Southampton County (Va.) Certificates of Importation, 1790-1816

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

Summary

Extent:
3 items
Creator:
Southampton County (Va.) Circuit Court
Abstract:
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Southampton County (Va.) Certificates of Importation, 1790-1816, sometimes entitled certificates of nonimportation, contain information whereby an enslaver swears that they have not imported the enslaved person from Africa and that the enslaver has not brought the enslaved person into Virginia with the purpose of selling the enslaved person. The enslaved person is sometimes named, but not always, and occasionally information is given as to age, birthdate, and the state the individuals are moving from.

Enslaved individuals referenced in these certificates includes: unnamed (brought to Virginia by William Bryant in 1790); unnamed (brought to Virginia by John Lee in 1798); and Jinney (brought to Virginia by Benjamin Devaney of Franklin County, NC in 1816).

Biographical / historical:

Context for Record Type: In 1778, Governor Patrick Henry enacted legislation preventing importation of enslaved people into the commonwealth. Those that did bring their enslaved people were required to register them with the county court and sign a certificate of importation agreeing that they were not bringing enslaved people into the commonwealth with the intent to sell. The enslaved person is sometimes named, but not always, and occasionally information is given as to age, birthdate, and the state from which the individuals were moving. According to Section 3 of the act "every slave imported into this commonwealth contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, shall upon such importation become free." By this clause, those enslaved people who were brought into Virginia illegally could pursue their freedom in the local courts.

Locality History: Southampton County was named, in the opinion of many authorities, for Henry Wriothesley, third earl of Southampton and treasurer of the London Company from 1620 to 1624. It is more likely, however, that the county was named for the borough of Southampton in England. Southampton County was formed in 1749 from Isle of Wight County, and part of Nansemond County was added later.

Acquisition information:
These records came to the Library of Virginia in transfer of court papers from Southampton County in 1983 under accession 31913
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged

  • Series I: Certificates of Importation, 1790-1816 arranged chronologically
Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
.