Bedford County

Register of Free Negroes

1803-1820

 

p.1, At a court held for Bedford County the 26th Day of July 1803

Godfrey a Black Man Sixty years of age, five feet seven inches high... Emancipated in the County Court of Bedford.

p.3, At a court held for Bedford County 26th July 1803 certified.

 

Age, name, Colour, Stature, In what court emancipated or whether born free

60, Godfrey, Black, 5'7", Emancipated Bedford

50, Billy Merchant, Black, 5'6", Emancipated Bedford

55, Pompey, Black, 5'7", Emancipated Bedford

40, Joe Tanner, Olive, 5'1-1/2", Emancipated Bedford

35, George, Black, 5'10", Emancipated Bedford

21, Jacob Dabney, Dark Mulatto, 5'9-1/4", Born free

22, Jacob Selden, Mulatto, 5'3", Born free

40, William Jackson, Black, 5'8", Born free

45, John Jackson, Mulatto, 4'9", Born free

22, John Gowing, Light Mulatto, 5'6-1/2", Born free

44, Molly Selden, Light Mulatto, 5'1/4", Born free

20, Sally Selden, dark Mulatto, 5-1/4", Born free

22, Asy Ruff, Black, 5'3-1/2", Born free

26, John Ward, Black, 5'4-1/4", Emancipated Maryland State

36, Nancy Jackson, Light Mulatto, 5'2", Born free

p.4, certified 27 Sept. 1803

20, Billy Merchant, Jr., Black 5-3-1/2", Emancipated Bedford

17, Yarmter Merchant, Black, 5'1", Emancipated Bedford

49, Nanny Merchant, Black, 5'-1/2", Emancipated Bedford

22, Cicila Merchant, Black, 4'11", Emancipated Bedford

25, Flora Merchant, Black, 5'2-1/2", Emancipated Bedford

25, Amey Merchant, Black, 5'2", Emancipated Bedford

50, Patty Merchant, Black, 5'-1/2", Emancipated Bedford

35, Edy Tanner, Black, 5', Emancipated Bedford

35, Ralph Early, Black, 5'7-1/2", Emancipated Bedford

p.4, 24 Sept. 1803

74, Matt Merchant, Mulatto, 5'9-3/4", Emancipated Bedford

p.4, 25 Sept. 1804

25, Edmund Scott, Dark mulatto, 5'9", Born free

p.5, 27 November 1804

60, James Bowling, Black, 5'4", Bedford County Court

p.5, 27 December 1804 (following entry crossed out)

