New interactive SC Civil Rights site with interviews!

I previously created a page on the FamilySearch Wiki: South Carolina African Americans where I have been contributing African American Resources for South Carolina.  I just added a great resource under Online Resources that I blogged about on About Our Freedom today:

This is an awesome resource for SC Civil Rights history shared on Twitter today by @Knowitall, South Carolina Educational Television's educational web portal, a collection of interactive K-12 websites for students, teachers, and parents.

Some of my extended family had family who actually signed the signed the Briggs v. Elliot petition!

Road Trip!

"Road Trip! Through South Carolina Civil Rights History is an interactive Web site designed to help teachers and students learn about the people, events and importance of the civil rights movement in South Carolina from the 1940s to the early 1970s." About Road Trip! Through SC Civil Rights History

My favorite part of the site are the interviews with people who participated in the Civil Rights movement.  This interactive website is a definite 10!

I found my 3rd great grandfather's request for amnesty

My grandmother Otis, shared a great deal with me about her Tucker ancestral line.  She said her grandmother ,Martha, grew up in the household with George Epps Tucker (1860-1927).  George Epps was adopted by his grandfather, James Anderson Tucker (1802-1885)  after his mother died prior to 1870.  George's father died sometime after the 1860 Census was taken.

I was never sure if my 3rd great grandfather, James Anderson Tucker (1802-1885), of Union District, South Carolina actively supported the Confederacy.  I knew that he had adopted his grandson, George Epps Tucker (1860-1927), my great grandfather,  who was a minor when his mother died.  James became caretaker of George's estate until he became of age.

George Epps Tucker (1860-1927)

In my search to discover more about George Epps Tucker's father, George Anderson Tucker (abt. 1830-abt. 1860), I have discovered the amnesty papers of his father, James Anderson Tucker who is both slave owner and ancestor to me.  I descend from the James Anderson Tucker through George Epps Tucker 20 years after the end of slavery.

Footnote has amnesty papers.  I was not familiar with this record type, so I am sharing it with you as well.  When Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates at the end of the Civil War on May 29, 1865, some had to apply for amnesty because they were not granted amnesty in the proclamation issued.  James Anderson Tucker had to apply for amnesty because his net worth  was more than 20,000.  To learn more about Amnesty and reasons for exclusion, see "Amnesty Papers," 1865-1867.

This a portion of the application of amnesty of James Anderson Tucker:

The State of South Carolina to His Excellency, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States.
The petition of James A. Tucker, citizen of Union District and State aforesaid, respectfully sheweth that he participated in the late rebellion against the United States by contributing taxation and donations toward the support then of that he may be liable to the pains and penalties of treason and confiscation.  Your petitioner has taken the amnesty oath as prescribed by President Johnson, but as he may be worth more than 20,000 dollars of taxable property, he desires a full pardon. Your petitioner is desirable of being restored to the rights and benefits of a citizen of the United States and obligations of a legal citizen of the same. Your petitioner prays that a full pardon be granted in the premises.


                                                                                         James A. Tucker

I thought this would be a great resource to add to the FamilySearch Wiki.  I contributed to the following page:

FamilySearch Wiki: Confederate Sources.

Confederate Citizens File

It was a great day at the FHC.  I volunteer there once a week.  We only had one patron, so I took the opportunity to become more familiar with the FHC Portal where patrons can access subscription sites for free.  I chose to learn more about Footnote today.


I decided to figure out what new documentation I may be able to find on my slave ancestor's line. I know African Americans where not documented very well during that time period, so I must research the slave owners in hopes of gleaning information to document my African American ancestors.

J. K. Vance was a South Carolina State Representative previous to the Civil War.  He also owned my great great grandfather, Beverly Vance.  They were related.  I already found the Confederate service record for J. K. Vance.  I checked Footnote to see if there may be any other type records.

Surprisingly, I discovered the Confederate Citizens File for J. K. Vance.  They are Confederate records documenting citizens and businesses.  Remember the Confederacy set up a whole new government.  I never thought about searching those records before today.

You can learn more about the collection at:

Citizens File of Confederate Papers

Also, this is an 81 page pamphlet that describes the collection:  Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms.   This evening I checked FamilySearch Wiki where I found Confederate States of America and Texas State Troops  and  United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865.

I noticed section 12 of United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 is entitled Confederate Sources. I think this will probably be the best place to put this resource.  In my next post, I will add a reference to the wiki about  the collection discovered.  I will post screenshots here so you will be able to follow along.

I suppose since this is the 150th year since the start of the Civil War, people may be especially interested in this resource.  The record of J. K. Vance was several pages long.  

I am also in the process of trying to translate all of the documents.  One page is a letter from the Inspector General in the Columbia office on June 11, 1863 asking permission of General G. T. Beauregard to allow J. K. Vance, of Abbeville District to transport sugar to be used by the people of South Carolina. 

__________________________________________________________________________

Footnote, Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms, 1861-65, pgs 1-22, J. K. Vance

National Archives Catalog Title: Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms, compiled 1874 - 1899, documenting the period 1861 - 1865