Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Use microfilm copy, Henrico County (Va.) Reel 113.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Henrico County (Va.) Registers of Free Negroes, 1831-1865. Henrico County (Va.) Reel 113. Local government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from Henrico County.

Historical Information

Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, the oldest son of James I. It was one of the eight original shires established in 1634.

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.

Recognized in 1634 as an original shire. All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post–Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on April 3, 1865, during the Civil War. The county’s circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.

Scope and Content

Henrico County (Va.) Registers of Free Negroes are four volumes of registers and one index volume covering the years 1831-1865. Listed are 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.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Related Material

Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Court Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Database found at the Library of Virginia web site.

Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Court Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Database found at the Library of Virginia web site.

Adjunct Descriptive Data