Louisa County (Va.) Deeds of Emancipation, 1783-1859

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:

Louisa County (Va.) Deeds of Emancipation, 1783-1859, are digitized and available through Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative Digital Collection on the Library of Virginia website. Please use digital images.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Louisa County (Va.) Deeds of Emancipation, 1783-1859. Local government records collection, Louisa County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.

Summary

Extent:
5 folders
Creator:
Louisa County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Abstract:
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Louisa County (Va.) Deeds of Emancipation, 1783-1859. Local government records collection, Louisa County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

Louisa County (Va.) Deeds of Emancipation, 1783, 1794-1798, 1800-1807, 1814, 1816, 1836, 1850, 1859, consists of about 20 deeds. The deeds typically record the name of the enslaver, the name of the enslaved person or persons to be freed, the date the enslaved person or persons achieved freedom, and the date the manumission was proved or certified. Sometimes, the deeds describe the reason for emancipation or manumission. Deeds of emancipation could be generated after the enslaver's death by those executing a last will and testament.

Also includes, bond, 1788, to keep Rachel, recently emancipated, from accruing any public expense, a condition of her emancipation.

Biographical / historical:

Context of Record Type: Deeds of emancipation and manumission record an enslavers' intent to emancipate enslaved people from bondage. Some of the earliest legal manumissions in Virginia occurred in the early 1770s. However, there was a sharp rise following the 1782 manumission act that allowed enslavers to privately emancipate enslaved people "by last will and testament or other instrument in writing sealed." They were no longer required to seek a special act from the General Assembly. These documents sometimes include an enslavers' intent for emancipation ranging from religious and moral motivations to binding legal agreements.

Deeds of emancipation and manumission essentially provide the same information and there is little difference between the two. Both include the name of the enslaver, the name of the enslaved person to be freed, the date of anticipated freedom, the date the manumission was proved or certified, and as mentioned, sometimes a reason why the enslaver decided to emancipate the enslaved person. In a deed of manumission, an enslaver directly freed an enslaved person by manumission. In a deed of emancipation, an enslaved person could be freed after the enslaver's death by those executing a last will and testament. This collection also includes court orders that record the date or age when enslaved individuals were to be emancipated by deed as stipulated in an enslaver's will.

Locality history: Louisa County was formed in 1742 from Hanover County.

Acquisition information:
These records came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Louisa County (Va.) as part of an undated accession.
Processing information:

Louisa County Deeds of Emancipation were originally described as part of the Louisa County (Va.) Free and Enslaved Records, but were removed to the present Louisa County (Va.) Deeds of Emancipation , record to enhance discoverability in January 2026.

Encoded by M. Mason : January 2026.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged

  • Series I: Deeds of Emancipation, 1783-1859

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
.