The Complete Guide to Tracing Your Yamasee & Indigenous Florida Heritage

Introduction: Why This Guide Exists

For over two centuries, systematic reclassification policies erased Yamasee and Indigenous Florida peoples from official records. Census enumerators changed "Mulatto" to "Black." Military records noted "Indian features" but listed race as "Colored." Church baptisms recorded "Indio" in Spanish Florida, then "Negro" after American annexation.

This erasure was not accidental. It was policy.

But the documentation survived. Federal land patents prove Indigenous families claimed homesteads in Florida decades after "removal" supposedly ended. Military pension files contain hundreds of pages of testimony describing Indigenous ancestry. Church records show the same families baptized as "Indio" under Spanish rule, then reclassified under American administration.

This comprehensive research guide provides the roadmap to reclaim what was systematically hidden. Whether you're researching the Day, Hayes, Baugh, Ingram, or any of the 450+ documented Yamasee surnames, this guide will show you exactly where to look, what to request, and how to interpret records that were designed to obscure Indigenous presence.

Section 1: Federal Archives - The Foundation of Proof

Federal archives contain the most authoritative documentation for Indigenous heritage research. These repositories hold land patents, military records, census data, and treaty documents that form the foundation of genealogical proof.

1.1 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) General Land Office Records

Website: https://glorecords.blm.gov (FREE)

The BLM GLO database contains federal land patents issued from 1788 to the present. This is the primary source for documenting Indigenous land ownership that survived removal policies.

What You Will Find

The BLM database provides access to federal land patents (original title transfers from the U.S. Government), homestead entries and final certificates, cash sale entries, military bounty land warrants, survey plats and township maps, and patent application files (some digitized).

Key Patent for Yamasee Heritage Research

The Mary Day patent stands as definitive proof of continuous Yamasee presence in Florida. On January 7, 1893, Mary Day received federal land patent FL0880__.366 (Document 9000) for 80.09 acres in Columbia County, Florida. The legal description places the land in Township 4 South, Range 15 East, Section 12. This was a Homestead Act patent, requiring five years of continuous residency to qualify.

The significance cannot be overstated: A federal land patent issued to a person of color in the post-Reconstruction South demonstrates either that the individual was recognized as having legal standing, or that Indigenous peoples successfully navigated the legal system despite systematic reclassification. Either interpretation supports heritage claims.

Search Strategy for BLM Records

Navigate to glorecords.blm.gov
Select "Search Documents" then "Patents"
Enter surname (try variations: Day/Dey/Daye, Hayes/Hays, Baugh/Bough/Bow)
Select State: Florida
Leave date range open for initial search
Review all results; download patent images (FREE)
Note legal descriptions for county deed research

Critical Research Tip: The BLM database proves federal recognition of property rights. A patent issued to a person of color in the post-Reconstruction South demonstrates either: (a) that individual was recognized as having legal standing, or (b) Indigenous peoples navigated the legal system despite reclassification. Either interpretation supports heritage claims.

1.2 National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

Main Website: https://archives.gov
Catalog: https://catalog.archives.gov
Research Guides: https://archives.gov/research/genealogy

Key Record Groups for Yamasee Research

NARA organizes records into Record Groups (RGs). Five Record Groups are essential for Yamasee heritage research:

RG 75 - Bureau of Indian Affairs: Contains tribal rolls, agency records, and correspondence documenting federal-tribal relations. Even though the Yamasee were not federally recognized after 1715, correspondence and reports frequently mention Yamasee descendants in Florida.

RG 94 - Adjutant General's Office: Houses military service records and U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) rosters. Many Indigenous Floridians served in USCT units during the Civil War, and their service records often contain physical descriptions noting Indigenous features.

RG 29 - Bureau of the Census: Provides access to original census schedules and enumerator notes. These notes sometimes reveal that enumerators struggled with racial classification, noting "appears Indian" or "claims Indian descent" in margins.

RG 49 - Bureau of Land Management: Contains homestead application files with detailed personal information, including physical descriptions, family relationships, and testimony from neighbors about residency and character.

