Daily AncestorFree colored persons
Free colored persons was the 1820 to 1840 census heading for free people of African descent, counted by sex and age group in the household.
From 1820 the census separated free colored persons and slaves, each counted by sex and by age group. In 1830 and 1840 the age groups for free colored persons and slaves were under 10, 10 to 24, 24 to 36, 36 to 55, 55 to 100, and 100 and upward.
A free family of color headed by its own member appears with a name like any other household. Free colored persons can also be tallied in a household headed by a white person; the tally gives no names, so other records are needed to identify them.
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Daily Ancestor. "Free colored persons." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/census-terms/free-colored-persons. Last checked 2026-10-03.