Just in case any of you are interested in the information in the Free Negro Register for Amherst County, you should know that you don't have to go to Richmond to the LVA (one of my favorite places and I do recommend looking at the original if possible) The register was transcribed and appears in the book entitled Strangers in Their Midst The Free Black Population of Amherst County by Sherrie S. & William R. McLeRoy. Published in 1993 by Heritage Books, Inc. The Register begins on 29 March 1822 with an entry for:

DAVID COTTRELL, A Free Man of Colour aged about 28 years five feet 9 inches high of yellowish complection has a small scar over the left eye a free man by birth and by occupation a waterman

and ends:

November 22, 1864
393. Register renewed by order of Amherst County Court at its September term 1864 term MILLY JOHNSON aged about 20 years, bright complexion 5 feet 6 inches high, little finger on right hand crooked, no other Scars apparent on head face or hands, born in the County of Amherst and descended from ancestors free before that last day of May 1806.

The register was discovered by the authors of the book in 1977, "in a leather bound volume labelled on the spine as an Index to Deeds, 1845-1850". The law requiring these registrations was passed in 1793, so it is possible that there was an earlier ledger.

page 72
Entry #182
20 March 1849
Deleware Scott Son of Judith Scott dark Mulatto 26 years old 5 ft 11 Inches, no Scars on his face head or arms - born free.

Information about many of the families included can also be found at Paul Heinnegs site Free African Americans.

The authors also included additional imformation tax records, deeds, wills, marriages and land plats covering the years 1761 to 1865.

I do have a copy of the book if anyone would like me to check.

Selma