Madison County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1859

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:

Madison County (Va.) Petitions for Reenslavement, 1859. Local government records collection, Madison County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA 23219.

Summary

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

Madison County (Va.) Petitions for Reenslavement, 1859. Local government records collection, Madison County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Madison County (Va.) Petitions for Reenslavement, 1859, consists of the petitions of Jetha Chapman, Timothy Chapman, and Thadeus Chapman to give up their freedom and remain in Virginia. All three were freed by the will of Isham Tatum, Sr., and initially asked the court to assign them to Nathaniel Tatum but later requested that Nathaniel S Wayland become their master.

Biographical / historical:

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

An act passed by the Virginia legislature in 1806 required freed slaves to leave the state within a year.

An act passed by the Virginia legislature in 1856 allowed freed slaves who desired to remain in Virginia to petition for reenslavement and choose a master or owner and remain in the state.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court papers from Madison County.
Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
1 box