Schoharie County
African-American
Research Resources

A bas-relief wooden carving of an African-American harvesting grain is on display at the Stone Fort Museum. It symbolizes the importance and presence of African-Americans in early Schoharie County. This carving, donated by Jack Daniels, as well as his many writings now gathered into book form, Discovering the Forgotten History of African Americans in Schoharie County, have stimulated interest in researching Schoharie County African-American ancestry at the Historical Society library. The following information is available for research:

Manuscript File—“Black History Findings”

• Chronology of manumission in New York State.
• Family information donated by Mickey Lewis-Ruiz of Albany, N.Y.
• Census 1825 - List of slave owners and number of slaves.
• Census 1850 - All black families in Esperance, Middleburgh, and Schoharie.
• St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Schoharie, 1800-1854.
• Family names - Berg, Teabout, Nexon, Steinberg.
• News clippings, various articles, photos.
• Lansing Manor blacks.

Vertical File—
“Teabout. Ralph V. Teabout Family Tree” from Wendy Teabout of Schenectady.
Donated by Jack Daniels. (96 different surnames).

Census Records—

• 1790, 1800-20, 1830-40: Slaves, or free blacks mentioned, but no surnames.
• 1850, 1860: People mentioned by surname and “race.”
• New York State Census 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905. 1915, 1925: People mentioned by surname and “race.”

Church Records—

• St. Paul's Lutheran, Schoharie Baptisms, 1728-1899 index, “Negro”; marriages, 1743-1899 index, “Negro”
• Schoharie Reformed Church Baptisms, 173 1-1894 index, “Negro”; marriages, 1732 -1892 index, “Negro”
• Middleburgh Reformed Church, 1797-1899 index, “Negro”
• Lawyersville Reformed Church Baptisms, 1790-1876; marriages, 1790-1882 index, “Negro”

Most of these early baptisms and marriages listed people, under the “Negro” headings, by their first name. If looking for a specific surname the other headings should be checked as well. Other Schoharie County churches should be checked as well as these mentioned here.

Cemetery Records— Check listings by surname.

Books— Some books in which local African-Americans are mentioned:

• Discovering the Forgotten History of African Americans in Schoharie County by Jack Daniels.
• Schoharie County and Border Wars by Jeptha Simms.
• History of Schoharie County, New York, 1713-1882 by William Roscoe.
• Military records of Schoharie County Veterans of Four Wars by George Warner.
• Hot Whiskey For Five by Edward Hagan.
• The Sloughter ‘s History of Schoharie County by Lester E. and Anne Hendrix.

—Submitted by Sylvia Van Houten