The county Birth Registers altogether range from 1853 to 1885, and record the birth of every individual in the greater Roanoke area during this time frame, whether white, enslaved African American, or free African American. Typically, less information for enslaved people was recorded. Only first names were recorded and place of birth was recorded with much less specificity. Moreover, the birth registers had a category for “Father’s Name or Owner if Enslaved,” meaning in the case of most enslaved people, the enslaver’s information would be given instead of the child’s father. Nonetheless these records are an important source for connecting enslaved children to their mothers, and providing information about their births that is otherwise not found in other records.
Though this woman's enslaver was listed as S. F. Simmons, she was hired out to Benjamin Hawley. While she was hired out to him, she gave birth to Pearson in June of 1859.
Though this woman's enslaver was A. S. Gray, she is listed as having been hired out to C. S. Cocke. While she was hired out to him in 1859, she gave birth to her daughter.
Though this woman's enslaver was listed as P. H. Hurt, the informant of her child was John S. Richardson who "hires the mother." That is, this mother was hired by J. S. Read and had her son while she was hired by him.
Though this woman's enslaver was listed as James Barnett, the informant of her child was J. C. Huff who "hires the mother." That is, this mother was hired by J. C. Huff and had her daughter while she was hired by him.
Though this woman's enslaver was listed as Sarah Betts, the informant of her child was C. L. Cocke who "hires the mother." That is, this mother was hired by C. L. Cocke and gave birth to Benjamine while she was hired by him.
Though this woman's enslaver was listed as Florentine Robertson, the informant of her child was Samuel P. Holt who "hires the mother." That is, this mother was hired by Holt and had a child while she was hired by him.
Though this woman's enslaver was listed as Margaret Williams, the informant of her child was Joshua R. C. Brown who "heirs the mother." That is, this mother was hired by Brown and had her son while she was hired by him.
Though this woman's enslaver was listed as G. B. Board, the informant of her child was A. G. Dabney who "heirs the mother." That is, this mother was hired by Dabney and had a child while she was hired by him.
Though this woman's enslaver was listed as Joseph Campbell, the informant of her child was P. Read who "heirs the mother." That is, this mother was hired by Read and had a child while she was hired by him.
Though this woman's enslaver was listed as Sarah Wright, the informant of her child was William H. Pendleton who "heirs the mother." That is, this mother was hired by Pendleton and had a child while she was hired by him.
Though this woman's enslaver was listed as Edward Watts, the informant of her child was Landon Rives who "heirs the mother." That is to say that this mother was hired by Rives and had a child while she was hired by him.
Though this woman's enslaver was listed as Edward Watts, the informant of her child was J. G. Coats who "heirs the mother." That is, this mother was hired by Coats and had her son while she was hired by him.
Though this woman's enslaver was listed as Jane Martain, the informant of her child was J. M. Wright, who "heirs the mother." That is, this mother was hired by J. M. Wright and had a child while she was hired by him.
This woman was hired by Buford Cay. Though she and her child were enslaved by P. H. Hurt, she was hired out to Buford Cay. While she was hired out to him, she gave birth to Henrietta.
Seen in records in February 1854. Though this woman's enslaver was listed as Mary Richardson, the informant of her child was Thomas A. Wright, who "heirs the mother." That is, this mother was likely hired by Wright and had her child while she was hired by him.
Though this woman's enslaver was listed as Thomas Lewis, the informant of her child was J. S. Read who "heirs the mother." That is to say that this mother was hired by J. S. Read and had a child while she was hired by him.