Hi:

I echo some of Art's findings about St. Mary's Parish and the Verdun (many spellings) in Louisiana.

I searched Dr. Midlo Hall's Afro-Louisiana History and Genealogy data base. I found earlier listings ending in 1820.

Also very important is searching for free people of color using various search tools.

Below is an earlier posting from this webpage that will explain a more thorough way of identifying free people of color and their slaves. Please note that your results will show that the majority of the slaves WERE NOT RELATED TO THEIR BLACK MASTERS. This of course, is contradictory to Woodson's premise.

Please click below at the link.

Good Luck,

K Wyer Lane