Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm copy, Lunenburg County (Va.) Reel 376 or 381.

Preferred Citation

Lunenburg County (Va.) Register of Free Negroes, 1850-1865, Lunenburg County (Va.) Reel 376 or 381, Local government records collection, Lunenburg County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item was microfilmed by the Library of Virginia's Imaging Services Division. The volume came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers under the accession number 43095.

Historical Information

Lunenburg County was formed in 1745 from Brunswick County. Part of Charlotte County was added in 1777.

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

Lunenburg County (Va.) Register of Free Negroes, 1850-1865, lists the 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 such as a parent's name. 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. Also titled Lunenburg County (Va.) Register for Free Negroes.

Arrangement

Chronological by registration date.

Related Material

Additional Lunenburg County Free Negro and Slave Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm" found on the Library of Virginia web site.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Lunenburg County (Va.). Circuit Court.

Subjects:

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

Geographical Names:

• Lunenburg County--History--19th Century.

Genre and Form Terms:

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

Adjunct Descriptive Data