26, Gutrom Stuart, Black,

24, Harry, Black,

23, Luke, Black,

p.5, 28 January 1804

24, Lett, Black, 4'11", Campbell

p.5, 23 July 1805

20, Lucy Lockett, Bright Mulatto, 5'3", Bedford County Court

p.5, 24 February 1806

45, Samuel, Black, 5'7-1/2", Bedford County Court

25, Peter, Black, 5'4", Bedford County Court

22, Ned, Black, 5'7", Bedford County Court

20, George, Black, 5'8-3/4", Bedford County Court

50, Sarah, Black, 4'10-1/2", Bedford County Court

35, Rachael, Mulatto, 4'10-3/4", Bedford County Court

p.6, 24 February 1806

16, Milby, Light Mulatto, 5'2", Bedford County Court

11, Daniel, Black, 4'5-3/4", ditto

8, Pleasant, Black, 4'2-1/4", ditto

7, Caleb, Dark Mulatto, 3'11-1/2", ditto

6, Ann, Black, 3'6", ditto

3, Braxton, Black, 2'9-1/4", ditto

4 months, Sophy, Mulatto, 2 feet, ditto

33, Isabell, Black, 4'11-1/2", ditto

12, James, Black, 4'11-1/4", ditto

11, Hannah, Black 4'7-1/2", ditto

32, Dinah, Black, 5'3-1/2", ditto

8, Washington, Black, 4', ditto

12, Flanders, Dark Mulatto, 4'6-1/2", ditto

p.6, 26 May 1806

21, Jerry Jones, Black, 5'8-1/8", Emancipated Bedford

p.7, 23 June 1806

20, Peter Earley, Black, 5'11-28", Bedford County Court

p.7, 27 July 1807

16, Matthew Merchant, Black, 4'4", Bedford County Court, renewed April 1832

18, Betsy Merchant, Black, 5', ditto

20, Iris Merchant, Black, 5', ditto

p.7, 22 February 1808

22, Lucy, Black, 4'11", Bedford County Court

p.7, 24, May 1808

33, Adam, Black, 5'8", Bedford County Court

p.7, 23 January 1809

19, Lucinda Jones, Black, 5'-1/2", Born free

20, Diana Jones, Black, 5'3", Born free

p.8, 29 May 1810

Sampson Green, Bright mulatto, 5'4-3/4", Emancipated in the County Court of Amherst

p.8, 25 February 1811

21, Jack Fields, Bright mulatto, 5'4-3/4", Born free

p.8, 28 March 1811

36, Wm Jackson, Black, 5'4-3/4", Born free

p.9, 28 March 1811

31, Jerry, Black, 5'10-1/2", Emancipated Bedford County Court

33, Sam, Black, 5'7-1/2", ditto

32, Dick, Black, 5'3", ditto

27, Lucy, Mulatto, 5'1", ditto

52, Betty, the mother of the above, Black, 5'1", ditto

8, Lydia, daughter of Lucy, Mulatto, ditto

p.9, 27 May 1811

23, William, Black, 5'11-1/4", Emancipated in Bedford County Court

p.9, 24 June 1811

23, Frank Pleasant, Black, 5'1-2", Emancipated in Bedford County Court

p.10,

33, Daniel Black, 5-7-3/4", ditto

26, Andrew, Black, 5'6", ditto

19, Rebecca, Molatto, 5'1-1/2", Bedford County Court

p.10, 29 October 1811

14, Adam, Black, 4'10-1/2", Bedford County Court

p.10, 25 Nov. 1811

21, Thomas Henry, Black, 5'5-3/4", Bedford County Court

17, Dinah, Black, 5'4-1/4", Bedford County Court

15, Jacob, Black, 4'10", Bedford County Court

p.11, 23 March 1812

45, Rebecca Chavers, Black, 5'6-3/4", Born free

19, Mima Chavers, Black, 5-2", ditto

p.11, 24 March 1811 (sic)

26, George, Black, 5'-10", Bedford County Court

p.11, 25 August 1812

45, Mima Hill, Dark Mulatto, 5'2", Born free

18, Stepney Merchant, same, 5'3", Emancipated in Bedford Co.

19, Richd. Merchant, Black, 5'11", ditto

16, Nancy Merchant, ditto, 5'2", ditto

p.11, 25 January 1813

42, Bernard Tyre, a mulatto, 5'8-1/4", Caroline County

24, York Earley, Black, 6', Bedford County

p.11, 26 July 1813

33, Luke Stuart, Black, 5'8-7/8", Born free

p.12, 28 March 1814

30, Benjn. Day, Dark mulatto, 5'6-1/4", Born free

p.12, 23 August 1814

19, Margaret Jackson, Bright mulatto, 5'2-1/2", Born free

p.12, 26 September 1814

22, Emanuel Tanner, Dark man, 5'3", Born free

24, Caleb Tanner, ditto, same, same

26, John Melton, Dark mulatto, 5'7", Emancipated in Bedford Co.

p.13, 24 Oct. 1814

20, Iris Merchant, Black, 5'3", Emancipated in Bedford Co.

18, Sisley Merchant, Black, 4'10", Born free

19, Nancy Merchant, ditto, ditto, ditto

26, Pool Earley, ditto, 5'4", Emancipated in Bedford Co.

