Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Winchester (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1814-1857. Local government records collection, Winchester (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Winchester Circuit Court.

Historical Information

Winchester, in Frederick County, was known first as Opequon, then as Frederick's Town (or Fredericktown), and, finally, upon establishment as a town in 1752, as Winchester. According to tradition, one of the town's founders, James Wood, named the town in honor of his birthplace in England. Winchester was incorporated as a town in 1779 and as a city in 1874.

Beginning in 1778, slaveholders who brought slaves into Virginia were required to register the slaves with the county court and sign an oath agreeing not to bring slaves into the commonwealth with the intent of selling them.

Scope and Content

Winchester (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1814-1857. The collection contains free negro registrations, 1814-1857; a certificate of non-importation, 1814; and two deeds of emancipation, 1824 and 1856. Registrations include age, a brief physical description, and information documenting the person's free birth or circumstances of emancipation. The collection contains regisrations for Berkeley Allen, 1814; Thomas Cook, 1826; Rosanna Robinson, 1841; Kitty Brown, 1842; James and Sarah Elizabeth Weaver, 1846; Robert Webb, 1857; and Robert Mason, undated. Also included in the collection is a deed of emancipation for Lewis, from James Little, 1824; a deed of emancipation for Elizabeth, ("who is also my wife") from Griffin Taylor, 1856 Dec. 31; and a certificate of non-importation from Samuel Smith for Charles, an enslaved person he inherited from his father, and brought to Winchester from Prince George County, Maryland.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Winchester (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Free African Americans--Virginia--Winchester.
• Slaves--Emancipation--Virginia--Winchester.
• Slaves--Maryland--Prince George County.

Geographical Names:

• Winchester (Va.)--History--19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Certificates--Virginia--Winchester.
• Free negro and slave records--Virginia--Winchester.
• Free negro registrations--Virginia--Winchester
• Free papers--Virginia--Winchester.
• Local government records--Virginia--Winchester.
• Marriage records--Virginia--Winchester.