Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Franklin County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1837-1864. Local government records collection, Franklin County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

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

Historical Information

Franklin County was named for Benjamin Franklin and was formed from Bedford and Henry Counties in 1785.

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.

Free Negro lists were compiled by the commissioner of the revenue for tax purposes.

Scope and Content

Franklin County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1837-1864, consist of patrol appointments (1853-1862); proceedings of slaves requisitioned for public use (1863-1864); proceedings of free negroes requisitioned for public use (1864); free negro lists (1837-1838); free negro registrations (1860-1864); and indentures of free negroes (1861).

Slave patrol appointments give the names of persons appointed to patrol, the name or number of the district where they are to patrol, and the length of time required for the patrol (usually three months). Sometimes a captain of the patrol is named.

Proceedings of slaves requisitioned for public use contain information about the Confederate impressment of slaves for use both on the defenses at Richmond and other places and as stable hands and in other jobs. Included are lists of slaveowners with the names and valuations of slaves sent; certificates of slaveowners with the names of slaves sent and what job the slave is doing; and lists of slaveowners with the numbers of slaves sent by district number.

Proceedings of free negroes requisitioned for public use is an order for certain free negroes selected by the requisition board to report for work as laborers for the Confederate states. Also included is a list of free negroes between the ages of eighteen and fifty by district number including names, ages, occupation, and comments as to physical problems and his family.

Free negro lists record the name, age, residence and occupation of every person on the list. The three lists were compiled by the Commissioner of the Revenue.

Free negro registrations contain the name of the free person, sometimes their age and a brief physical description, and a statement as to the circumstances of their freedom (born free or emancipated). Occasionally the register number is given.

Indentures of free negroes consists of two documents related to the indenture of William Foley, a free colored boy and the son of Lucinda Foley, to Isaac Via to learn how to be a farmer.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Franklin County (Va.). Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• African Americans -- Employment -- Virginia -- Franklin County.
• Confederate States of America -- Defenses.
• Franklin County (Va.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- African Americans.
• Free African Americans -- Virginia -- Franklin County.
• Slave labor -- Virginia -- Franklin County.
• Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Franklin County.
• War -- Economic aspects -- Virginia -- Franklin County.

Geographical Names:

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

Genre and Form Terms:

• Free negro and slave records -- Virginia -- Franklin County.
• Free papers -- Virginia -- Franklin County.
• Lists -- Virginia -- Franklin County.
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Franklin County.
• Tax and fiscal records -- Virginia -- Franklin County.