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

Garrard County (KY) Enslaved, Free Blacks, and Free Mulattoes, 1850-1870

Garrard County, located on the edge of the Bluegrass Region of central Kentucky, was formed in 1796 and is surrounded by six Kentucky counties.

The county was named for James Garrard, the second governor of Kentucky (1795-1804) and the first governor to succeed himself. The county seat is Lancaster, founded in 1797 and named for Lancaster, PA.

The 1800 county population was 6,186, according to the Second Census of Kentucky; 4,921 whites, 1,259 enslaved, and six free coloreds. By 1860, the population had increased to 6,953, according to the U.S. Federal Census, excluding the enslaved. Below are the numbers for the slave owners, enslaved, free Blacks, and free Mulattoes for 1850-1870.

1850 Slave Schedule
  • 572 slave owners
  • 2,899 Black slaves
  • 275 Mulatto slaves
  • 22 free Blacks
  • 10 free Mulattoes
1860 Slave Schedule
  • 653 slave owners
  • 3,206 Black slaves
  • 384 Mulatto slaves
  • 79 free Blacks
  • 16 free Mulattoes
1870 U.S. Federal Census
  • 3,406 Blacks
  • 535 Mulattoes
  • About 207 U.S. Colored Troops listed Garrard County, KY as their birth location. 
For more see the Garrard County entry in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, edited by J. E. Kleber; History of Garrard County, Kentucky and Its Churches, by F. Calico; and Kentucky: portrait in paradox, 1900-1950, by J. C. Klotter. See the "U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1863-1865" and other military service records in Ancestry for names and additonal information.

Kentucky County & Region

Read about Garrard County, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Kentucky Place (Town or City)

Read about Lancaster, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Item Relations

Cited in this Entry

NKAA Source: "Second census" of Kentucky, 1800; a privately compiled and published enumeration of tax payers appearing in the 79 manuscript volumes extant of tax lists of the 42 counties of Kentucky in existence in 1800
NKAA Source: The Kentucky encyclopedia
NKAA Source: History of Garrard County, Kentucky, and its churches
NKAA Source: Kentucky : portrait in paradox, 1900-1950
NKAA Source: Ancestry (online)

Related Entries Citing this Entry

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Cite This NKAA Entry:

“Garrard County (KY) Enslaved, Free Blacks, and Free Mulattoes, 1850-1870,” Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed September 19, 2024, https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/2348.

Last modified: 2024-06-20 18:42:08