United States, Slave Birth Records – FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains birth records of enslaved persons from various states. The initial publication of this collection contains records from Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, and Sussex Counties in New Jersey and Centre, Cumberland, Fayette, and Lancaster counties in Pennsylvania.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the child
 * Approximate place of birth

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add the new information to your records
 * Use the information to find the person in other records
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Try searching by surname only

Research Helps

 * Quick Guide to African American Records
 * Beginning African American Research
 * African American Genealogy

Related Family History Library Holdings
 New Jersey  Pennsylvania
 * Dee Parmer Woodtor. Finding a place called home : a guide to African-American genealogy and historical identity. New York, New York : Random House, c1999. FHL 973 F2wd
 * Bergen County Black births, 1804-1846
 * Essex County Birth records of Black children, 1804-1843
 * Middlesex County, Births of slaves, 1804-1844.
 * Sussex County, Births of slaves, 1801-1835.*
 * Center County, Birth returns for negroes and mulattos, 1803-1820, no. 1-14.
 * Cumberland County, Negro slaves name & age returns, 1780, 1791, 1828.
 * Cumberland County Slave returns, 1780-1833.
 * Fayette County, Birth returns for negroes and mulattoes, 1788-1826 : includes certificates of registry received from other counties 1785, 1803, 1805, 1807-1808 and miscellaneous papers 1823, 1830, n.d.
 * Lancaster County Returns of negro and mulatto children, 1788-1793; index to slaves, 1780-1834

Related FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

 * United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850
 * United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860
 * Virginia, Slave Birth Index, 1853 - 1866

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.