Information about the NC Cohabitation records created in March 1866 appears at the NCDigital collection where these records are housed. The description reads as follows:  In March 1866, the General Assembly passed “An Act Concerning Negroes and Persons of Color or of Mixed Blood,” which included a statute that enslaved people who had been living together as man and wife during slavery were now considered to be legally married. Called Cohabitation Bonds, these were filed with the Register of Deeds and were retroactive, legitimizing the marriages of former enslaved peoples. Typically included was the name and age of the bride and groom and length of time they had been “married”. Some counties include the name of the enslaver and/or the number of children the couple may have had. While in the original records cohabitation bonds are sometimes named as such, for many marriage records we cannot determine the race of the couple. In some instances, other marriage records from 1866 may be ...

The live event was held in October, if you missed it or want to revisit it, this is your opportunity. The Capitol will share the presentation virtually via Zoom. If interested please RSVP via the Eventbrite link below. From the NC State Capitol: The NC State Capitol is hosting a series of public listening sessions to unveil their new website focusing on the stories of enslaved people.   About this event This website, entitled "From Naming to Knowing: Uncovering Slavery at the North Carolina State Capitol" names over 130 enslaved workers who built and maintained the Capitol building in the 1800s. Most of the men worked on the Capitol's construction in the 1830s, either as laborers at the construction site or as quarry hands at the nearby State Quarry. The Capitol is dedicated to naming these individuals and telling their stories through this new publicly accessible website.   The public is invited to attend a listening session, learn about the website, and offer feedback ...