Black Ancestors in The Tick Mark Census

Did You Know?
Free Black People Were Noted, by Household, before 1850 Census. 

Free "Coloreds" were noted - by name of the head of household -  in the early census records. Early census records are those from 1790 to 1840. These early black people were most often landowners, but not necessarily. Some bought their freedom, and some earned their freedom through their war efforts:  Revolutionary War, American- Indian Wars, or War of 1812. Others were emancipated by their enslaver. Some of these enslavers, the white biological fathers of enslaved children were the ones who emancipated their mulatto offsprings. Those who were legally claimed in Wills were often transported out of slave states, or sent to integrated schools like Oberlin College. 

Yes, there are many cases where the biological white father, claimed their children and educated them. I'll share that example, from Mississippi, in another blog post this month.

The Tick Mark Censuses
Let's get rid of this myth before we begin. "Free-Coloreds" were enumerated in the early tick-marked Census Records, 1790-1840, even in the South. 

Many of the Hittin' the Brickswall with Kathleen podcast listeners will remember John's meltdown on the tick mark census records. If you want to go directly to the beginning of the Tick Mark conversation check out the episode Off The Wall: Making Sense of the U.S.Census,  and start at the 8 minute mark to about 12:20.

Let's Look At An Example:
Here are my own Free - "Colored" ancestors in the 1830, 1840and 1850 censuses.  I have them earlier but this would then be a book, not a blog. So bear with me.

Louisa Griffin, my 3rd Great-grandmother was born free in 1817. Her freedom was gained through her great-grandfather's Revolutionary War Service. 

Our Rev. War Veteran ancestor, Louisa's great-grandfather, was Ned Griffin. His service promised "him and all of his heirs" their freedom. You can read about Ned here. Revolutionary War Research - Ridiculous Mistakes. 

Kathleen --> gf Cecil -->2nd g-gf Wiley "Tobe"-->3ggp Louisa Griffin Morris --> 6g-gf Ned Griffin
1960                 1904                    1838                                     1817                                     1760's

Note: Basic timeline from Kathleen to Revolutionary War Soldier. All generations are not noted 

Free-born Louisa had a total of five children fathered by my 3rd g-grandfather Wiley J. Morris, the elder. Wiley, born in 1807, was enslaved by his biological father. As a blacksmith he swallowed to work and paid $2000 family for his emancipation in 1855. 

In the meantime, the five (5)  Morris-Griffin children born from 1838 - 1850 were all born free following their mother Louisa.  They were enumerated as Griffins in 1850 census records. In 1860 they were able to use their father's surname of Morris since he had succeeded in purchasing his freedom. 

Yes, it was matrilineal. If Louisa would have given her children the Morris surname, they could have legally been enslaved by their white grandfather, James Morris, Sr. So their early years enumerated them as Griffin's, even though everyone, the white Griffins and the Morris knew Wiley was the father. d

1850 Rutherford, NC
Louisa with her Griffin Children
fathered by enslaved Wiley J. Morris born 1807

In 1855, however, and $2000 later, they were Morris's, the whole family! Wiley J. Morris was finally free, and enumerated as such in 1860 with his family.  

1860 Rutherford, NC

Wiley with Wife and Children

(Previously seen as Griffin)

So, Where Was Louisa in 1830?
Louisa was born free in 1817. She had one brother, Richard, who was named in their father's Will. In 1830 "free-colored" Louisa was enumerated in the household of William L. Griffin (white). His ancestors originally enslaved the Rev War soldier Ned, the mulatto. Wm. Griffin, the enslaver, was also an advocates and key witness to guarantee the freedom of Ned Griffin after the Rev. War.

In 1830 Louisa was in a form of "apprenticeship." We see a "tick mark" for Louisa in the William L. Griffin household. The tick mark designated her between the age of 10-23. Our family bible, scribed by her in 1838-1840 gives her birth year as 1817, so she was about age 13 in 1830. Here is the Tick Mark Census in 1830:

1830 US Census. 

As you saw above, she was noted as Head of Household in the 1840 Federal Census. The tick-mark censuses was enough to place Louisa exactly where I needed her - in Rutherford County, NC. And they held the key to uncovering her parents, Peter and Betsy Griffin, and identifying her brother Richard. 

More on free Colored Griffin in 1817, Rutherford County, NC

Peter Griffin, NC Land Acquisition, 1817

Peter Griffin (A Man of Colour) of the County of Rutherford was the father of Louisa Griffin, and a landowner in 1817. Louisa's mother was Betsy Griffin. In 1817 Peter wrote his will, naming his minor son Richard. This Will was witnessed by James Morris, the (white) father of the enslaved Wiley Morris, born in 1807. James Morris owned Fox Haven Plantation of Rutherford, NC. 

Rutherford Deeds 1816-1822 #007517766

It's through the tick-marked census that you can take note of family sizes, neighbors and communities, and your ancestor's movement if comparing and analyzing the various early census records. 

This is just a slice of American History told through my Revolutionary War Veteran, a "Free Colored" since 1784. Legal documents are plentiful to support, the family folklore, the family bible, and early bibliographies of descendants of Wiley Morris, born free in 1838. Will share later. 

Kathleen Brandt
a3Genealogy