Actually the 1833 Census was taken in response to an Act passed after the Nat Turner Rebellion in Southampton County. I don't think I need to explain the fear that spread thoughout the South and specifically in Virginia in response to Turner's activities. Free blacks were also seen as a threat..and the idea was to remove them from the state and send them to Liberia. The census was taken to identify all free blacks in the VA Counties and who would voluntarily "leave".

Although each Commissioner of the Revenue of each county was suppose to compile the list.......not sure if they all did and some provide more information than others (this census is not to be confused with the Commissioner of the Revenue Lists compiled beginning in 1806 or the Free Negro Registers begun in 1793). When I saw them 10 years ago they were the original manuscripts (I believe they are now microfilmed). A friend is transcribing them for publication. They are known to exist for the following VA Counties:

Albemarle (transcribed by Jordan)
Augusta
Campbell
Charles City
Chesterfield
Elizabeth City
Fluvanna
Halifax
Isle of Wight
James City
King and Queen
King George
King William
Loudoun
Madison
Mason, W.VA (remember in 1833 WVA was VA)
Mathews
Norfolk
Page
PIttsylvania
Powhatan
Prince George
Princess Anne
Scott
Shenandoah
Southampton
York

Selma