African American Resources for Virginia: Difference between revisions

Many free African American families migrated from Virginia to [[Robeson County, North Carolina|Robeson County, North Carolina]] in the 1700s.<ref name="drig" /> Virginia's free people of color are also now believed to have been the ancestors of some of Appalachia's [[Melungeons|Melungeon]] population.<ref>Travis Loller, "DNA study seeks origin of Appalachia's Melungeons," ''Yahoo! News,'' 24 May 2012, http://news.yahoo.com/dna-study-seeks-origin-appalachias-melungeons-201144041.html.</ref> An 1806 law required freed slaves to leave the state within twelve months of gaining their freedom. This stiff law was softened by subsequent laws in the 1820s and 30s.<ref>''The Free Negro in Virginia,'' 90.</ref> Many free blacks from Virginia had resettled in [[Indiana|Indiana]], [[Illinois|Illinois]], [[Ohio|Ohio]], and [[Michigan|Michigan]] between the 1840s and 1860s.<ref name="drig" />