A Window on the Valley: A Study of the Free Black Community of Winchester and Frederick County, Virginia, 1785 - 1860
A Window on the Valley: A Study of the Free Black Community of Winchester and Frederick County, Virginia, 1785 - 1860
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Date
1986
Authors
Ebert, Rebecca Aleene
Advisor
Grimsted, David
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Abstract
This is the first substantial study which has been undertaken on the
free black community of Winchester and Frederick County, Virginia.
It explains who the free blacks were, where they lived, how they
obtained their freedom, how they maintained it, how they constituted a
community, and how they interacted with slaves and whites.
These free blacks engaged in a variety of occupations; they did
not dominate any one field of employment. The population was predominately
young and individuals and families appeared to remain stable throughout
the era studied. In later years, female -headed households became
more common.
The records available on free blacks in Frederick County are limited.
Therefore, this investigation has been primarily through official records
generated by the local courts and state government. They have, however,
been sufficient to suggest a growing and viable group that was accepted
by and contributed to the larger community throughout the ante-bellum years.