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Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia© 2003 By the Library of Virginia.
Processed by: Carl Childs
Southampton County (Va.) Records Related to the Registration of Free Persons, 1794-1864, are digitized and available through Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative Digital Collection on the Library of Virginia website. Please use digital images.
There are no restrictions
Southampton County (Va.) Records Related to the Registration of Free Persons, 1794-1864. Local government records collection, Southampton County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.
"Free Negro" Registrations came to the Library of Virginia in transfer of court papers from Southampton County in 1983 under accession 31913.
The photocopies of Certificates of Freedom came to the Library of Virginia in a gift of Shirley Whyte in 1997 under accession number 35443.
Remaining records came to the Library of Virginia in transfer of court papers from Southampton County in an undated accession.
Southampton County "Free Negroes Registers" are available as microfilm, Southampton County (Va.) Reel No. 90 (1794-1832) and Reel No. 86 (1833-1864).
Southampton County "Free Negroes Registers" are available as bound inkjet reproductions.
The "Free Negro" Registration Records, 1787-1801, were originally described as part of the Southampton (Va.) Free and Enslaved Records, but were removed to the present Southampton (Va.) Records Related to the Registration of Free Persons, to enhance the context between the record types.
The microfilm of the two "Register of Free Negroes and Mulattoes," volumes were originally described as Southampton County "Free Negro Registers", 1794-1864 but was removed to the present Southampton County (Va.) Records Related to the Registration of Free Persons, 1803-1860 to enhance the context between the record types.
These records have been processed, scanned, and indexed by L. Neuroth and other LVA staff for the purposes of digitizing them for the digital project Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative.
Encoded by C. Childs, 2003; Updated by M. Mason, June 2024.
Context for Record Type:
"Free Negro" Registers
In 1793, the Virginia General Assembly specified that "free Negroes or mulattoes" were required to be registered and numbered in a book to be kept by the town clerk, which shall specify "age, name, colour, and stature, by whom, and in what court the said negro or mulatto was emancipated; or that such negro or mulatto was born free." The process was extended to counties in 1803. Although some clerks were already recording such features, an 1834 Act of Assembly made it a uniform requirement to record identifying marks and scars and the instrument of emancipation, whether by deed or will. This bound register often coincided with a loose certificate containing largely the same identifying information. Both the registration system and the process of renewal was enforced differently in the various Virginia localities. Thus, the information found in these registers may differ from year to year and across localities.
The register books resulting from the administration of the 1793 and 1803 Act of Assembly are evidence of Virginia legislators' reaction to a quickly growing free Black and multiracial population in Virginia in the post Revolutionary War period. Acts such as these allowed white officials to police the activities and movement of free Black community members throughout the state thereby restricting their autonomy.
"Free Negro" Registrations
In 1793, the Virginia General Assembly specified that "free Negroes or mulattoes" were required to "be registered and numbered in a book to be kept by the town clerk, which shall specify age, name, color, status and by whom, and in what court emancipated." These entries often coincided with the creation of a loose certificate containing largely the same identifying information.
Documents in this record group differ from the bound volumes referred to as "registers." These registration records typically appear in the form of certificates or handwritten statements recording the free status of a Black or multiracial person. They can include the free person's name, sometimes age, a brief physical description, and the circumstances of the person's freedom or emancipation, parents, former enslaver, place or date of emancipation. There are also affidavits that were given by individuals affirming a free person's status, as well as written descriptions of free people. In some cases, a person would not have a registration to submit to the court. Instead they produced some other form of identification proving their free status, for example, a deed of emancipation, a will, an apprenticeship indenture, or an affidavit of someone testifying to their character and status.
Locality History: Southampton County was named, in the opinion of many authorities, for Henry Wriothesley, third earl of Southampton and treasurer of the London Company from 1620 to 1624. It is more likely, however, that the county was named for the borough of Southampton in England. Southampton County was formed in 1749 from Isle of Wight County, and part of Nansemond County was added later.
Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.
Southampton County (Va.) Records Relating to the Registration of Free Persons, 1794-1864, consists of "Free Negro Registers", 1794-1864; "Free Negro" Registrations, 1808-1824; Affidavits and Applications for Registrations, 1759-1853; and photocopies of "Certificates of Freedom," 1853-1854.
"Free Negro Registers", 1794-1864, includes two volumes the first, "Register of Free Negroes and Mulattoes," 1794-1832, records the registration of free Black and multiracial people of Black descent in Southampton County and covers the years 1794 to 1832. The clerk recorded name, age, height, complexion, marks and scars, and in what court the person was emancipated or if the person was born free. There is no index. It does not include page numbers. In some instances, the clerk recorded information not required by law such as the name of the former enslaver, previous place of registration, or place of birth.
The second volume, "Register of Free Negroes," 1833-1864, records generally all the same information; however, this volume includes page numbers.
"Free Negro" Registrations, 1808-1824, record the name, registration number, registration date, a brief physical description, whether born free or circumstances of emancipation. Names contained in the records include: Hartwell Vines; Anthony Brown; James Bell; Philip Bailey; and Hagar Jarrell.
Affidavits and Applications for Registrations, 1819-1853, contain sworn statements and other documents submitted to establish proof of free status. Names contained in the records include: Samuel Artis (also Samuel Norbon); Moses Johnson; Thomas Charity (also Tom); James Jones; Gilbert Roberts; Henry Hill; Charles Davis; Nathan Powell; and William Artis.
Certificates of Freedom, 1853-1854, contain photocopies of certificates of freedom ordered by the Southampton County clerk in 1853 and 1854. Names contained in the records include: Julia; Eveline; Mason; and William.
This collection is arranged
Series I: Records related to the registration of free persons, 1794-1864, arranged by records type then chronologicallySee also: Southampton County (Va.) Free and Enslaved Records, 1754-1860
Records related to free and enslaved people of Southampton County (Va.) and other localities are available through the Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative Digital Collection on the Library of Virginia website.
Additional Southampton County (Va.) court records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia.Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."
arranged by record type then chronologically