Registration of Free People of Colour in Patrick County Virginia, 1791-1865 Submitted for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Cynthia A. Wilson ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net Registration of Free People of Colour in Patrick County Virginia Source: Court Records for Patrick County Virginia 1791 - 1865 April 1821 On the motion of J. GOIN, POLLY GOING and ANDREW GOING, people of color, who produced satisfactory evidence of their being duly registered in the Clerk's office, it is ordered that the same be certified. June 1821 On the motion of THOMAS FINDLEY who produced satisfactory evidence of his being duly registered in the clerk's office it is ordered that the clerk grant him the county seal and certificate required by law. November 1823 Ordered that the registration of NICHOLAS RICKMAN made in the clerk's office of this county of his freedom under the act of assembly in such case made and provided be duly certified by the clerk. December 1823 Ordered that the registration of JOHN FINDLE and PRUDENCE FINDLEY made in the clerk's office by the clerk be certified in due form of law the same being correct November 1827 Ordered that the register of WM FINDLEY and PASCAL FINDLEY made by the clerk of this court in pursuance of the act of assembly in such cases made and provided be copied and furnished upon application of the aforesaid free people of colour. It appear to the satisfaction of this court that the said registration are duly made. November 1829 Ordered that the registration of JOHN RICKMAN, son of THOMAS RICKMAN made by the clerk of this court be certified by him when required in the due form of the law. December 1829 Ordered that the registration of MARTIN FINDLEY, BARBARA ANN FINDLEY, JOHN STUART, JAMES STEWART, COLUMBUS STUART, GEORGE STUART and MARY ANN STEWART and POSEY RICKMAN made by this clerk be certified by him when one required of them in due form of law. December 1829 Ordered that the registration of THOMAS RICKMAN, PATSY RICKMAN, SALLY RICKMAN, JOHN RICKMAN, PETER RICKMAN, THOMAS RICKMAN, JR. son of old THOM, TILMAN LOGGINS, PRUDENCE LOGGINS, JEREMIAH LOGGINS, POLLY LOGGINS, EDWARD LOGGINS, ISAIAH LOGGINS, ISAHAM LOGGINS and SAUNDARY LOGGINS made by the clerk be certified by him when one required by them in form of law. September 1830 Ordered that the clerk of this court furnish JOHN HARRIS a free mulatto with a copy of his registration made in the office. It being the opinion of the court that the same is duly ordered and according to law. September 1830 JAMES HARRIS aged between 18 and 10 years, five feet three inches high, a dark mulatto with a scar on his left cheek and in his forehead between the eyes. March 1831 Registered in the Clerk's office of Patrick the 1st day of March 1831, SYDNEY HENDERSON a free man of color of yellow complexion five feet seven and a half inches high was born free as appear by the certificate of registration from the Clerk of Nelson ... Exhibited in the clerk's office this 1st March 1831. November 1831 Ordered that this Clerk of this court furnish JOSEPH HARRIS a free man of colour and DUDLEY MINOR a free man of colour to wit copies of their registration, this court it being satisfied that the same is correctly made. June 1832 SUCKY FINDLEY - aged about 45 or 50 years of dark complexion with several teeth out before on the upper jaw with black eyes and somewhat a round face and 5 feet 3 inches and 3 quarters high. ... Free born in the County of Patrick. February 1838 Order that the register of AILES FINDLY made by the clerk of this court be ______ it appearing to the satisfaction of the court that at the said registration is accurately made. July 1844 The court having seen and inspected the register made by the clerk of THOM (WILLIAMS) a free man of colour under the provision of an act of assembly in that case made and provided and being satisfied the same is correctly made the same is ordered to be certified. April 1847 The register of JOHN STUART, GEORGE STUART, FRANKLIN STUART, CONSTANT STUART, SAM'L STUART, SUSANNAH STUART, BUCHANNA STUART, PARCKINS STUART, JIMMY STUART and MARY JANE STUART free people of colors