This document shows an official record kept of proof of freedom of free blacks living in the State of Louisiana (early 1800s through 1863) - Family History Library film #1309932 item 3

This particular page shows names recorded in 1847.  The first entry is for Fanny Turpin recorded as being Griffe color age 43, a Washerwoman, born in Richmond, Virginia.  She arrived in Louisiana in 1836, recorded upon Ad (evidence) of emancipation passed before S. H. Lewis Not.(ary) Pub.(lic) on the 26 April 1847 by Hiram Horton.  The second entry is for Kitty Todd, Black, age 40 whose occupation is Steamboating.  He was born in Kentucky and arrived in Louisiana in 1836.  The third entry is for True Love, a Griffe Woman age 33, Washerwoman born in Virginia.  She arrived in Louisiana about 1840.  The fourth entry is quite faint but says Yvonne Thompson, Mulattoess, age 45, Nurse, born Charleston, S.C., arrived in Louisiana in 1831, etc.

This page is fairly easy to read except for a few letters.  The double "s" can be mistaken for the letter "p" or "sy."  Also, it is important to understand the meaning of Griffe, Black and Mulatto.

GRIFFE, GRIFFINE, GRIFFE MAN, GRIFFE WOMAN, DARK GRIFFE all refer to a word used mainly in Louisiana that describes 1.  the offspring of a Negro and a mulatto 2.  a person of mixed Negro and American Indian blood  3. a mulatto, especially a woman or can refer to someone who is curly-haired.

BLACK, NEGRO, NEGRESSE, NEGRO MAN, NEGRO WOMAN refer to 1.  a member of the Negro race, especially of Africa  2.  a person having dark skin pigmentation

MULATTO, MULATTOESS, MULATTO MAN, MULATTO WOMAN refers to  1.  the offspring of one white parent and one Negro parent  2.  a person whose racial ancestry is mixed Negro and Caucasian, especially one with light-brown pigmentation of the skin

This document shows an official record kept of proof of freedom of free blacks living in the State of Louisiana (early 1800s through 1863) - Family History Library film #1309932 item 2

This above document was written earlier than the first document and has more French words written in it.  Notice that the first name is that of Jacob Venable, Mulatto age 55, cook of Steward born in Pennsylvania.  He was the father of entry number 2, Arnold Venable, Griffe, age 28, Cook of Steward born in Pennsylvania and entry number 7, James Venable, Griffe, age 32, Cook of Steward born in Pennsylvania.  Notice also that entry number 4 is a mulatto from St. Nicholas, Santa Domingo and entry number 5 is a Negro directly from the Congo in Africa.