The author was inspired to create this helpful series of resource books while researching her second great-grandmother Mildred Timbers. It is not known how Mildred became a slave. Was Mildred willed to someone? Was she purchased at a sale? Was her mother already property when she was born? Without a helpful aid, like the books in this series, the author was faced with the daunting task of reading every page of every Will Book to find the answers. This is the series the author wished she had to help her with her research. Is your ancestor within these pages? Volume IV, the Master Index, allows you to compare, and follow through the years, the changes in surnames and family descendants from each Will Book. This index makes it easier to research slave owners and makes it possible to follow some slaves from one owner to another. Having all the indexes in a single volume simplifies and defines which Will Books you need to explore. Many times an account or will was recorded by the court years after it had been prepared. For example: Charles Martin's committee account was dated from 27 Dec. 1853 to 12 Aug. 1854 but recorded in Will Book 27 on 18 Feb. 1857, not Will Book 25. First names have been standardized in order to make it easier to search for a name. This series provides researchers with easy access to information that could otherwise require several months of reading through microfilm. This series is a MUST for researchers of slaves and/or owners of Fauquier County, Virginia.

Fauquier County, in Northern Virginia, was established in 1759. It was formed from Prince William County and was named for Virginia lieutenant governor Francis Fauquier. In 1790, there were 6,642 slaves in Fauquier County. By the eve of the Civil War, there were 10,455. From 1817 to 1865, the county was home to 845 free black people. The African American population declined at the end of Reconstruction, and by 1910, the white population was double that of blacks. The population imbalance continues today. Through centuries of slavery and segregation, Fauquier County's African American population survived, excelled, and prospered. This minority community established and supported numerous churches, schools, and businesses, as well as literary, political, and fraternal organizations that enhanced the quality of life for the entire county.

The author was inspired to create this helpful resource book while researching her second great-grandmother Mildred Timbers. It is not known how Mildred became a slave. Was Mildred willed to someone? Was she purchased at a sale? Was her mother already property when she was born? Without a helpful aid, like the books in this series, the author was faced with the daunting task of reading every page of every Will Book to find the answers. This is the book the author wished she had to help her with her research. Is your ancestor within these pages? Will books are a good source in the search for slaves only if the owner named the slave(s). This series provides researchers with easy access to information that could otherwise require several months of reading through microfilm. Each chapter contains one Will Book. Documents include administrators, estate, executors and guardian accounts, wills, inventory and appraisals. Entries list each slave owner, followed by the page number, date and type of document. The list of slaves follows and the new owner is listed if known. Surnames of the owner's children are indexed only if noted in the document. First names have been standardized in order to make it easier to search for a name. A full-name index adds to the value of this work. This series is a MUST for researchers of slaves and/or owners of Fauquier County, Virginia.

This series provides researchers with easy access to information that could otherwise require several months of reading through microfilm.

The author was inspired to create this helpful series of resource books while researching her second great-grandmother Mildred Timbers. It is not known how Mildred became a slave. Was Mildred willed to someone? Was she purchased at a sale? Was her mother already property when she was born? Without a helpful aid, like the books in this series, the author was faced with the daunting task of reading every page of every Will Book to find the answers. This is the series the author wished she had to help her with her research. Is your ancestor within these pages? Volume IV, the Master Index, allows you to compare, and follow through the years, the changes in surnames and family descendants from each Will Book. This index makes it easier to research slave owners and makes it possible to follow some slaves from one owner to another. Having all the indexes in a single volume simplifies and defines which Will Books you need to explore. Many times an account or will was recorded by the court years after it had been prepared. For example: Charles Martin's committee account was dated from 27 Dec. 1853 to 12 Aug. 1854 but recorded in Will Book 27 on 18 Feb. 1857, not Will Book 25. First names have been standardized in order to make it easier to search for a name. This series provides researchers with easy access to information that could otherwise require several months of reading through microfilm. This series is a MUST for researchers of slaves and/or owners of Fauquier County, Virginia.

The Piedmont area of Loudoun and Fauquier Counties, Virginia, near the Maryland border, was hotly contested throughout the Civil War. The mistress of a slave-holding estate, Ida Powell Dulany took over control of the extensive family lands once her husband left to fight for the Confederacy. She struggled to manage slaves, maintain contact with her neighbors, and keep up her morale after her region was abandoned by the Confederate government soon after the beginning of hostilities.