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Genealogy Resources · Montgomery County · VA Resources

1865 Census Return of the Colored Population of Montgomery County, VA

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Did you know that the Freedmen’s Bureau conducted an 1865 census and 1867 census of the colored population of counties in southwest Virginia?  I learned about these census records while reading the book Facing Freedom by Daniel E. Thorp.  So, I searched to see if they were available online.  These records would be a great accompaniment to the Register of Cohabitation for researching African American families in Montgomery County and other surrounding areas.

Digitized images of the records are also available  at https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2721171.  You can use the FamilySearch search engine to locate specific people listed or browse through the images in the collection. (There are other types of documents in that collection, although I have not investigated those records yet.)  The 1865 Census of Montgomery County, Virginia can be found on images 228-275.

Information that can be found on these census records includes name, color (black, mulatto, quadroon or octaroon), sex, age, status on June 1st 1863, former owner, former place of residence, occupation, and rate of wages paid per month and a few other categories.   Some of the slaves are listed with a surname, others only with their first name.

The census return is organized by former owner, so you can look at groups of slaves that were living together, and may (or may not) be related.  Below are a few examples of individuals listed on the first page of the census.

Robert Brown was a black male, age 29.  He was a slave on June 1st, 1863 owned by Robert Brown in Montgomery County, VA.  He was a laborer, employed by his former owner and was paid $10 per month.  He was unable to read.

Emanuel Foley was a black male, age 68.  He was a slave on June 1st, 1863 and was owned by R. H. Lipscomb in Montgomery County, VA.  He was listed as a laborer and was paid a share in the crops he helped to grow.  However, he was unable to support himself because he was “infirm”.

Sarah Morrison was a black female, age 25.  She was a slave on June 1st, 1863 and was owned by Hoyd Smith in Montgomery County, VA.  Sarah’s occupation was  not listed, but she was employed by her former owner.  She received $10 for six months as well as board and clothes.  She was unable to read.

Mary Brown was a black female, age 50.  She was a slave on June 1st, 1863 and was owned by Hoyd Smith in Montgomery County, VA.  Mary’s occupation was  not listed, but she was employed by her former owner.  She was paid only board and clothes.  She was unable to read.

Matilda Robins was a black female, age 6.  She was a slave on June 1st, 1863 and was owned by Hoyd Smith in Montgomery County, VA. Matilda’s occupation was  not listed, but she was employed by her former owner.  She was paid only board and clothes.  She was unable to read.

Register of Cohabitation, Montgomery County, Virginia
Genealogy Resources · VA Resources

Register of Cohabitation, Montgomery County, Virginia

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I have been working with the “Genealogy Ladies” at the Montgomery Museum in Christiansburg, Virginia to transcribe a wonderful document.

The Register of Cohabitation was completed in 1866.  It lists every African-American couple in Montgomery County at the time.  Each entry gives the husband’s name, age, county of birth, last owner and their county of residence.  It also lists the wife’s name, age, county of birth, last owner and their county of residence.  Then it lists all of their children by name and age, and the date the couple began cohabiting.

We have finished transcribing the document and are now working on proofreading the document.  Once that is finished, we will make it available online.  You will also be able to purchase a copy of it from the Montgomery Museum at that time.  I will post that information once it is ready!

If you would like to be notified personally when the Register is available, comment below and give your email address.  I will send you an email and let you know it is available.