Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Smyth County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 18591861. Local government records collection, Smyth County 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 Smyth County.

Historical Information

Smyth County was named in 1843 for Alexander Smyth, a former congressman from Virginia who had died in 1830 while efforts were underway to create the new county. The county was formed from Washington and Wythe Counties.

Scope and Content

Smyth County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1859-1861 and undated, consist of a list of free negroes, part of a petition to remain in the commonwealth, and a note about a free negro registration.

List of Free Negroes in the Northern District, 1859. The list was compiled by the Commissioner of the Revenue for tax purposes. It documents the name, gender, age, and occupation of 38 free African Americans living in the Northern District of Smyth County in 1859.

The petition to remain in the commonwealth is only partial and consists of lists of signatures. Written on the reverse is the docketing petition Commonwealth vs. Cross; 7 March 1859 application continued until next court; 6 March 1861 leave given to remain in county.

The note about a free negro registration is undated and from a J. Garrett concerning the registrations of two women named Susan Elizabeth and Susan Bowles.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Smyth County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

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

Geographical Names:

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

Genre and Form Terms:

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