A Guide to the Dinwiddie County (Va.) Register of Free Negroes, 1850-1864
A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Microfilm reel number Dinwiddie County (Va.) Reel 62
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
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Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
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© 2006 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.
Processed by: Library of Virginia staff
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research.
Use Restrictions
Use microfilm copy, Dinwiddie County (Va.) Reel 62.
Preferred Citation
Dinwiddie County (Va.) Reel 62, Local government records collection, Dinwiddie 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
Dinwiddie County was formed in 1752 from Prince George 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.
The bulk of court records prior to 1865 were stolen, mutilated, and/or destroyed by Union troops who ransacked the courthouse during the last months of the Civil War. Post-1830 volumes such as deed books, will books, chancery order books, and marriage registers exist.
Scope and Content
Register of Free Negroes, 1850-64, of Dinwiddie 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. Some clerks recorded additional information not required by law. There is an index at the beginning of the register that lists in alphabetical order by surname the names of registered free persons and the page number where their registration information can be found.
Arrangement
Chronological by registration date.
Related Material
See the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.
For more information and a listing of lost records localities see Lost Records research note .
Index Terms
- Dinwiddie County (Va.). Circuit Court.
- African Americans--Virginia--Dinwiddie County
- African Americans--Virginia.
- Free African Americans--Virginia--Dinwiddie County.
- Dinwiddie County--History--19th century.
- Local government records--Virginia--Dinwiddie County.
- Registers (lists)--Virginia--Dinwiddie County.
Corporate Names:
Subjects:
Geographical Names:
Genre and Form Terms:
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Dinwiddie County--History--19th century.