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Octoroons in a Virginia Court

1860s newsprint

Daily Gazette & Comet [Baton Rouge, LA], July 27, 1860

At a recent session of the Alexandria county court, two men of mixed blood appeared before the court, and having proved themselves to be octoroons, or possessing but one-eighth negro blood, asked the court to certify that they were not negroes. The court having heard the evidence, granted the certificate asked for. The object of this process is to release the parties applying from the obligation and penalties attached to free negroes by the laws of that commonwealth.

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