The purpose of this continuing case study has been a demonstration of the use of online records to research an African-American family: Jefferson Clark of Leon County, Texas. In the eight parts of the first segment of research, we were able to identify a potential slave owner, George W. Tubb, who moved to Leon County, Texas, from Noxubee County, Mississippi. In the six parts of the second segment of research, we used the federal census to learn more information about George W. Tubb's family, and identify his father.
A summary of the first research segment was presented in the article, "Summary of the Jefferson Clark online case study."
The following summary reviews the information examined since then. Please read all of these articles for demonstrations of several techniques of evidence analysis that will help to ensure accuracy in your own research.
- "Researching the family history of potential slave owners, part one": We identified George W. Tubb's mother and each of his siblings in the 1850 and 1860 federal census records. These records provided each of these siblings' approximate date and place of birth, which established a migration route for the family.
- "Researching the family history of potential slave owners, part two": Having discovered the migration route for the Tubb family, we surveyed the 1800 through 1820 federal census records, identifying all Tubb/Tubbs households.
- "Researching the family history of potential slave owners part three": We identified all of the Tubb/Tubbs households in Alabama in the 1830 federal census. We then noted which of the names recurred in the federal census records from 1800 through 1830. These individuals may constitute part of a larger family group that followed the same migration route.
- "Researching the family history of potential slave owners part four": Based on the ages provided by the 1850 and 1860 federal census records, we estimated the ages of the members of George W. Tubb's family.
- "Researching the family history of potential slave owners part five": We used their estimated ages to approximate the household of the subject Tubb family. We then compared this "model" household to the Tubb households in 1800 and 1820, in order to narrow down the list of prospects.
- "Researching the family history of potential slave owners part six": We compared the "model" household based on the estimated ages to the Tubb/Tubbs households in the 1830 federal census in Perry County, Alabama. Through this, we were able to identify the likely father of George W. Tubb. We then attempted to locate this individual in the 1800 and 1820 federal censuses. While we were not successful in locating the family in 1820, we were able to locate the family in the 1800 federal census. The reasons for our inability to locate the appropriate family in 1820 were explored.
- "Researching the family history of potential slave owners part seven": We located George Tubb in the 1840 federal census for corroborating. We then expored the slave ownership reported in the 1800, 1830, and 1840 federal census records.
Having possibly identified George W. Tubb's father, the next step would be to locate additional information about his slaves. The most likely source for this information would be within the inventory and appraisement records of his estate.
However, prior to attempting this task, we will use another online resource to explore the lands owned by the Tubb family. These resources will be explored in the next research segment, to be entitled "Locating the plantations of slave owners." Please follow along with this case study as it continues.
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