Westmoreland County (Va.) Registers of Free Negroes, 1817-1826, 1828-1861

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

Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov

Phone: (804) 692-3888

Web: www.lva.virginia.gov

Summary

Language:

English

Background

Scope and content:

Registers of Free Negroes, 1817-1826, 1828-1861, of Westmoreland County. They list the 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.

Biographical / historical:

Westmoreland County was formed from Northumberland County in 1653. Part of King George 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.

Acquisition information:

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Westmoreland County.

Arrangement:

Chronological.

Physical description:

3 vols., (178 p.)

Indexed terms

Subjects:

African Americans--Employment--Virginia--Westmoreland County.
African Americans--Virginia--Westmoreland County.
Free African Americans--Virginia--Westmoreland County.
Livestock--Virginia--Westmoreland County.
Justices of the Peace--Virginia--Westmoreland County.
Local government records--Virginia--Westmoreland County.
Registers (lists)--Virginia--Westmoreland County.

Names:

Westmoreland County (Va.). Circuit Court.

Places:

Westmoreland County--History--19th Century.