From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)

Lexington (KY) City Directory - African Americans, 1818

For the state of Kentucky, the earliest published city directory was probably Lexington's First City Directory published by Joseph Charless for the Year 1806. An individual's race was not noted in the directory, though there were free African Americans living in the city. Lexington's Second City Directory published by William Worsley and Thomas Smith for the Year 1818, has the names of four free African Americans, listed as "coloured": James Gatewood, a retailer of liquors on Market Street; Billy Gist of the Western Suburb; Peter Lewis on Market Street; and Henry Quarles on Short Street continued. According to an article in the Kentucky Reporter, 10/30/1820, p. 3, col. 4, the 1820 census of Lexington, KY, included 1,641 slaves and 115 free Colored persons.

Kentucky County & Region

Read about Fayette County, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Kentucky Place (Town or City)

Read about Lexington, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

References

Cited in this Entry

NKAA Source: Lexington's first city directory, published by Joseph Charless for the year 1806
NKAA Source: Lexington's second city directory, published by William Worsley and Thomas Smith for the year 1818
NKAA Source: Kentucky reporter (newspaper)

Cite This NKAA Entry:

“Lexington (KY) City Directory - African Americans, 1818,” Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed February 3, 2023, http://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/2408.

Last modified: 2020-06-12 19:14:57