RG 105 - Freedmen's Bureau: Operated in Florida 1865-1872. Records frequently identify individuals as "Indian" or "mixed" and include labor contracts, ration records, marriage registers, complaint testimony, and Freedmen's Bank records.

Military Records (Vital for Indigenous Heritage)

Many Indigenous peoples served in the U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) during the Civil War. These records often contain physical descriptions that note Indigenous features, including compiled Military Service Records (CMSR), pension application files (hundreds of pages of testimony), bounty land warrant applications, and muster rolls with physical descriptions.

Florida-Specific USCT Units:

2nd U.S. Colored Infantry (recruited in Florida)
3rd U.S. Colored Infantry (many Florida Indigenous enrollees)
Search Fold3.com: fold3.com/browse/249/usct-m551

Freedmen's Bureau Records (RG 105)

The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands operated in Florida 1865-1872. These records frequently identify individuals as "Indian" or "mixed" and include labor contracts (list workers, ages, physical descriptions), ration records (who received government assistance), marriage registers (often include race/color), complaint testimony (detailed life histories), and Freedmen's Bank records (account applications include family data).

Access via FamilySearch: familysearch.org/search/collection/1540053

1.3 Fold3.com (Military Records Specialist)

Website: https://fold3.com
Cost: $7.95/month subscription; FREE at many public libraries

Fold3 specializes in military records and provides easier access to NARA military collections than the main NARA website.

Critical Collections for Indigenous Heritage

USCT Service Records (fold3.com/title/420/usct): Physical descriptions, birthplace, age
Revolutionary War Pensions (fold3.com/title/770): Bounty land, family testimony
War of 1812 Records (fold3.com/title/816): Southeast service, Indian allies
Seminole Wars (fold3.com/title/seminole-wars): Florida Indigenous conflicts
Pension Files (fold3.com/title/pension-files): Widow's claims, affidavits
Bounty Land Warrants (fold3.com/title/bounty-land-warrants): Revolutionary/1812 service

Physical Description Fields to Track

Military records often include physical descriptions that can indicate Indigenous heritage. Look for complexion described as "copper," "dark," "yellow," "Indian," or "mulatto"; hair described as "straight," "black," or "Indian hair"; eyes described as "dark" or "black"; and special marks or notes about ancestry.

Section 2: Florida State Resources

2.1 Florida State Archives

Location: R.A. Gray Building, 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399
Website: https://dos.myflorida.com/library-archives
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Key Collections

The Florida State Archives houses territorial records (1821-1845) containing Spanish land claims and territorial census; state census records (1885, 1895, 1935) providing Florida-specific enumerations; military records (1821-present) documenting militia and state troops; Spanish land grants (1786-1821) from the Board of Land Commissioners; Confederate records (1861-1865) including service, pensions, and home guard; and county records (varies) with microfilmed county courthouse records.

Spanish Land Grants (Critical for Pre-Territorial Claims)

Spanish Florida operated under different legal principles than later American law. Indigenous peoples could receive land grants, and racial categories were more fluid. Search Board of Land Commissioners proceedings (1822-1845), Spanish land grant concessions and memorials (1786-1821), and survey maps and boundary documentation.

2.2 Florida Memory Project

Website: https://floridamemory.com (FREE)

Florida Memory is the digitized collections portal of the Florida State Archives.

Essential Collections

The Photographic Collection provides historic images by county. The Florida Folklife Collection contains oral histories. Governors' Papers include correspondence and petitions. WWI Service Cards are searchable by name. Pre-Civil War Insurance Policies list enslaved individuals by name. Historical Maps and Land Surveys document geographic changes.

Search Strategy

Use keyword search: surname + county
Browse by county for geographic research
Check "Florida Folklife" for oral tradition recordings
Download high-resolution images (free for personal use)

2.3 County Clerks and Courthouses

County-level records provide the most detailed documentation for family research. Always start with the county where ancestors lived.