p.13, 29 August 1815

20, Violet Grimes Black, 5'-1/2", Emancipated in Bedford

24, Rachel Grimes, Black, 5'3", same

p.13, 23 July 1816

21, Adam Grimes, Black, 5'3-1/2", Emancipated in Bedford

26 July 1816

21, Thomas Parker, Mulatto, 5'6-3/4", Born free

p.14,

17, Jacob Merchant, Black 5'5-1/2", Born free

16, Leviah Merchant, Dark Mulatto, 5'5", Born free

p.14, 24 February 1817

55, George, Black, 6', Emancipated in Bedford

50, Betty, Light complexion, 4'1-3/4", same

p.14, 24 March 1817

45, Ignatius Carter, Black, 5-1/2', (blank)

p.14, 23 March 1818

21, Jacob Grimes, Black man, 5'6-3/4", Born free

p.14, 24 August 1818

22, Fleming Henry, Black man, 5'9-1/4", Bedford County Court

35, Stephen Day, Mulatto, 5'9-1/4", Born free

p.15, 26 July 1819

24, Cate Darby, 5'7", Born free

28, Fanny Mason, Bright Mulatto, 5'5/8", ditto

69, Keziah Green, Black, 5'5", Emancipated in Bedford

p.15, 24 August 1819

21, James Jackson, Black, 5'7", Born free

p.15, 25 August 1819

23, John Wesley Clark, Black 5'8-7/8", Emancipated in Bedford

p.15, 3 April 1820, This day John Roe produced a certificate from the Clerk of Notoway of his having been duly registered in that Court as a free negro dated 5 Nov. 1818.

 

Register of Free Negroes 1820-1860

p.2, 26 June 1820

32, Nancy, Black, 5'4-1/2", Bedford County Court

p.2, 25 September 1820

21, Emily Moss, light complection, 5-1/2', Born free

32, Jesse Shavers, dark complexion, 5'5", Born free

25, Daniel Shavers, high dark Complexion, 5'4-1/4", Born free

25, Betsey Shavers, dark Colour, 5'1", Born free

19, Judy Shavers, light Colour, 5'7", Born free

17, Anna Shavers, rather light Complexion, 5'8",

13, Polly Shavers, dark Complexion, 4'10", Born free

11, Lucinda Shavers, dark Complexion, 3'5", Born free

9, Harriet Shavers daughter of Betsey Shavers, bright mulatto, 3'10", Born free

5, Martha Ann Shavers, daughter of Betsey Shavers, dark complexion sun burnt, 3'2", Born free

3, Emily Shavers, daughter of Betsy Shavers, Dark complexion, 2'7-3/4", Born free

3, Jane Shavers, Daughter of Mima Shavers, light complexion, 3'3/4", Born free

7, Barbara Shavers, daughter of Winney Shavers, dark complexion, 3'8", Born free

p.3,

9 months, Eliza Ann Shavers, bright mulatto, daughter of Judy Shavers, 2'3", Born free

2, Luckey Shavers, dark complexion, 2'6", Born free

p.3, 26 October 1820

16, Peter Shavers, Dark complexion, 5'3", Born free

15, Matilda Goff, Bright Mulatto, 5'6", Born free

16, Billy Goff, Bright mulatto, 5'7", Born free

24, James Goff, Bright mulatto, 5'7", Born free

7, Sam Goff, Bright mulatto, 3'10", Born free

23, Billy Moss, Mulatto, 5'9-1/2", Born free

77, Abraham Goff, Mulatto, 5'11", Born free

p.3, 25 September 1820

_4 (edge of page folded), John Goff, Mulatto, 6', Born free

p.3, 23 January 1821

26, John King, Black, 5'11-1/2", Emancipated in Bedford

p.4, 31, Ralph Dabney, Black, 5'9", Born free (this line crossed out)

