Could you be related to one of the 48 Free African Americans in Washington County, GA in 1850?

Feb 7, 2020
2 min read

Updated: Feb 29, 2020

Interesting finds: In order to hunt for the connections with Brenda Sutton, I put many of my findings from the National Archives in Excel Spreadsheets so I can sort the data.

The 1850 Washington County, Georgia Census, Military Division 91, contained the following 48 free African Americans.

One Deedom (no last name) in this census was freed just because he reached 100 years old! Adolphus, Adam L. Sr., The Source: African Americans of Washington County, Georgia: From Colonial Times through Reconstruction, McNaughton & Gunn, Inc. Saline Michigan, 2011.

[Deedom is historically the oldest named African American identified by name to have been in early Washington County, Georgia.]

Look at the Household compositions! At least one interracial couple listed!
Let us know what you think!

My detailed thoughts about that list in red:

Last Name First Name Dwelling in 1850

1. Chester, Elizabeth, 85 yrs, B 290

2. Chester, Elisha, 43 yrs, Mu 290

Below: Mulatto* No race listed, I found the race from the 1860 Census and others.

3. Chester, John, 22 yrs. 290

4. Chester, Green, 20 yrs. 290

5. Chester, Irwin, 17 yrs 290

6. Chester, Roxian, 16 yrs, 290

7. Chester, Jane, 12 yrs, 290

8. Chester, Winfield, 11 yrs, 290

9. Chester, Lafayette, 7 yrs, 290

10. Chester, Nobles, 6 yrs, 290

11. Chester, Mary, 4 yrs 290

12. Chester, Martha, 4 yrs 290

13. Collins Vincy, 10 yrs, Mu 567 Living with the white Sparks hmmm. no other children listed.

14. Cooler Caroline, 24 yrs, B 252 Looks like an interracial couple living in this dwelling

15. Cooler, Not Named 309 Looks like the index has "Not Named" 60 yrs old but handwriting states 2 years old. Most know this Lesson: Don't always trust the indexing.