Tazewell County, Virginia
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African American Records
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Records of African Americans from Tazewell County's Law Order Books, 1810-1870

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Source --  John Newton Harman, Sr.  Annals of Tazewell County, 1800-1922, in Two Volumes (Richmond VA:  W. C. Hill Publishing Co., 1922), Reissued as 2 vols. in 1 in 1975 by Netti Schreiner-Yantis, Springfield, VA, Vol. I.  Extracted and submitted by:  June White
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Law Order Records County Court, Book Number 2, From June Term, 1810 to May Term, 1817

  • 1817.  Mar. T.  "Adam Waterford, emancipated slave, made satisfactory proof of his being a man of extraordinary merit was granted permission to reside in the Commonwealth and within this County."  Vol. I, p. 191

Law Order Book June 1817 to December 1820

  • 1820.  July T.  William Neel Emancipated Dimon a Slave, a man of color.  John M. Neel and Elias Harman made oath to the said writing.  Vol. I, p. 199

County Court Orders From January 1821 to June 1825

  • 1821.  Oct. T.  "Watt" a slave held by the heirs of Dudley Young dec'd. is authorized to sue for his freedom, and counsel was assigned him for this purpose.  Vol. I, p. 204

  • 1824.  Mar. T.  A deed of manumission from George Harman to Thomas Bell, a man of color was proven in Court by the oaths of Hezekiah Harman and Erastus G. Harman two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.  Vol. I, p. 209

County Court Law Orders From July 1825 to December 1831

  • 1828.  June T.  A bill emancipating sundry  slaves by Jacob Waggoner, Senr., ordered to be recorded.  Vol. I, p. 214

  • 1829.  June T.  It is ordered by the court that Eleanor, the slave of William Witten, and Polly, the slave of John B. George, be exempted from the payment of County levy and Poor rates.  Vol. I, p. 215

  • 1829.  June T.  "Abram, a man of Color, is granted permission to sue in this court to obtain his freedom."  Vol. I, p. 216

  • 1829.  Aug. T.  Abram, the colored man slave won his suit for freedom and the Sheriff was directed to release him from Custody.  Vol. I, p. 216

County Court Law Orders, Feb. 1832 to Dec. 1841

  • 1837.  June T.  "Ordered that JOSHUA, a slave, belonging to the estate of the late Henry Harman, dec'd., be exempted from the payment of county levy and poor rates, on account of old age and infirmity."  Vol. 1, p. 240

  • 1841.  Mar. T.  "Granville Lewis a free person of color having been registered by the Clerk of this Court, as the law requires, as follows to wit:  The said Granville Lewis, who was registered on the 7th October, 1840 and numbered 2 is about 45 years of age, of a mulatto color, 5 feet 9 inches in stature, emancipated in Montgomery County in this State, and having the following marks, scars etc., to wit, Bushy hair, a mole on the left side of the bridge of his nose, the forefinger on the left hand crooked at the first joint, a scar on the nail of the little finger of the same hand, and one bone of the right ankle broken above the ankle:  whereupon the Court doth certify that said register has been truly made."  Vol. 1, p. 245

  • 1841.  Dec. T.  Harvey George, administrator of Christina Harman, dec'd., presented reports of the heirs of the slaves belonging to said estate, for the years 1833, 1839 & 1840, which are ordered to be recorded."  Vol. I, p. 247

County Court Law Orders From January 1842 to December 1852

  • 1845.  Apr. T.  "Ezekial Holly, a free man of color, having been registered by the Clerk of this court as the law requires, to-wit;  the said Ezekial Holly, who was registered on this day and numbered 4, is twenty-nine years of age, of a clear yellow color,   5 feet 10-3/4 inches in stature, born free, and has no particular marks, stout built;  wherefore the court doth certify that the said register has been duly made."  Vol. I, p. 251

  • 1845.  Apr. T.  "William Holly, a free man of color, who has been registered by the Clerk of this court as the Law requires, to-wit:  the said William Holly, who was registered on this day and numbered 5 is twenty-seven years of age, of a clear yellow color, five feet and nine 3/4 inches in stature, born free, and has the following marks, sears, etc., to-wit:  A small scar under the left eye, and a scar on the third finger of the left hand, and stout built;  whereupon the Court doth certify that said register has been duly made."  Vol. I, p. 251-252

  • 1847.  Sept. T.  Thirty-seven Justices noted present at this term, who were summoned to take action on the application of Mathews, a free man of Color, late a slave and the property of Elijah King and emancipated by his last will, for leave to stay within the Commonwealth.  The Justices elected unanimously the said permission be given, upon the proof that said Mathews "is a person of good character, peaceable, orderly and industrious and not addicted to drunkenness, gaming or any other vice."  He was not only allowed to remain in the Commonwealth but permitted to reside in this county.  The population of the county might be greatly reduced if only those who can prove such a character as Mathews, were permitted to reside therein.  Vol. I, p. 255

  • 1848.  June T.  Casper, a free man of color, who had been emancipated by the last will of Adam Harman, was duly registered as the law requires.  Vol. I, p. 256

  • 1849.  June T.  Casper, a free man of color, who was emancipated by Adam Harman, by his will, having shown good character, was admitted to reside in the county.  Vol. I, p. 257

  • 1849.  Mar. T.  Susannah King emancipated several slaves who were duly registered.  Vol. I, p. 256

  • 1849.  Sept. T.  "Ordered that the Sheriff summon all the Justices of the County to attend here on the first day of the next term, to take into consideration the application of Henry, Amy, Cosby Ann, Elizabeth, Ellen & Louisa, free persons of color, late slaves, the property of Susannah King, dec'd. & emancipated by her last will & testament, for leave to remain in the Commonwealth."  Vol. I, p. 257

  • 1852.  Sept. T.  "Ordered that Louisa Cousins, James C.Cousins and Charley Earley (or Easley), free persons of color be allowed to register  in the Clerk's Office of this Court and that the Court certify the same."  Vol. I, p. 260

County Court Law Orders from 1853 to March Term 1870

  • 1853.  Feb. T.  Ordered, that Betsy, Polly and Cynthia Holly, Elizabeth Holly, James Holly and Edmond Holly, free persons of color, be allowed to register in the clerk's office of this Court, and the clerk certify the same.  Vol. 2, p. 45

  • 1853.  Mar. T.  Ordered, that George Chapman, a free man of color, be allowed to register with the clerk of this Court, etc.  Vol. 2, p. 45

  • 1853.  Jun. T.  On application of Joseph Thompson, a free man of color, he is permitted to remain in the Commonwealth, having proven his good character, sober, peaceable, orderly and industrious.  Vol. 2, p. 45

  • 1862.  Jan. T.  John King, a free person of color, permitted to remain in the Commonwealth.  Vol. 2, p. 53

  • 1862.  Apr. T.  Pursuant to act of General Assembly of Virginia, passed on 24th  of January, 1862, the following colored persons, between the ages of eighteen and fifty years of age, were enrolled, thereby being entitled to remain in this county, viz.:  Jackson Armstrong, Ezekial Holly, James Cousins, Daniel Smith, William Shaver, John King, Mathias King, Andrew J. Holly, George Chapman, Granville Lewis, Johnson Warren, and William Roten.  Vol. 2, p. 53

  • 1868.  Feb. T.  James Mason, a free man of color, granted the authority to celebrate the rites of matrimony between colored people.  Vol. 2, p. 73