You might to look for the book Israel on the Appomattox by Melvin Ely (now in paperback or you can get from your library). It focuses on a group of slaves emancipated by Richard Randolph in the late 1700's in Prince Edward County VA. Randolph also left them land which they named Israel Hill. Excellent book on this community of free blacks and their relationship with the larger white community and how they operated in that county. Other free black families are also mentioned. Ely used extensive court records, great footnotes.

White; Evans, Giles, Carter Gibbs, to name a few

Selma