Scanning the Census Records: The Roanes of Essex County, VA (1870) So picking up where I…
Category: AfAm History
The history of people pf colour in the United States – both free and enslaved – relayed through the prism of my own ancestors.
Southern African-American 19th Century naming conventions
Understanding 19th and early 20th Century naming conventions – the structure and method of naming children…
Mystery#1: Getting to grips with James Mitchell Zachariah Sheffey [Mitchell Sheffey]
James Mitchell Zachariah Sheffey, Dicey Brock, Jersey (or Judy) Clark, Emily Cook, Martha Ann Hill and…
What’s in a maiden name? When cousins marry
In my previous post I covered the importance of accurately recording maiden names. And this post…
Newman Brockenbrough Roane: a historic & unconventional divorce in 19th Century Virginia
The Sheffey and Roane families have been peppered with more than a few unconventional individuals. Both…
Family stories: Daniel Sheffey (1884 – 1968)
This family history was sent to me by Toni, a cousin through marriage. It is an…
A 1920s Diaspora
One of my abilities, something I have developed during the course of my professional life is…
““Does it bother you your ancestors were slaves”?” – A truth I did not expect to find
Since I began this journey into my family’s history, my family and friends find it an…
Crockett Sheffey – Buffalo Soldier
One of the more intriguing family stories to emerge from my research is that of my…
Register of Colored Persons cohabiting together as Husband and Wife, 1866 Feb.
The Library of Virginia has an extensive digital collection. This is a collection of documents that…