Event Education-Uncovering the Lives of the Enslaved in Court Records

Uncovering the Lives of the Enslaved in Court Records

by Robyn N. Smith

Court records can be intimidating with their legal language. It can be difficult to understand what the records mean. In this lecture, Ms Smith provides a brief description of the various kinds of courts and  the records they create. For those researching slaves and slaveholders, court records can be rich terrain since families often fought over their "property." Attendees will learn through examples and case studies what kinds of information can be discovered about their ancestors and their communities in county-level court records.

All registrants will be able to rewatch the webinar for a month (30 days) afterwards. 

Robyn Smith has been researching her family and others for over 25 years. An engineer by day, Robyn applies those research and problem-solving skills to the field of genealogy. She specializes in Maryland, African American, Slavery and Court Records research. From 2008-2012, Robyn taught an "Advanced African American Genealogy" class at Howard Community College in Columbia, MD. Robyn has lectured widely at regional and national conferences, and has taught at the Maryland Genealogical Society, the Maryland State Archives and the Reginald Lewis Museum.

Access will be through GoToWebinar. Instructions and Connectivity Link will be forwarded via email to all registrants upon registration, six days prior and again 1 hour prior to the event. Making the connection is quick and easy only requiring a computer and Internet connectivity from wherever you chose to watch the event. Your questions help drive the meetings, and we will be there to help each other.