Brian,

If you haven't discovered the Library of Virginia holdings of Petersburg's
courthouse records, go to:

http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/local/local_rec/county_city/petersburg.htm#court_records

Hustings Court ("city court") records may be of particular interest to you
in locating indentures.  Another place to check might be the deed books of
that time period.  There hasn't been a compiled index made of the deed
books, but each volume does contain its own index.  You'll also note that
registers of free negroes also survive from 1794-1850.

Any film identified with "ILL" can be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Best of luck in your research!
Mary Beth Dalton
Jigsaw Genealogy
P.O. Box 5595
Williamsburg VA  23188-5209
[log in to unmask]



----- Original Message -----
From: "BRIAN MITCHELL" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2006 9:00 PM
Subject: [VA-HIST] Richmond African American info required


> Hello,
>
>      I'm currently researching free black migration to New Orleans during
> the early 19th century and came across a Free Man of Color named James
> Dunn. James Dunn reached New Orleans in Dec. of 1819 and posted an entry
> in the Mayor's Register of Free Blacks stating that he was from
> Petersburg. Closer examination of the register shows a number of other
> migrants from both Petersburg and Richmond. I have a number of questions
> in regard to Dunn and would appreciate any assistance I could get:
>
>
>   Where in James Dunn from? Census records show a free black family of
> Dunn's in the Richmond family.
>   Why are migrants leaving Petersburg and Richmond for New Orleans? There
> are large communities of free blacks much closer to them (Baltimore and
> New York), so why are they selecting New Orleans?
>   James Dunn's sponsor was the theater impresario James H. Caldwell, I
> know that Dunn was a stage carpenter by trade and I know that he has
> signed a indenture contract with Caldwell, probably at the Petersburg
> Theater. Does anyone know where court records in regard to indentures
> could be found for Petersburg?
>   Are there any other records I should be researching that might shed
> light on James Dunns life?
>
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