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
StennettWilomaser (?) in the year (blank) in Bedfordp.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".