In response to "Toot":

Within the context of the mission statement of this online forum, I must say that you are wrong.

The focus of this forum is in regard to to our ancestors.

Everybody is "FREE" nowadays.
And, everyone was "FREE" after the Civil War.

But, since we are to discussing who was free PRIOR to the Civil War, it is absolutely necessary to differentiate between who were the descendants of "free" ancestors, versus who were the descendants of "freed" ancestors.

Reason:
During that time in our American history, this country, "from sea to shining sea", had a very strong caste system and a hierarchy:
1)Whites,
2)Indians,
3)"Free People of Color"
4)"Emancipated ("Freed") People of Color".
5)"Slaves".

To NOT differentiate between the two castes (#3 and #4) would make this entire discussion MEANINGLESS!