Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

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Preferred Citation

Loudoun County (Va.) Register of Free Negroes, 1844-1861, Loudoun County (Va.) Reel 135, Local government records collection, Loudoun County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item was microfilmed by the Library of Virginia's Imaging Services Division.

Historical Information

Loudoun County was formed in 1757 from Fairfax County.

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.

Scope and Content

Register of Free Negroes, 1844-1861, of Loudoun County lists the registration number, age, name, color, stature, marks or scars, in what court the person was emancipated or whether the person was born free. In many cases, the clerk noted the date that a copy of the registration was made and sealed for the registered individual. Some clerks recorded additional information not required by law. There is an index that begins at the front of the volume and continues at the end of the volume.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Loudoun County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• African Americans--Virginia--Loudoun County.
• Free African Americans--Virginia--Loudoun County.

Geographical Names:

• Loudoun County (Va.)--History--19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Free negro and slave records--Virginia--Loudoun County.
• Local government records--Virginia--Loudoun County.
• Registers (lists)--Virginia--Loudoun County.