You know the dance. You know you've done it. The one every researcher does after finding something new. The one where you want to jump up and down and shout to everyone that you found the document, contacted a cousin with the family Bible, made a DNA connection, or found a new branch to your tree. The one that is met with glazed stares and eye rolls.
This weekly series enables everyone to tell about their Genealogy Happy Dance moment.
Share by scrolling
down and add your story to the comments section, or you may also link to a blog post about what had you dancing this week.
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| "South Carolina, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99ZG-8XCR?view=explore : Feb 8, 2026), image 1067 of 1268, BR Gibson contract with Richard Gibson, 1867, pg. 3. |
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My Happy Dance Moment for the week:
After listening to Shelley Murphy share how to search the Freedmen's Bureau Records on FamilySearch using Full Text Search, on
GenFriends, I used her instructions to search for some of my family who may have been included.
And sure enough, I found a record! This is a labor contract between my ancestor Benjamin Reese Gibson and a man named Richard Gibson. Richard said he would work the land and, in return, receive a portion of the harvest. Now, I am trying to determine who Richard was. He was not a family member, and most likely was someone who was formerly enslaved either by the Gibson family or someone else in the community. He doesn't appear in the 1870 census, at least under this name.
A clue to add more to the family story.
Thanks, Shelley!
What were you celebrating?
Share your Happy Dance Moment for the week, and let's celebrate together!
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