Hello Selma,

First thank you for such an informative posting.

The surnames that appear in the book "Free Blacks and the Great Dismal Swamp by Harriette Thorne Kent, 1991, reprinted 2001" are really interesting. Many of these surnames appear in the Federal Census between 1820 and 1860 of counties that I research here in Ohio.

It appears some members of these FPOC families started what could be considered a migration movement out of the VA/NC areas while others remained. Statistics for the increase of AA's in Ohio during the Census years from 1820-1860 suggest that the increases far exceeded what would have been due to the normal mortality rates (birth & death). These increases have been attributed to the influx of AA's from the upper South, particularly VA/MD & NC.

Matching the surnames listed in the book with those found in Census records for FPOC in Ohio to their birth years & location has made for an interesting 'study'.

Thank You,

Art's Families & Other Folks
http://tinyurl.com/382ytzp