I AM NEW AT RESEARCHING FAMILY HISTORY. I HAVE FOUND FAMILY IN 1880 CENSUS - ROBT AND SARAH BROOKS WITH THEIR CHILDREN, LIVING IN CUNNINGHAM, PERRY COUNTY, AL; HOWEVER, I CAN NOT FIND THE FAMILY IN 1870 OR THE ALABAMA 1866 COLORED CENSUS. I AM TRYING TO FIND THE SLAVE OWNER OF FAMILY. MY QUESTION IS - CAN I ASSUME THAT SLAVE OWNER WILLIAM M. BROOKS WHO OWNED SLAVES IN PERRY COUNTY (WOODVILLE,AL) WAS THE SLAVE OWNER OF MY RELATIVES? WHAT RECORDS SHOULD I TRY TO FIND TO SUPPORT SUCH AN ASSUMPTION? I APPRECIATE ALL HELP AND GUIDANCE. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO NOT BE ABLE TO FIND ANY INFORMATION ON MY FAMILY PRIOR TO 1880.

LOUISE