made in the Clerks office by the Clerk of this Court this day being examined by this court and is ordered that the same (being correct) be copied. December 1848 The register of TILMON LOGGINS, ISAIH LOGGINS, POLLY LOGGINS and RIJLAH FINDLEY made in the Clerks office was examined in court and certified to be correct. January 1851 The register of FLEMING FOLEY made by the Clerk of his Court and his measure of 5 feet 10 inches high being sworn and inspected to the Clerk it is ordered that the Clerk do furnish him with copy thereof in due form of law. April 1851 The following register of free negroes taken by the clerk on the 29th day of April 1851 and recorded in book for that purpose was examined by the court and verified to be correct. The register of WILLIAM A. MINER, JAMES TRAVIS, ALIAS FENDLEY, SUSAN H. MINER, JUDY COLEMAN, NORMAN GOINGS, NANCY HARRISS, POLLY GOING, CHAROLOTTE GOINGS, HANNAH GOINGS, JACKSON LOGGINS, PETER MINER, ARENA MINER, CLARA STUART and GREEN SMOTHER. May 1851 The registers of ARMON STUART, JAMES M. HICKMAN, EVAN LIGGINS, SYDNEY HENDERSON, JAMES BEAVER, ADAM MARTIN, LOT LEE, WM NEWCOME taken by clerk of on 26th of May 1851 and recorded in a book for that purpose was examined by the court and certified to be correct. July 1851 The register of POLLY RICKMAN taken by the Clerk of this court in the clerk's office was exhibited in court examined by the court and certified to be correct. April 1853 JACOB GOWING a free man of colour proven to be free born by the oath of Gersham G. Hagood in the county of Patrick in the state of Virginia this day presented himself according to law for registration and the said Gowing measures five feet 8 1/4 inches in height aged about 22 years of a light brown colour and weight about 145 pounds and has no apparent mark about his face head and hands. September 1853 MARSHAL SPENCER a free man of colour presented himself for registration the court upon an examination first the said boy to be about twenty four years of age five feet seven and a half inches in height and of a dark brown color somewhat crooked in his back with a large scar on his neck under this left jaw. May 1856 REUBEN GOING a free man of colour appeared in court and on his motion it is ordered that he be registered according to law. July 1856 Upon motion it is ordered that SYDNEY HENDERSON, JAMES BEAVER, KEZIAH BOYD, NED LOGGINS, JACK LOGGINS AND GREEN SMOTHERS be registered according to law. May 1857 GEORGE TRAVIS a free boy of colour born free in this county Patrick appeared in court and on motion it is ordered that he be registered according to law. February 1861 This day GOVERNOR PHILLIPS appears before the court to procure a register according to the act of assembly and it appearing to the court that the said boy is free & has served out his term of apprenticeship it is ordered that the clerk registers the said boy Phillips & deliver him a copy as the law directs. June 1861 On the motion of MARY GRIST a free woman of colour born free in the County of Patrick Va on the 16th March 1838 bright mulatto, five feet seven inches high commences very well, it is ordered she be registered by the clerk and a copy delivered to her properly certified. June 1861 On motion it is ordered that HANNAH GOING, RUTH GOING, JUREEN JOHNSON & RACHAEL JOHNSON free woman of colour be registered by the clerk and that the clerk deliver to each of them a copy of their registration. June 1861 Ordered that SAMUEL NELSON be registered by the clerk & that a copy of his registrates be delivered to him properly certified. April 1862 Ordered that MARY GOIN a free woman of colour born free in the county of Patrick five feet five inches high dark colour spare made pleasant face, no marks or scars aged twenty two years be registered by the clerk of the court. July 1862 On the motion of JAMES BEAVER, a freeman of colour, born free in the county of Patrick, aged 44, five feet ten and three quarters high and yellow complection and the middle finger of his right hand crooked it is ordered that he be registered by the clerk who is also required to furnish him with a certified copy. May 1863 On the motion of HARRISON STEWARD