Thanks again, Quan. Excellent point. I remember from Byrd's book that it was illegal for free and non-free blacks to marry. Maybe my post-slavery ancestors just didn't change their ways and continued to cross county/state lines. I certainly like your suggestion better than the idea that they were being class-selective (although I have had to accept the fact that free blacks owned slaves, a hard pill to swallow.) Byrd's book is pretty good, but I will check out the two you suggested.

Thanks again expanding my perspective.

Alice