Books by authors Paul Heinegg and William L. Byrd on free blacks in N.C.
One of the forgotten segments of North Carolina’s population before the Civil War was the free black citizens who resided within the borders. The free black population grew from 5,041 in the 1790 census to 30,463 in the 1860 census. Some of these free black citizens were born free and never enslaved while others were enslaved and given their freedom. (census statistical information from the Geostat Historical Census Browser of the University of Virginia Library located at http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/). Some of these free blacks were well known within the state such as John Chavis – a minister and educator during the late 1700s and early 1800s, and Thomas Day – a furniture maker during the mid-1800s.
Chair made by Thomas Day currently on display at the North Carolina Museum of History exhibit “Behind the Veneer: Thomas Day, Master Cabinetmaker”