p.4, 24 September 1821

26, Jack Darby, Black, 5'10", Emancipated in Bedford

p.4, 27 May 1822

40 or 41, Abraham Sampson, Black, 5'11-1/4" high, emancipated in Pittsylvania

21, David Godfrey, Dark mulatto, 5'9-3/4", same

21, Polly Ann Godfrey, Bright mulatto, 5'4-1/2", same

p.4, 24 June 1822

22, James Crane, Bright mulatto, 5'10-1/2, Born free

27, John Crane, Bright mulatto, 5'10", Born free

p.4, 28 November 1822

27, George Dennis, Black, 5'4", Born free

p.5, 23 June 1823

26, Lewis Godfrey, Black, 5'7-1/2", Born free

18, Caleb Godfrey, Black, 5'6-1/2", Born free

20 Francis Godfrey, Black, 5'7", Born free

22, Jacob Godfrey, Black, 5-5-1/4", Born free

50, Letty Godfrey, Black, 5'1-1/4", set free by Chas Moorman

p.5, 26 August 1823

48, Fany Jackson, Mulatto, 5'4-7/8", Born free

26, John Jackson, Mulatto, 5'6", Born free

24, Dabney Jackson, Mulatto, 5'7", Born free

22, Sally Moss, Mulatto, 5'1-1/2", Born free

21, Giles Jackson, Mulatto, 5'8", Born free

18, Kiah Jackson, Mulatto, 5'8-1/2", Born free

p.5, 24 November 1823

29, Sam Campbell, Black, 5'6-1/2", emancipated by Mitchell

no evidence introduced of his emancipation.

p.6, 27 January 1824

50, Sally Hill, Dark mulatto, 4'11", Born free

29, Nicy Moss, same, 5'3-1/2", Born free

24, Sealey Moss, Mulatto, 5'4-1/2", Born free

20, Polly Hill, same, 5'2-1/2", Born free

18, Betsey Hill, Dark Mulatto, 5'1", Born free

22, Thos. Hill, same, 5'1-1/2", Born free

58, Zachh Hill, same, 5'9", Born free

40, Drury Moss, yellow complection, 5'8-3/4", Born free

35, Alexr Moss, Dark Mulatto, 5'10-1/2", Born free

p.6, 28 June 1824

28, Harry Hill, son of Mima, Light Mulatto, 5'7-1/2", Born free

22, Rhoda Hill, a Dark Mulatto, 5'3-1/2", Emancipated

p.7,

19, Billy Merchant, Black, 5'8-1/2", Born free

24, Jordan Merchant, Black, 5'7-3/4", Born free

p.7, 25 October 1824

21, Moses Smith, Black, 5'5", Born free

22 August 1825

21, Jacob, Rather bright complection, 5'4-3/4", Emancipated in Bedford

p.8

22, Samuel Hales, Olive cast, 5'8-3/4", Free born

18, Polly Hales, Black, 5-4", Free born

21, Henry Goff, Mulatto, 5'5-1/2", Born free

 

p.8, 29 August 1836

60, John Ford, Black, 5'7-1/2", Emancipated in Bedford Co.

