Some African American Resources
All the information I have found will be shared exactly as it was written, in the original records, with links to the original sources wherever possible. Words and phrases in the records will often be insensitive or offensive. Words such as “The colored marriage book”, or “The Free Negro Register”, or the person described as “yellow” or references to the enslaved “gifted” in deeds, and also sometimes “mortgaged” are words and phrases actually used in the records. I share this information because it shows where enslaved individuals moved to, which is critical information necessary to connect to earlier generations. My only intention is to show descendants how and where to find information about their ancestors in Mecklenburg.
Enslaved individuals in the Mecklenburg, Virginia tree
The Virginia Gazette, Williamburg, VA, Thu 5 Aug 1773, pg 3
I took the information from the article above and added Juba to the Mecklenburg, Virginia tree. Juba was born about 1750, possibly at St. Vincent’s*, because she had recently arrived from there in 1773. No family members are known for Juba, so she’s currently unlinked in the tree. However, I did add a link to her enslaver, in case any family members of hers were with Mr. Banks, or in case Juba was in Mr. Banks estate records. Here’s how that looks on FamilySearch. (Link to Juba -free to view after logging in to FamilySearch)
*St. Vincent is the main island of the Grenadines, part of the eastern Carribean. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is sometimes abbreviated as SVG.
Helpful Resources and Websites:
AAHGS: Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society
Finding Family After Slavery project of newspaper articles of people searching for their family.
Freedmen: Smithsonian record project
National Museum of African American History and Culture
FamilySearch wiki: African American genealogy
LVA (Library of Virginia) African American research guide to 1870
LVA chancery index (check box “enslaved persons”)
Mecklenburg Free Negroes Register (FamilySearch)
Virginia untold narratives and records
Related
- More Than 1,040 Graves Were Moved
- Rosenwald Carroll-Boyd School, area 23, African American school
- schools in Mecklenburg
Public domain photo credits, top pf the page: 1) 1899 Hampton Institute, Hampton, Virginia. 2) 1899 S.J. Gilpen shoe store, Richmond, VA. 3) 1933 Civilian Convservation Corps, Third Corps area, Richmond, VA. Cabinet making glass at Armstrong Night School. 4) 1899 Thanksgiving Day lesson at Whittier. (A preparatory school in Phoebus, VA)
4 responses to “Some African American resources”
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Hi, Julie!
We have been in touch before about Mecklenburg, County research. Burwell and Charity Pattillo whom you mentioned in your Rehoboth Church post, were enslaved by Ann J. Patillo Riggan, wife of Dr. E.H. Riggan, who died before the end of the Civil War. Dr. Riggan’s accounts ledger is held in NC, and you can see its pages on Family Search here (begins at image 886): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-935N-TH6S?lang=en&i=885
If I remember correctly, Ann Patillo inherited several enslaved people from her grandmother, including Burwell. Charity’s maiden name was Parham and she was enslaved by E.H.M. Parham according to her daughter Ella’s birth record in which E.H.M. lists him or herself as owner.
I would welcome any collaboration with others who research the enslaved and free Black people from this neighborhood.
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Hi Erika,
Thank you so much for these updates about Burwell & Charity & their families! Also for finding EH Riggan’s account records and sharing the link. I added Burwell’s family to the community tree. https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/PHXZ-D6MNote Burwell’s “other relationships” at the bottom of the page. I linked him to Ann Patillo. I also linked some people found living with them on the census and put “related”. When we can find EHM Parham, I’ll link Charity to this person.
While attaching records, I was reminded that my ancestor A. N. Dortch witnessed Burwell Patillo’s will, in addition to EH Riggan. I love seeing the connection, that our ancestors were neighbors & knew each other.
If anyone else has any other information for any enslaved individuals who ever lived in Mecklenburg Virginia, please contact me so I can add them to our community tree on FamilySearch.
community tree link: https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/tree/970/9NMM-9MJL/name?from=tree
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Julie,
Thank you so much for your reply and additional help. EHM Parham is Dr. Edward Hardaway Manson Parham (1816-1908). He moved to Dallas County, AR before 1860. I’m unsure of the circumstances, but some of Burwell and Charity’s children were taken to AR with EHM Parham. They are listed in Burwell’s will as having gone west or south. Alfred and Patrick served in the USCT in AR. Ella can be found in the 1870 US Census, also in Dallas County, AR. I have Civil War pension files for Alfred and Patrick if anyone is interested. I’m still researching the others.
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And I agree with you, Julie, about finding descendants of people who knew our ancestors. Our family’s stories intertwine, likely in some ways we will never know. Thank you for the work you do!
P.S. EHM Parham’s profile on Familysearch includes a photo.
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Mecklenburg, Virginia Community History 
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