King George County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1851-1868

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

King George County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1851-1868. Local government records collection, King George County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Summary

Creator:
King George County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

King George County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1851-1868. Local government records collection, King George County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

King George County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1851-1868, consist of free negro lists, a rough draft of some free negro registers, and photocopies of documents related to free negroes.

Lists of free negroes from the years 1858, 1860 and 1861 were assembled by the commissioner of the revenue. These lists give the name, age, sex, and occupation of all on the list. A list from 1858 gives the names of free negroes subject to county levies and lists names only. A list from 1861 gives only names and ages.

An undated draft of a page of the free negro register for the registered numbers 228-254 gives the registration number, age, name, color, stature, marks or scars, in what court the person was emancipated or whether the person was born free. Some clerks recorded additional information not required by law. This draft had been used as a wrapper for a bundle of chancery papers.

Photocopies of related records include a 1868 petition to exempt several aged colored persons from taxes. The petition gives the people's names and ages. Also included is a print of an item found for sale online of free negro registration number 288 for Caroline Scott dated 1851.

Biographical / historical:

King George County was named in honor of George I of England and was formed from Richmond County in 1720. Part of Westmoreland County was added in 1777.

An act passed by the Virginia legislature in 1803 required every free negro or mulatto to be registered and numbered in a book to be kept by the county clerk.

Lists of free negroes and mulattoes were compiled by the commissioner of the revenue for tax purposes.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from King George County under the accession number 41899.
Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
3 folders