38, Reuben Henry, Black, 5'6-1/2", same

30, Sophia, Black, 5'3-3/8", same

14, Edmund, Black, 5'1-3/8", same

10, Amey, Black, 4'4-1/2", same

p.9, 23 October 1826

32, Henry Moss, Mulatto, 5'8", Born free

50, Sooky Henry, Black, 5', Born free

12, Kitty Shavers, Black, 5', Born free

30, Clarissa Shavers, Black, 4'6", Born free

16, Emeline Shavers, Black, 5'2", Born free

26, Reubin Smith, Mulatto, 5'4-1/2", Born free

4, Judy Henry, Black, 3'5-1/2", Born free

9, Wyatt Moss, Mulatto, 4'1", Born free

2, Mary Henry, Mulatto, 2'5", Born free

7, Ann Moss, Mulatto, 4'1", Born free

4, Richard Shavers, Black, 3'1", Born free

3, Adaline Shavers, Mulatto, 2'9", Born free

5, Rebecca Moss, Mulatto, 3'1", Born free

6, Cassy Ann Shavers, Mulatto, 3'7", Born free

3, Daniel Shavers, 2'11", Born free

2, Richard Moss, Mulatto, 2'10", Born free

8 months, Wm Shavers, Mulatto, 2', Born free

1, Wm Shavers, Black, 2'3", Born free

3 months, William Moss, Mulatto, Born free

13, Lucinda Ford, Black 5', Born free

12, Wm Henry Ford, Black, 5'1/2", Born free

3 months, Malinda Moss, Mulatto, Born free

p.10, 28 November 1826

22, Israel Ford, Dark Complexion, 5'5", Born free

p.10, 29 November 1826

35, Peter Moss, a bright Mulatto, 5'5-1/2", hair nearly strayht, Free born

p.10, 28 March 1827

33, Lucy Ford, Bright Mulatto, 5'5-1/2",

18, Sally Ford, Mulatto, 5'8", Born free

20, Sucky Ford, Mulatto, 5'3", Born free

13, Petitiah Ford, Bright Mulatto, 4'11", Born free

9, Jack Ford, Mulatto, 4'4", Born free

9 months, Patrick Ford, Bright mulatto, Born free

4, James H. Ford, Bright mulatto, Born free

2, Mary Ann Ford, a mulatto, Born free

3, Wm G. Ford, a mulatto, Born free

p.11, 29 May 1827

18, Elsa Goff, bright mulatto, 5'4-1/2", Born free

p.11, 28 August 1827

26, King Tanner, Black, 5'1", Born free

p.11, 31 August 1827

26, Betsey Green, Bright Mulatto, 5'6-1/2", Born free

p.11, 24 March 1828

28, Polly Henry, Dark Mulatto, 5'5/8", Born free

21, John Merchant, black boy, 5'7", Born free

p.12, 28 July 1828

23, William Napper, Mulattor, 5'10 or 11 inches, Born free, agreeable to certificate from Amherst County.

p.12, 22 September 1828

25, Jacob Seldom, Brown Mulatto, 5'10", Born free

p.12, 28 October 1828

22, Charles Patterson, Mulatto man, 5'10-1/2", Born free

22, Abraham Dabney, a Black man, 5'8-3/4", Born free

p.12, 25 November 1828

36, Francis Jackson, a bright mulatto woman, 5'3-1/4", Born free

19, Betsy Jackson, a bright mulatto woman, 4'11-3/4", Born free

18 the 15 July last, Eliza Jackson, a bright Mulatto woman, 5', Born free

17 the 8 May next, Nancy Jackson, a bright Mulatto, 5'2-1/2" Born free

15 the 28 April next, Patsy Jackson, 5'3-1/4", Born free

Ferdinand Jackson, son of Eliza Jackson, born 6 July last, 2'4", Born free

p.13, 28 November 1828

Robert Jackson, a Mulatto man, 21, 5'9-1/2", Born free

p.13, 22 December 1828

Henry Napper of a Brown Complection, 21 years of age, 5'7", Born free

p.13, 23 March 1829

Benjamin Drew, of a copper colour, 29, 5'6-3/4", Born free

p.13, 24 August 1829

William Henry Ford, a light colord man, 23, 5'8-1/4", Born free

Sinah, a mulatto woman, 23, 5'5", Born free

Eve, a dark mulatto woman, 23, 5'3", Born free

p.14, 25 August 1829

Mary Jackson, formerly Mary Stewart, a dark mulatto woman, 23, 5'3-3/4", Born free

Margaret Stewart, a dark mulatto woman, 18, 5'4-3/4", Born free

Martha Stewart, a dark Mulatto woman, 20, 5'4-1/2", Born free

p.14, 26 October 1829

Simon Grimes, a dark lad, 17, 5'4", Born free

Lucinda Shavers, a dark girl, 5 next May, 4', Born free

Rebecca Shavers, a dark girl, 10, 4', Born free

Jesse Shavers, a dark boy, 4, 3', Born free

p.15, 25 January 1830

Joe, a black man, 6', 23, emancipated by the last will and testament of Anna M. Quarles deceased.

Davy a black man, 5'8", about 25, emancipated by the last will and testament of Anna M. Quarles deceased.

p.15, 28 June 1830

William Hale, dark complexion, 5'7-1/2", 33, emancipated by William Stennett Wilomaser (?) in the year (blank) in Bedford

p.15, 26 September 1831

Rhoda Hales, dark complexion, 5'5", 24, Born free

p.15, 24 October 1831

Sall Morse, Senr. 5'3/4", bright mulatto, straight hair, 56 or 57 years old, Born free