Priority Counties for Yamasee Heritage Research

Columbia County (Lake City): Day family deeds, probate (Limited online; in-person recommended)
Volusia County (DeLand): Ingram/Baugh records (vcpa.vcgov.org for property)
Alachua County (Gainesville): Early settlement records (alachuaclerk.org)
St. Johns County (St. Augustine): Spanish colonial records (Limited digitization)
Duval County (Jacksonville): Freedmen's Bureau records (duvalclerk.com)

What to Request at County Level

Request deed books (grantor/grantee indexes), probate records (wills, inventories, heir lists), marriage licenses and bonds, court minutes (civil and criminal), tax rolls (annual property assessments), and guardianship records (reveal family relationships).

Research Priority: Columbia County

For Day family research, Columbia County Clerk's Office holds Mary Day's land chain of title (post-1893 patent), Henry Day death records (d. 1902), Day-Jones marriage records, and probate files showing inheritance patterns.

Contact: Columbia County Clerk, 173 NE Hernando Ave, Lake City, FL 32055

Section 3: Church & Parish Records

Church records often predate civil registration and contain racial classifications, family relationships, and community connections not found elsewhere.

3.1 Diocese of St. Augustine Archives

Location: 11625 Old St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville, FL 32258
Website: https://dosafl.com

Historical Significance

St. Augustine's Catholic parishes hold the oldest continuous records in Florida, dating to the Spanish colonial period. These records document baptisms of Indigenous peoples at Florida missions, Yamasee baptisms at Nombre de Dios and other missions, marriage registers with racial classifications, death records and burial locations, and confirmation records showing community membership.

Key Parishes for Research

Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine (Founded 1565, Records 1594-present): Oldest parish; mission records
Nombre de Dios (Founded 1565, Colonial era): Yamasee/Guale mission records
San Juan del Puerto (historic) (Founded 1587, Some records survive): Fort George Island
Various territorial parishes (1821+, Post-Spanish period): Transition records

Spanish Racial Categories in Church Records

Understanding Spanish colonial categories is essential for interpreting church records:

Indio/India = Indigenous person (protected legal status)
Negro/Negra = African-descended (often enslaved)
Mulato/Mulata = Mixed African-European
Mestizo/Mestiza = Mixed Indigenous-European
Zambo = Mixed Indigenous-African
Libre = Free person of any color

Research Warning: The same individual may appear with different classifications in successive records. This inconsistency actually supports Indigenous identity claims, as it shows the instability of racial categories when applied to Indigenous peoples.

3.2 Protestant Church Records

African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church Archives

AME churches in Florida often served mixed Indigenous-African communities and preserve records from Reconstruction forward. Check DeLand/Volusia County AME churches for Ingram/Hayes families. AME records include membership rolls, baptisms, and marriages.

Florida Conference Archives: Contact through local churches

Baptist Church Records

Baptist churches in North Florida frequently served the same communities. Columbia County Baptist associations often have detailed membership rolls with family data.

Methodist Church Archives

Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church: Contact for research access

Methodist records include circuit rider records from frontier period, camp meeting records, and membership transfers showing migration patterns.

3.3 FamilySearch Church Records

Website: https://familysearch.org (FREE)

Florida Church Records Collections

Florida Church Records: familysearch.org/search/collection/1803978 (Various denominations)
Florida Catholic Records: familysearch.org/search/collection/1913396 (Diocese of St. Augustine)
Florida, County Marriages: familysearch.org/search/collection/1675614 (County-level records)
Florida Deaths: familysearch.org/search/collection/1130190 (State death index)

Section 4: Census Research Strategy

Census records are foundational but problematic. Racial classifications changed based on enumerator perception, local politics, and federal policy. Track these changes as evidence of reclassification.

4.1 Census Timeline and Access

1850: First FL state census (Free: FamilySearch; Paid: Ancestry) - Names all free persons; lists race
1860: Pre-Civil War snapshot (Same) - Shows antebellum status
1870: First post-emancipation (Same) - Reclassification begins
1880: Detailed enumeration (Same) - Relationships listed; birthplaces
1885: Florida State Census (Florida Memory; FamilySearch) - State-specific enumeration
1890: Mostly destroyed (Special schedules only) - Fire loss 1921
1895: Florida State Census (Florida Memory) - Unique to Florida
1900: Month/year of birth (Free/Paid) - Immigration details
1910: Years married; children (Same) - Survival information
1920: Year of immigration (Same) - Naturalization status
1930: Radio ownership; value (Same) - Economic details
1935: Florida State Census (Florida Memory) - Depression-era
1940: Most detailed (Free everywhere) - Released 2012
1950: Recently released (Free everywhere) - Released 2022

4.2 What to Track Across Census Years

Create a tracking table for each individual. Document changes as evidence.

