Dear Douglas: I am a black CW living historian and amateur genealogist. I am descended from the Egglestons of VA and MS. The term yellow would indicate Henry is a light skinned mulatto. Yellow or "yaller" was used to describe mulattos especially if they were very fair. Someone described as black would be a black person who was very dark. Hope that helps. Anita L. Henderson Fiddler's Green Woodbine, MD researching Maria Lewis, black female trooper of the 8th NY Cavalry -----Original Message----- From: Douglas Burnett <[log in to unmask]> To: VA-HIST <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tue, Feb 17, 2015 5:19 pm Subject: [VA-HIST] Language in 1808 Va Will I am catching up on transcribing some wills and have run across this language for the first time: "3rdly I give to my son *Thomas *one negro boy by the name of *Henry* (a black boy) to him and his heirs or assigns forever 4thly I give to my son *Charles Washington *one negro boy by the name of *Henry * (a yellow boy) to him and his heirs or assigns forever" Does anyone understand the differentiation between the "black boy" and the "yellow boy"? Am I trying to read to much into this and it is in fact just a physical description of the coloring? -- Douglas Burnett Satellite Beach FL As a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Florida State Genealogical Society(FSGS) and the Virginia Genealogical Society(VGS), I support and adhere to the APG's Code of Ethics. ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html