What I enjoy most about the 2014 Spring Ancestor Challenge is the flow of information, resources, and support from the various research tribes within the AAGSAR Village! The Texas Tribe has been PHENOMENAL to work with. In fact, it was Texas Tribe member, Terrence Garnett (My TX/LA Roots), who shared a copy of the Texas Voters Registration Lists 1867-1869 that led me to a pivotal discovery: my 3x great-grandfather, Osborn Rowte (Routt), listed by name.
Why is this 1867 Texas Voters Registration List so pivotal to my research?
This Voter’s Registration List is the first record to enumerate newly freed slaves and survivors of the Civil War in Texas. It represents one of the earliest public records documenting African Americans in the state after emancipation. For me, it’s the earliest record I have of my 3x great-grandfather by name between the 1860 U.S. Census (when he was enslaved) and the 1870 U.S. Census.
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| Texas Voters Registration Lists 1867-1869 for Osborn Rowte |
It’s thrilling to discover that Osborn Routt registered to vote on 28 June 1867 in Washington County, Texas. Line 1340 of the registry provides the following details:
Date of Registry: 28 June 1867
Name: Osborn Rowte
Place of Residence: [blank]
Precinct: [blank]
Time of Residence –
In State: 14 years
In County: 14 years
In Precinct: [blank]
Native: Native
Naturalized –
How: [blank]
When: [blank]
Where: [blank]
Signature of Elector: Osborn Rowte [X]
General Remarks: Colored
Seeing his signature mark, the simple yet powerful 'X,' fills me with pride. It’s a small yet profound reminder of his determination to participate in shaping his community despite the systemic barriers he faced as a freedman. This record doesn’t just document his name; it tells the story of resilience and hope—qualities that define his legacy and inspire my work today.
According to the 1870 United States Federal Census, Osborn Route was 28 years old and living in Washington County, Texas, with his wife, Sallie, and their children: Jefferson, Buchanan, Mary Francis, and Louisa (my 2x great-grandmother). Based on this record, Osborn’s estimated year of birth is around 1842.
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| Osborn Route, “United States Census, 1870” |
While the 1867 Voter’s Registration List doesn’t confirm Virginia as his place of birth (as reported in the 1870 census), it does provide valuable insight into his migration timeline. The voter registration notes that Osborn had lived in the Washington County, Texas, area for 14 years by 1867, suggesting he arrived in Texas around 1853. This information paints a clearer picture of Osborn’s journey and helps connect the dots between his earlier life and his later years in Washington County.
Thoughts and Reflections
Based on the 1867 Voters Registration List and the 1870 U.S. Federal Census, here’s what I’ve learned so far about my 3x great-grandfather, Osborn Routt:
- Osborn Routt was born in Virginia around 1842.
- He lived in Virginia until at least 1853.
- He arrived in Washington County, Texas, around 1853, likely as an enslaved person, at the age of about 11.
Conclusions
Assuming Osborn’s owner brought him to Texas, I’ve deduced the following:
- The slave owner likely owned or purchased land in Washington County, Texas, before or around 1853.
- The slave owner may have been born or lived in Virginia.
Next Steps in My Research
To uncover more about Osborn’s life during this period, I plan to:
- Search the 1870 U.S. Federal Census of Washington County, Texas, for other freedmen whose birthplace is Virginia.
- Search the 1870 U.S. Federal Census for landowners born in Virginia who owned land in Washington County, Texas, since 1853 or earlier.
- Search the 1867 Voters Registration List of Washington County, Texas, for those landowners from Virginia to determine their residency timeline.
- Search the 1850 and 1860 Slave Schedules to identify which of these landowners owned slaves during that time.
It's Your Turn -- Call to Action
Have you explored the 1867 Voters Registration Lists or post-Civil War census records for your own ancestors? These resources offer invaluable insights into the lives of freedmen and their communities during Reconstruction. I encourage you to:
- Compare records across decades to identify patterns and connections in your family history.
- Use local records like land deeds, probate records, and voter lists to trace migration and ownership patterns.
- Engage with others in the genealogy community to share findings, collaborate, and learn new strategies.
If you’ve uncovered similar stories or have insights to share, I’d love to hear about them! Leave a comment below or connect with me directly—I believe that by working together, we can uncover even more of our shared history.
Source Citation:
1. Ancestry.com. Texas, Voter Registration Lists, 1867-1869 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Original data: 1867 Voter Registration Lists. Microfilm, 12 rolls. Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Austin, Texas.
2. “United States Census, 1870,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MXGF-FYD : accessed 24 Feb 2014), Osborn Route, Texas, United States; citing p. , family 184, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000553107.
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