Thanks for your information, Rodney:

Like your ancestors, mine were also from Florida, Louisiana and Mobile during the post Colonial period.

You are correct that sometimes these laws were skirted, but not necessarily ignored. These laws (instituted in the 1850's) and/or the threat of these laws caused free people to flee. As you know, a large number of free people of color in the Lower South, particularly in the above mentioned states and city, fled to Tampico, Mexico; Haiti and other Caribbean countries.

My question is in knowing what states had laws that forced free people of color to re-enslave themselves or take a guardian.

K Wyer Lane