Essential Fields

Track full name (note spelling variations), age (calculate birth year; check consistency), race/color (CRITICAL: track changes!), birthplace (should be consistent), parents' birthplaces (clue to origins), occupation (traditional skills indicate heritage), literacy (unexpected literacy suggests free status), property value (real estate and personal), and household composition (extended family patterns).

Reclassification Pattern Example

| Year | Classification | Analysis | |------|---------------|----------| | 1850 | Mulatto | Mixed heritage acknowledged | | 1860 | Mulatto | Consistent with 1850 | | 1870 | Black | Post-war reclassification begins | | 1880 | Black | Reclassification solidified | | 1900 | Negro | Term shift but same category | | 1910 | Black | Consistent with erasure pattern |

This pattern—consistent early mixed/mulatto classifications shifting to Black/Negro after Reconstruction—is evidence of administrative reclassification, not actual ancestry change.

4.3 Citation Format for Census Records

Proper citation is essential for professional documentation.

Format:
[Year] U.S. Federal Census, [County], [State], [Township/City], Enumeration District [#], Page [#], Line [#], [Name]; NARA Microfilm Publication [Series], Roll [#]; accessed via [platform] on [date]; digital image, [URL if available].

Example Citation:
1880 U.S. Federal Census, Columbia County, Florida, Precinct 5, Enumeration District 26, Page 67, Line 5, Henry Day household; NARA Microfilm Publication T9, Roll 125; accessed via Ancestry.com on January 15, 2026.

4.4 Florida State Census (Unique Resource)

Florida conducted state censuses in 1885, 1895, and 1935. These provide data points between federal censuses.

Access: floridamemory.com (browse by county)
1885: First state census; may list more detail than 1880 federal
1895: Post-Reconstruction snapshot
1935: Depression-era economic conditions

Section 5: Research Methodology & Best Practices

Start with What You Know

Begin with living family members. Record oral histories, family stories, and any documentation they possess. Work backward chronologically, documenting each generation before moving to the next.

Document Everything

Create a research log noting every source searched, what you found (or didn't find), and the date. This prevents duplicate searches and helps identify gaps.

Track Reclassification Patterns

The systematic shift from "Mulatto" or "Indian" to "Black" or "Negro" across census years is evidence of policy, not ancestry change. Document these shifts as proof of administrative erasure.

Cross-Reference Multiple Sources

Never rely on a single record type. Cross-reference census records with land records, church records, and military records to build a complete picture.

Understand Historical Context

Research the laws, policies, and social conditions of the time and place where your ancestors lived. Understanding the Indian Removal Act, Freedmen's Bureau policies, and Jim Crow laws helps interpret records correctly.

Preserve Original Documents

Scan or photograph original documents at high resolution. Store digital copies in multiple locations. Original documents deteriorate, and digital preservation ensures future access.

Conclusion: Reclaiming What Was Hidden

The documentation exists. Federal land patents prove Indigenous families claimed homesteads in Florida decades after "removal" supposedly ended. Military pension files contain hundreds of pages of testimony describing Indigenous ancestry. Church records show the same families baptized as "Indio" under Spanish rule, then reclassified under American administration.

This erasure was systematic, but it was not complete. The records survived because Indigenous families navigated the legal system, maintained community connections, and preserved family knowledge across generations.

Your research is not just genealogy. It is an act of reclamation. Every land patent you find, every census record showing reclassification, every church baptism noting "Indio" is proof that the Yamasee were never conquered.

Ready to begin your research journey? Start with the Am I Yamasee? heritage indicators quiz to identify which research paths are most relevant to your family. Then explore the Evidence page to see documented examples of Yamasee survival. And when you're ready to dive deeper, order Keepers of Florida for the complete historical context.