The Book of Negroes

Explaination: The Book of Negroes was a list compiled by commissioners appointed by the British Commander in Chief, Sir Guy Carleton, as the Loyalists were evacuating New York between April and November 1783. It contains the names and identifying information of African Americans departing with the Loyalisits, such information being the basis for any future compensation claims from Patriot slave owners. A copy was sent to Congress. The transcript is taken from the original document held in the National Archives of the United Kingdom. An incomplete archive of the copy sent to to Congress is also available on line at http://www.footnote.com/image/6602563/#6602540. . Please note that about a quarter of the document sent to Congress is missing.

Read the transcription

Download all the images (98mb ZIP)