A Guide to the Brunswick County (Va.) Registers of Free Negroes, 1803-1850 Brunswick County (Va.) Registers of Free Negroes, 1803-1850 Brunswick County (Va.) Reels 95, 126, 134

A Guide to the Brunswick County (Va.) Registers of Free Negroes, 1803-1850

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Microfilm reel numbers Brunswick County (Va.) Reels 95, 126, 134


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Processed by: Library of Virginia staff

Repository
The Library of Virginia
Microfilm reel numbers
Brunswick County (Va.) Reels 95, 126, 134
Title
Brunswick County (Va.) Registers of Free Negroes, 1802-1850
Physical Characteristics
3 microfilm reels
Creator
Brunswick County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Location
Library of Virginia
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm copy, Brunswick County (Va.) Reels 95, 126, 134.

Preferred Citation

Brunswick County (Va.) Reels 95, 126, 134, Local government records collection, Brunswick County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

The microfilm copy of these records was generated by The Library of Virginia's Imaging Services Branch.

Historical Information

Brunswick County was formed in 1720 from Prince George County. Parts of Isle of Wight and Surry Counties were added in 1732.

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

Brunswick County (Va.) Registers of Free Negroes, 1803-1864, consist of three volumes dated 1803-1820, 1820-1850, and 1850-1864. Each 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. Some clerks recorded additional information not required by law.

The Register of Free Negroes, 1803-1820, also contains a two page Register of Dower slaves beginning after registration number 41 (page 15) with one following on page 20. There are seven of these registrations dated 1805-1812, n.d. The Register of Dower Slaves is a list of slaves in someone's possession as a result of dower rights or the rights of a widow in her husband's estate. Each registration gives the name of the person who has the slaves, by whose dower right, sometimes the name of the deceased husband, the name(s) of the slave, and the age of the slave(s) owned. There is no index. The final page of the Register of Free Negroes, 1803-1820, is a fragment of a processioner's report dated 8 April 1816. Use Brunswick County (Va.) Reel 126.

The register dated 1820-1850 contains no index. Use Brunswick County (Va.) Reel 134.

The register for 1850-1864 preceeds Order Book 1864-1868 in the same volume. On the microfilm the material is found in the following order: index to the order book, partial index to free negro register, free negro register, order book. Use Brunswick County (Va.) Reel 95.

Arrangement

Chronological by registration date.

Index Terms

    Corporate Names:

  • Brunswick County (Va.). Circuit Court.
  • Subjects:

  • African Americans--Virginia--Brunswick County.
  • African Americans--Virginia.
  • Dower--Virginia--Brunswick County.
  • Free African Americans--Virginia--Brunswick County.
  • Slave records--Virginia--Brunswick County.
  • Slaveholders--Virginia--Brunswick County.
  • Geographical Names:

  • Brunswick County--History--19th century.
  • Genre and Form Terms:

  • Local government records--Virginia--Brunswick County.
  • Registers (lists)--Virginia--Brunswick County.

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Brunswick County--History--19th century.