Aug 26, 2016 Orange County Review
As I stated in last week’s column, it will take some time to flesh out the lives and the laws that impacted the rights or lack thereof for free black men and women in Virginia during the long period of slavery. Were their marriages legally recognized? Could they own property or a business? Will the research reveal that they were indeed better off than those enslaved and in what manner or did they live a life that was constantly threatened and possibly on the brink of enslavement?
While I research the answers to those questions, let me share an important finding. Searching the 1860 Census records, an estimated 135 free black persons have been identified complete with given and surnames; gender; approximate birth year and place of residence as in who were their neighbors.
No doubt many of the names will be familiar, despite some very odd spellings. Please, keep in mind that the names are reported here just as they were written in the census. Thinking about challenging dialects and that the majority of those interviewed by census takers, white and black could not read or write and certainly could not spell, it is understandable that the names would become corrupted from one’s lips to another’s pencil on paper.
I can guess at some of the stranger spellings but would welcome suggestions! It will be a grand adventure to learn and tell their stories.
Boner, Margarett
Bonnur, Minerva
Bonnur, John
Borener, Luckey
Borener, Anderson
Bromer, Nancy
Bromer, James
Bromer, Frank
Bromer, Caroline
Bromer, Thomas
Bromer, Jack
Bundy, Wm
Bundy, Jane
Bundy, James
Camel, Azgy
Camel, Wenney
Camel, Absalom
Camel, Geo
Camel, Ann
Camel, Marry
Camel, Alexander
Camel, Wesley
Camel, Thomas
Camel, George
Camel, George W
Camel, Allem
Camel, Wm
Camel, Alfred
Camel, Sally
Camel, Alfred
Camel, Son
Camel, Paul
Camel, Ben
Camel, Mary
Camel, Anderson
Camel, Robert
Camel, Theodore
Camel, Isabella
Camel, Robt
Camel, Thomas
Camel, Belgrow
Camel, George
Camel, Jane
Campbell, Hten
Campbell, Thomas
Clark, Nichola
Clark, Elisabeth
Clark, Son
Clark, Mary E
Clark, James
Clark, Cath
Clark, Allen
Clark, Martha
Clark, Isaac
Clark, Robert
Cooks, Elijas
Cooks, Henry
Cooks, Elias
Dorndexter, Thos
Fecher, Herald
Frazer, Lindy
Friman, Lusern
Friman, Thomas
Fruge, Amanda
Fruge, Silas
Fruge, Henry
Fruge, George
Gitter, Thomas C
Guins, Fedding
Jackson, Amanda
Jackson, Betty
Jackson, Ellen
Jackson, William
Jackson, Abraham
Jackson, Walter
Jackson, Henry
Jackson, Hamilton J
Jackson, Edmonia
Jackson, Malinda
Jennings, B
Johner, Andrew
Johnson, Sally
Johnson, Sally
Johnson, Jack
Johnson, June
Johnson, Lill
Johnson, Clary
Johnson, Clara
Johnson, Clary
Johnson, Frances
Johnson, John
Johnson, John
Johnson, Bundal
Johnson, Edward
Johnson, Randal
Johnson, Edward
Johnson, Kesse
Johnson, Lizzie
Johnson, Lucy
Johnson, Bessy
Johnson, Belly
Johnson, George
Johnson, Elisa
Johnson, Lucy
Johnson, Luius
Johnson, Frederick
Johnson, Sarah
Johnson, Wm
Jones, Walter
Jones, Catharine
Jones, James
Jones, Wm
Luces, Lawrence
Luce, Jerre A
Luces, Sully E
Lucus, James
Luers, James H
Luers, Lawrence
Mason, Jane
Mason, Ann
Maus, James
McIntosh,Wm
Miner, James
Miner, Cath
Miner, Nancy
Porndester, Lucy A
Webb, Robt
White, Sarah
Until next week, be well!