Savannah, Georgia, USA, register över frigivna slavar, 1817-1864

This collection contains registers of free persons of color maintained by the clerk of council for Savannah, Georgia. An 1839 city ordinance required owners of slaves and guardians of free persons of color to register and obtain badges from the clerk of council before hiring out or permitting their charges to be employed. Also, all free persons of color 16 years of age (lowered to 14 in 1854) or older were required to register annually with the clerk of council. Notice of removal from the city was also required.

By state law, all registered free persons of color between the ages of 15 and 60 were liable for public service in their county/city of residence for up to 20 days a year. If a person of color entered and remained in the state and failed to register, he or she faced arrest, trial, a fine of $100, and/or labor as punishment.

What You Can Find in the Records

Register entries may include the following details:

• name
• age
• place of nativity
• residence
• time of arrival
• occupation
• names of guardian

Some forms include parentage, description, date, and property.