Isle of Wight County (Va.) Records Related to the Registration of Free Persons, 1833-1862

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:
digital images
Creator:
Isle of Wight County (Va.) Circuit Court
Abstract:
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Isle of Wight County (Va.) Records Related to the Registration of Free Persons, 1833-1862, consists of a "Free Negro" Register, 1852-1862; and "Free Negro" Registrations, 1833-1861.

"Register of Free Negro Certificates," 1852-1862, records the registration of free Black and multiracial people of Black descent in Isle of Wight County and covers the years 1852 to 1862. The clerk recorded age, name, height, complexion, marks or scars, and in what court the person was emancipated or whether the person was born free. Does not include an index or page numbers. In some instances, the clerk recorded information not required by law such as the name of the former enslaver, previous place of registration, or place of birth.

"Free Negro" Registrations, 1833-1861, include numbered certificates that record the free person's name, sometimes age, a brief physical description and the circumstances of the person's freedom or emancipation. If born free, a reference is sometimes made to the parents. If emancipated, the emancipating owner, place and date may be mentioned. There are affidavits that were given by individuals affirming a free person's status. There are written descriptions of free persons.

Biographical / historical:

Context for Record Type:

"Free Negro" Registers

In 1793, the Virginia General Assembly specified that "free Negroes or mulattoes" were required to be registered and numbered in a book to be kept by the town clerk, which shall specify "age, name, colour, and stature, by whom, and in what court the said negro or mulatto was emancipated; or that such negro or mulatto was born free." The process was extended to counties in 1803. Although some clerks were already recording such features, an 1834 Act of Assembly made it a uniform requirement to record identifying marks and scars and the instrument of emancipation, whether by deed or will. This bound register often coincided with a loose certificate containing largely the same identifying information. Both the registration system and the process of renewal was enforced differently in the various Virginia localities. Thus, the information found in these registers may differ from year to year and across localities.

The register books resulting from the administration of the 1793 and 1803 Act of Assembly are evidence of Virginia legislators' reaction to a quickly growing free Black and Multiracial population in Virginia in the post Revolutionary War period. Acts such as these allowed white officials to police the activities and movement of free Black community members throughout the state thereby restricting their autonomy.

"Free Negro" Registrations

In 1793, the Virginia General Assembly specified that "free Negroes or mulattoes" were required to "be registered and numbered in a book to be kept by the town clerk, which shall specify age, name, color, status and by whom, and in what court emancipated." These entries often coincided with the creation of a loose certificate containing largely the same identifying information.

Documents in this record group differ from the bound volumes referred to as "registers." These registration records typically appear in the form of certificates or handwritten statements recording the free status of a Black or Multiracial person. They can include the free person's name, sometimes age, a brief physical description, and the circumstances of the person's freedom or emancipation, parents, former enslaver, place or date of emancipation. There are also affidavits that were given by individuals affirming a free person's status, as well as written descriptions of free people. In some cases, a person would not have a registration to submit to the court. Instead, they produced some other form of identification proving their free status, for example, a deed of emancipation, a will, an apprenticeship indenture, or an affidavit of someone testifying to their character and status.

Locality History: Isle of Wight County was named probably for the Isle of Wight off the south coast of England. It was first known as Warrosquyoake for an Indian tribe living in the area whose name means "swamp in a depression of land," and was one of the original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The present name was given in 1637. Parts of Nansemond County were added in 1769 and 1772. The county seat is Isle of Wight.

Acquisition information:
Digital images of Isle of Wight Free and Enslaved records created by Library of Virginia Staff and are part of accession 54744.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged

  • Series I: Registers of "Free Negroes," 1852-1862
  • Series II: "Free Negro" Registrations, 1833-1861

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
.