a free boy of color, born free in the county of Patrick and state of Virginia, aged 22 black colour large features for ____ mouth talks through teeth, 5 feet 6 inches, it is ordered that he be registered by the clerk of the court. May 1863 A motion of HARRY STEWARD, a free boy of colour, born free in the county of Patrick, state of Virginia aged 22 light black features large large mouth with a scar at the right corner, 5 feet six inches high it is ordered that he be registered by the clerk. In addition to the above registration of free people of colour, some were required to enroll at the county court house to be enlisted into public service. The passage, Free Negros Enrolled, dated September 1863, was found in Court Order Book 8, page 521 and reads, "At a board held for the county of Patrick at the clerks office thereon Thursday the 29th of September 1863 under a requisition of Major General S. James made by virtue of the second session of the act of assembly passed February 12, 1862 entitled an act to amend on reenact our ordinances to provide for the enrollment and employment of free negros in the public service passed by the convention of July 1st 1861. "Present to Jesse Corn presiding justice Asa Wood and John T. Nail Gents of Patrick County at its December 18th 1862 the following free Negroes creating batteries in trenches or necessities of military services - viz: Samuel Nelson, James Beaver, Governor Phillip, Edward Loggins, John Vaughan, William H. Travis, Josephus Going, Harris Stuart, Greensville Stuart, Solomon Johnson, Alex Finley, Salie Stuart, Peter Rickman, Harry Stuart, Jackson Loggins and it is ordered that the Sheriff notify immediately the said free negros indicate by this board to appears at Patrick Courthouse on the 12th of October next. Signed Jessie Corn" Endnotes with sources and additional biographical information. 4/1821 - J. Going (Turpin, Joan, Register of Black, Mulatto and Poor Persons in Four Ohio Counties, (Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, Inc 1985), page 8. "Patrick County, Va, 12 April 1821; John Tatum, JP, testified that Abram Staples, Clerk registered the following coloured person as free: Jarussa Going, dark, aged about 62; Polly Going, light complexion, aged 28; son Andrew Going aged 9 years, all residing on Little Dan River. Recorded 28 Feb 1840. This Certification of Freedom was presented to the Highland County Ohio Court.) 6/1821 - Thomas Findley (Paul Heinegg, Free African Americans of North Carolina and Virginia Available [Online]: http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/Fagan_Gowen.htm [24 June 1999] - Findley Family. May have been a descendant of James & Chance Findley, Choctaw Indians of North Carolina) 12/1823 - John Findley (Lela Adams, Marriages for Patrick County Virginia 1791 - 1850, (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press 1972), page 39, Married Catherine Rickman, 30 Dec 1825); Prudence Findley (Patrick County, Virginia Deed Records dated 14 April 1842, Deed Book 11, page 141, Power of Attorney. Deceased) 11/1827 - Wm Findley (Lela Adams, page 39, Married 26 Nov 1802 to Susannah Rickman); Pascal Findley (Lela Adams, page 39, Married 21 Apl 1821 to Matilda Stewart and Patrick County, Virginia Deed Records, dated 14 April 1842, Deed Book 11, page 141, Source Power of Attorney. He was a resident of Hiland County Ohio at the time.) 12/1829 - John Stuart (Lela Adams, page 114, Married 30 Jul 1821 to Jane Loggins); Thomas Rickman (Pilson, Betty A. and Baughan, Barbara. Alphabetical List of Lands Taxed in Patrick County, VA., on June 1, 1791; Selected Excerpts from Patrick County, VA Order Books 1 & 2; Miscellaneous and Notes Taken from the Clerk of The Court's Personal Minute Book, Section III (Stuart, Virginia: B&B Books 1997), page 7-8. "aged 46, five feet nine inches and 3 quarter high, a bright mulatto with a black and gray beard with hazle eyes and slender stature. Free born " and Lela Adams, page 120, Married 25 Oct 1795 to Nancy Stephens age 22;. Second marriage 22 Dec 1807 to Patsy Findley); Patsy Rickman (Pilson and Baughan, page 8, " a free woman of color aged 50 years a dark mulatto and