Dublin Core
Title
John Mercer Langston
Subject
John Mercer Langston
Standards of Learning VS.1a, VS.1g, VS.7c, VS.8b, USII.1a, USII.1d, USII.4c
Standards of Learning VS.1a, VS.1g, VS.7c, VS.8b, USII.1a, USII.1d, USII.4c
Description
John Mercer Langston was born on December 14, 1829 to a freed slave, Lucy Langston, and a white man of “extreme old age," Ralph Quarles. At the time of Langston's birth, Virginia law specified that all children would be born into a “free or bond condition†that depended on the liberty of the child's mother. Langston was born free, but he did not have equality under law.
All free blacks were required to register at the Louisa Courthouse. Langston was forced to register because, although Langston's father was white, Langston was consider Negro due to his mother's African American and Native American decent. This document is a copy of John Mercer Langston's registration in the Louisa Courthouse. Free blacks were required to carry a copy of this registration on them at all times in order to avoid captivity.
All free blacks were required to register at the Louisa Courthouse. Langston was forced to register because, although Langston's father was white, Langston was consider Negro due to his mother's African American and Native American decent. This document is a copy of John Mercer Langston's registration in the Louisa Courthouse. Free blacks were required to carry a copy of this registration on them at all times in order to avoid captivity.
Source: Cheek, William, and Aimee L. Cheek. John Mercer Langston and the Fight for Black Freedom: 1829-65. Urbana U.a.: Univ. of Illinois Pr., 1989. Print.
Source
Louisa County Clerk's Office
Publisher
Louisa County Historical Society
Date
October 4, 1834
Contributor
Clerk of Court, Louisa County
Rights
RIGHTS AND REPRODUCTION POLICY
All items in our archives have been donated to The Louisa County Historical Society with express permission to use them only for not-for-profit purposes of education and individual research. We make them available online to further those ends. Anyone wishing to use images online or in printed publications must obtain express written permission to do so from the Louisa County Historical Society and the legal copyright holder. Users assume full responsibility for disputes arising from copyright violations or invasions of privacy.
All items in our archives have been donated to The Louisa County Historical Society with express permission to use them only for not-for-profit purposes of education and individual research. We make them available online to further those ends. Anyone wishing to use images online or in printed publications must obtain express written permission to do so from the Louisa County Historical Society and the legal copyright holder. Users assume full responsibility for disputes arising from copyright violations or invasions of privacy.
Format
Document Copy
Type
Document
Identifier
054_
Contribution Form
Online Submission
No