A path to your enslaved ancestors
Research before 1865 requires a different approach. Begin with the state where your ancestors were held (from the first arrivals of the 1600s to Emancipation), then work backward from the 1870 census — the first to name formerly enslaved people.
Missouri
Statehood 1821 · Border States & D.C.
Slavery came with French lead miners and settlers, then expanded along the Missouri River in 'Little Dixie'. St. Louis courts heard hundreds of freedom suits, including Dred Scott's. Missouri abolished slavery by state ordinance in January 1865.
Slavery Research Institutions
Where to Search Missouri Records
Open a pre-filled Missouri search on each repository. You don't need an account to start.
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Key Records
- St. Louis Circuit Court freedom suits, 1814–1860
- County probate records and estate inventories
- 1850 & 1860 Slave Schedules
- USCT enlistment and compensation claims for enslaved soldiers
- Catholic sacramental records from French St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve
Research Tips
- Freedom suit petitions describe family histories and earlier residences.
- 'Little Dixie' counties (Boone, Howard, Callaway) held most enslaved people.
- Check Kentucky and Virginia records for families migrating west.
National Resources, 1600s to Emancipation
Databases that cover every state, from the Atlantic crossings to the search for family after freedom.