncestry.com have emerged to help African Americans trace their fragmented lineage.
Other Database WebsitesYou can Use to Trace Your Lineage
http://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/freedmens-bureau/#view The federal Governments Official Census Archive,
AmericanAncestors.org, contains more than 300 million searchable records for research in New England, New York and beyond. With the leading experts in the field, NEHGS staff can provide assistance and guidance for questions in most research areas. They can also be hired to conduct research on your family.
http://www.myslaveancestors.com/censusrecords.htm You Can order a researched overview of your family tree with myslaveancestors.com.
www.ancestry.com Very popular family tree website, definitely helpful in tracing marriages and other types of records that can offer helpful clues.
