Roger Lewis, "a Negro," was taxable in the personal property tax list for New Kent County in 1788, 1791, 1792 and 1800, so he was born before 1773. The African Americans who were free during the colonial period in New Kent County were not identified by race in the 1780s lists. For example, the Meekins family are identified as "free Negroes" in the colonial baptismal records of St. Peter's Parish but are not identified by race in the 1780s tax lists. However, James Lafayette, a freed slave, is identified as "a Negro," so Roger may have also been a freed slave. Few records from New Kent have survived, so we will probably never know for sure. Roger Lewis is listed with his unnamed wife in the list of "free Persons of Colour over the age of 16" in 1813.

Likewise, mixed-race families like Cumbo, Patterson, Wallace, Lucas, Bradby, Bosman, Binns, Moss, Holt and Baker are also not identified in early lists but called "Mulatto" or "FN" in later lists.

Edward Nickens is not identified by race until 1806 when he is identified as a "FN," and he is also listed with his unnamed wife in the "List of free Persons of Colour" in 1813. He was taxable on a slave name Roger in 1785.
Paul
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