Hollis,

That's an interesting point - particularly the point of how status can change color perceptions - it parallels the situation in Brazil - where people have a saying "money whitens". So...Pele is white - by Brazilian standards :)

I've found families listed as mulatto on one census and black on the next - so the enumerators perceptions have to be taken into account.

The records you spoke of - are this free registers or other documents?

Denise