Hello Keli1,

I can try to address some of your questions as they relate to Ohio and my experience researching my FPOC families in Ohio.

Question:
My question is since he was "free", "never enslaved", did he have to carry "free papers" to move about and into another state, etc.

Answer:
Your ancestor who came into Medina Co., OH in 1859 would not have been required to register as an FPOC in Ohio at that time. Ohio repealed the Registration & Bond requirement of the 1804 Ohio Black Codes in 1849.

Question:
If he did, did the court issue the free papers, or who?

Answer:
FPOC Registration in Ohio - With the passage of the Ohio Black Codes in 1804 'persons of color' entering the State were required to show proof of their 'free status' which allowed them to become residents of Ohio. Ohio came into the Union as a Free State in 1803.

Uusally, a copy of the freedom/manmission papers on file from the County & State where 'free status' was granted, or a sworn testimony by a 'white' resident, as to the 'free status' of the individual and/or their family, in the Ohio county of residence was filed to satisfy the registration requirement.

Question:
Has anyone seen or heard of free people receiving papers?

Answer:
Yes, Freedom & FPOC Registration Papers for Lewis Adams - A 3rd grt-grandfather.

Freedom/Manumission Paper (1813)
http://tinyurl.com/3lgsgep

FPOC Registration Paper (1816)
http://tinyurl.com/3ehc3oz

Question:
Did it vary per state?

Answer:
I'm sure it did vary by State.

Question:
I know owners/etc, provided papers to people who were or had been their slaves, but what about the FPOC? How did they move around with slave catchers in every state. Thanks for any information.

Answer:
Again, addressing only Ohio and my research.

Slave-catchers were usually agents, hired by slave-owners, in attempting to recover fugitive/runaway slaves. They were enforcing the more cruel aspects of the Fugitive Slave Acts of 1793 & 1850 under the protection of the Federal Government. I'm not sure this activity hampered the movement of FPOC's within the State. This is not to say that there may not have been instances of kidnappings.

A classic example of the Fugitive Slave Act in action. http://www.aaggmv.org/archive/ad_white.htm

Art Thomas