of low statue and black eyes was registered December 1829." And Lela Adams, page 102, Married 23 Dec 1806 to Thomas Rickman, maiden name Findley); Sally Rickman (Lela Adams, page 39, Married 27 Sept 1809 to Alias Fendley); Peter Rickman (Pilson and Baughan, page 8 - "age 20 years, a bright mulatto with hazle eyes five feet six inches high of husky stature with a scar on the left side of neck occasioned by a burn. Free born."); Thomas Rickman, Jr. (Pilson and Baughan, page 8 - "a free boy of color 14 years of age, five feet one inch high, a dark mulatto, black eyes and a scar on the nose between the eyes. Slender statue was registered December 1829."); Tilman Loggins (Lela Adams, page 77, Married 27 Sept 1809 to Prudence Fendley); Prudence Loggins (Lela Adams, page 77, Married 27 Sept 1809 to Tilman Loggins);Jeremiah Loggins (Pilson and Baughan, page 8. " aged 20 years and upwards nearly six feet high, a dark mulatto with black eyes and ____ stature. Free born was registered December, 1829.") 3/1831 - Sydney Henderson (Sydney Henderson was born 1803 (according to 1850 Census); died June 30, 1879 in Patrick County Virgina (Death records); lived with Nancy Wood and had 8 children: James, Levi, America, Manerva, Nancy, Eleanor, Wingfield and Amanda Wood) 11/1831 - Joseph Harris (Pilson and Baughan, page 10, " a freeman of colour, twenty one years of age, of yellow complection, five feet 9 -1/2 inches high, large black eyes, with good set of teeth, has a small scar on his left cheek about an inch and a half long. Registered this 18th November, 1831."); Dudley Minor (Pilson and Baughan, page 10. " a free man of colour about thirty years old, six feet and three quarters of an inch high, of yellow complection, black eyes, good sound teeth, and a small scar near the centre of his forehead. Registered this 18th day of November, 1831.") 2/1838 - Ailes Findley (Lela Adams, page 39, Married 27 Sept 1809 to Sally Rickman) 7/1844 - Thom (Williams) (Patrick County Court Records, LDS Microfilm # 0033347, Thom (Williams) had been emancipated by the Will of William Williams. That document was presented to January 1838 Court for acceptance.) 1/1851 - Fleming Foley (1850 Census for Patrick County Fleming Foley was recorded on the census, but he was also listed on the 1850 Slave schedule as owner of several slaves that may have been his family: ages 23, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4 - all females and all black.) 4/1851 - Hannah Goings (Mother of Josephus Going, Source: Patrick County Court Records February 1856, Hannah Going vs Wm Burwell.) 5/1851 - Armon Stuart (Lela Adams, page 116, Married Matilda Hurt; 8 Dec 1843. Eventually moved to Floyd County Virginia (Source: 1880 Census for Floyd County Virginia); James Hickman (1850 Census for Patrick County Virginia Born abt. 1835); Evan Liggins 1850 Census., Born abt. 1820.); James Beaver (At the age of about 2, James was bound out by the overseer of the poor - Patrick County Court Record May 1819. 1870 Patrick County Virginia Census Records Born abt 1816; married Sarah Ann Burnett; died about 1910 in Floyd County Virginia and had 10 children.); Lot Lee (1850 Census for Patrick County Virginia Born abt. 1796. During the same registration, court record show that Lott Lee petitioned the court to remain in the county, as required by law; petition was granted at the November 1851 court. Deceased about April 1877 Patrick County Deed Records, Book 20 page 429 Dower to widow Lucy Lee) 7/1851 - Polly Rickman (Her children, Peter age 11 (b. 9/10/1844) and George, age 9 (b. 5/20/1846) were bound out to Jackson Penn. Source: Patrick County Court Records dated May 1856.) 2/1861 - Governor Phillips (Infant child of Pemna Phillips and brother to Barthana Phillips; both Governor and Barthana were bound out to John Tuggle according to law. Patrick County Court Records February 1846.) 5/1863 - Harrison Steward (1850 Census Patrick County Virginia, is a twin brother of Harry Steward): Harry Steward (1850 Census Patrick County Virginia, is a twin brother of Harrison Steward) Josephus Going (At age 4 was bound out to James Nowlin. Patrick County Court Records February 1846)