I'm working on free black families of Chatham and Randolph Counties.Free Black refers to individuals who were black (most often mulatto) who were free citizens prior to the Civil War (Emancipation) Freedmen refers to blacks /slaves who became free as a result of Emancipation which followed on the heels of the Civil War.
The families I'm dealing with, were free prior to the war. One of these families,the WALDENS, can be traced back 18th century VA where they were also free, & now, have spread all over the country. One problem that I am encountering is finding the origins of the GLOVER's & how they became free.A host of this family settled just outside Bennett in an area known as GLOVER'S CROSSROAD.
(MY 4th great gradmother was a CAVINESS who was white and who had white and mulatto children?) So now you see the quandry, I don't want to surprise or shock anyone.
Does anyone have these families (white or black,that can help ?) Thank You, Spencer E. McCall