This page also contains the names of enslaved persons who appear in deeds and bills of sale in the deed books of Tyrrell County that have been transcribed and indexed, currently covering deed books 1 - 13. All deeds of gift in these books are included in the data below. Other deeds and bills of sale are currently being added over time, starting with deed book 13 and then working backward in time. When using this index, be aware that the names of enslaved persons contained herein were often nicknames and spelling was often phonetic in nature and sometimes missing letters. You should search the index for every version of a name that you can think of. The index is trictly alphabetical and in date sequence for each spelling of a name.

For deed records and bills of sale this index shows the name of the enslaved person, the name of the owner of the enslaved person, the date of the deed or bill of sale and the buyer or recipient of the enslaved person. The name of the enslaved person is linked to an image from the deed book of the actual deed or bill of sale. Click on it to see more details.

The names of enslaved persons are listed exactly as they appear in the record and in alphabetical and year sequence. Included with the name are any descriptors given as to age, sex and relationships. The spelling of names in these documents varies, so be sure to look for all possible spellings (e.g., Ceasor/Seasor, Jenny/Jinny/Ginny, James/Jim, etc.). Another factor to consider is that nicknames were often used. In some cases you will be able to see a chain of ownership of the enslaved person by matching the recipent to the deceased at a later date. This is often difficult, however, when the recipient is an unmarried female because the enslaved person will belong to her husband after she marries.