Some many not agree with me, but my definition of a free person of color as follows:

A Free Person of Color is a person who is born FREE. This is not the same as a slave who was a slave, but obtained or bought his freedom.

A free person, no matter what color, is born free.

If your ancestor was not born free, then by my definition, they were not a free person of color.

EXAMPLES OF FREE PEOPLE OF COLOR

You have a 8 year old male child who appears in the 1860 U.S. Federal Census.

1860 United States Federal Census

Name: Jean B Papilion
Age in 1860: 8
Birth Year: abt 1852
Birthplace: Saint Landry
Home in 1860: Opelousas, St Landry, Louisiana
Race: Mulatto
Gender: Male
Post Office: Grand Coteau
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members: Name Age
Alexandre Papilion 32
Colomme Guillory 30
Alexandre Papilion 12
Francois Papilion 10
Jean B Papilion 8
Athinaisse Papilion 6
Michel Papilion 3
Leopole Papilion 1

Harrison Thomas LaTour
LaTour Genealogical Collection
http://www.latourgenealogicalcollection.org/
harrisonlatour@yahoo.com