Some African Americans were never enslaved. Others bought or were given their freedom. Will books include wills that state an enslaver’s intent to free enslaved individuals after he or she died. Deed books contain deeds of manumission. Records of court cases in which enslaved persons sued for their freedom, called freedom suits, can be found in court order books, minute books, and court judgment files.
Beginning in 1806, free African Americans needed to petition the state legislature to remain in the commonwealth if they had been manumitted on or after May 1, 1806, and these petitions are part of the Library’s legislative petitions collections. If an individual is included in the book Index to Enrolled Bills of the General Assembly of Virginia: 1776–1910 by John W. Williams, the petition was successful. The act that permitted an individual to remain in the commonwealth was published in the Acts of Assembly.
Beginning in 1837, an individual could petition the county or city court to remain in the commonwealth. References to these petitions may be found in county or city order or minute books.
Other sources of information about free individuals include federal census records; will, deed, order, and minute books; and church, tax, and vital records. Be aware that there might be a separate section for African Americans in some of these records and in any series of records.
If a free African American did not pay taxes, he or she could be hired out by the sheriff to pay off the debt. The names of these individuals may be found in the delinquent tax lists.