Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm copy, Arlington County (Va.) Reels 60, 62, 225.

Preferred Citation

Alexandria County (Va.) Registers of Free Negroes, 1797-1861, Arlington County (Va.) Reels 60, 62, 225, Local government records collection, Arlington 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

Arlington County was formed in 1920. This county was originally formed from Fairfax County and was previously known as Alexandria County, Virginia from 1789 to 1801; Alexandria County, District of Columbia from 1801 to 1846; and Alexandria County, Virginia from 1846 to 1920.

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

Alexandria County (Va.) Registers of Free Negroes, 1797-1861, are four separate volumes that list 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. With the exception of the 1858 volume, there is an index at the beginning of each register. The index lists in alphabetical order by surname the names of registered free persons and the page number where their registration information can be found.

The Register of Free Negroes, 1858, of Alexandria County appears to be more like a list of free negroes that was kept for taxation purposes and gives only the name, age, occupation, and whether a person is a male or female. There is no index in this volume.

Arrangement

Chronological by registration date.

Related Material

Additional Arlington and Alexandria 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"

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Arlington County (Va.). Circuit Court.

Subjects:

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

Geographical Names:

• Alexandria County--History.
• Arlington County--History.
• Washington (D.C.)--History.

Genre and Form Terms:

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

Added Entry - Corporate Name:

• Alexandria County (Va.) Circuit Court.
• Alexandria County (Va.) County Court.
• Washington (D.C.) Circuit Court.

Adjunct Descriptive Data