Nancy Merchant 5'1-1/2", Dark mulattor, 22, Born free

Betsy Merchant, 5'4-1/8, dark mulatto, 19, Born free

Pamelia Merchant, 5'2-3/4", Dark mulattor, 17, Born free

Sally Morse, Jr., 5', Mulattor, hair nearly straight, 27, Born free

Richard Morse, 5'6", mulattoe, 24, Born free

p.16, 24 October 1831

Robert Selden, 5'3", bright mulattoe, 37, Born free

William Goff, 5'7-1/2", mulatto, 16, Born free

Edward Moss, 5'5-1/2", bright Mulattor, 21, Born free

Ann Merchant, 5'3-1/2", tolerably bright mulattoe, 26, Born free

Peggy Seldom 5'1-1/4", bright Mulatto, straight hair, freckled face, 27, Born free

Patsy Morse, 5', Mulatto, Born free, 36

Jemima Morse, 5'2-1/2", dark Mulatto, 34, Born free

Washington Jackson, 5'5", Mulatto, 21, Born free

Sally Haynes, 5'5-1/2", bright Mulatto, freckled face, 37

Charles Jackson, 4'10-1/2", dark Mulatto, 13, Born free

Lavisa Ann Johns, five feet three inches high, Bright Mulatto, 52 years old, Born free.

Robert Bowman, 5'8", black, 25, Born free

Charles Johns, five feet five and a half inches high, Bright Mulatto, 50 years old, Born free.

Charles Lewis Merchant, 3'4-1/2", dark Mulatto, 4, Born free

William Henry Merchant, dark Mulatto, 12 months, Born free

Bartlett Shavers, Mulatto, five feet nine and a half inches high, 51 years of age, Born free

p.16, 28 November 1831

Clement Moorman, a black man, free born, 23, 5'7-3/4"

John Bowman, a mulatto man, free born, 22, 5'10-1/2"

p.17, 29 November 1831

35, Polly Blake, a mulatto, five feet one inch 7/8, free born

26, Betsy Blake, mulatto, 5 feet 1-3/8" high, free born

17 the 4 September 1831, Edy Blake, a mulatto, 5' 4-1/8" high, free born

16 the 22 last April, Sally Blake, 5 feet 7/8 in high, free born

50, Betsy Blake, a mulatto, 5 feet 1 inch high, free born

31 next December, Harbert Blake, Colour: (blank) 5 feet 5-1/2 inches high, free born

p.17, 30 December 1831

18, John Moss, a yellow boy, 5 feet 4-1/2" high, Bushy hair, free born

p.17, 23 January 1832

18, Adeline day, bright Mulatto, 5 feet 5 inches, Free born

p.18, 27 February 1832

32, Philip Bowman, of a yellow Complexion, 6 feet 2-1/2 inches high, Free born

p.18, 26 March 1832

33, Mildred Parker, Brown Mulatto, four feet 11-7/8, Free born

12, Richard Parker, Brown Mulatto, 4'5-3/4", free born

22, Zelpha Ann Jones, a bright Mulatto, 5'5-1/2", Free born

Note that there are a total of 64 pages in this register. Starting with page 19 I have included only the more elderly registrants.

p.19, 24 September 1832

45, Jesse Johns, yellow complexion, 5 feet 4-1/2" inches, Bald head, Free born.

p.22, 22 August 1836

54, Elizabeth Shavers, Dark Mulatto, 5 feet 3 inches high, born free

p.30, 22 November 1841

Charles Fergerson, 57 years of age, dark copper colour, 5 feet 10 inches high, free born

p.31, 27 February 1843

Jincey Neal, about 70 years old, 5'1", emancipated by will of James Neal.

p.32, 25 September 1843

Frank Jones Lambert a black man, 5'6", 51, emancipated by will of charles Lambert deceased.

Randolph Lambert, Jr., 5'7", a black man, 53, emancipated as above.

Thomas Randolph Lambert, a black man, 5'9", about 64, emancipated as above.

David Jones Lambert, a black man, 5'7", 55, ditto

Peter Read Lambert, a black man, 80, 5'5", ditto

Amy Lambert, dark complexion, 65, 5'3", ditto

p.39, 28 October 1850

Becky Stuart, free born about 60 years old, 5 feet 1 inch high, mullatto.

p. 44, 26 September 1853

Becky Shavers, free woman of light colour born free and daughter of Betsy Shavers, Supposed to be about 50 years of age 5'1/2".