Surnames: Bertie County, 1850.
by Lisa Y. Henderson
ASH/ASHE, BAILEY, BAKER, BARTLET, BARTLEY, BEELLE, BELL, BIRD, BOON, BRABOY, CANDA, CHURCH, COMER, DEMPSY, EARLEY, FLOOD, FREEMAN, GOOLD, GREEN, HARRIS, HASSEL, HOGGARD, JAMES, JEANES, KENNAHORN, LANE, LOVE, MANLY, MCDANIEL, MELTON, MITCHAM, MOBLIN, MORGAN, OVINGTON, PETERSON, POLK, POWELL, PRICE, PUGH, REID, ROBBINS, RUNNELS, SANDERLINE, SANDERS, SANDY, THOMPSON, WARD, WATERMAN, WEAVER, WIGGINS, WILDER, WIMBURN/WINBURN and WYATT.
Fourth Generation Inclusive 
Hello. I am doing so genealogical research on my family from Bertie County, NC, and Bell is the last name of some of my ascendants. I am curious where you found this information and am i to assume that my Bell family members, who lived in Bertie county during this time were free?
MY great-great-great grandmother, Pennie (Penny) Bell had 12 children, her mother was Winnie Bell, but all of her children’s last names seem to be Collins, which is also my last name. I find this curious, as it appears neither her or her husband’s last name as Collins.
I would appreciate a reply as I’ve a little stumped in my research. Thanks.
L. Collins
Hi, and thanks for visiting my blog. The list is merely an abstraction of every surname found among free people of color in the 1850 census of Bertie County. I would not assume that any or all Bertie County Bells were free unless you find them in a census or other record. I wouldn’t venture to speculate on the surnames of Pennie’s children, as I have often found myself confounded by 19th century naming patterns among FPC and enslaved people. Best wishes in your search. — Lisa H.
Thank you soooo much Lisa. I just found great great great grandma Pennie and her son Noah, which would also eventually become her grandson’s name, listed in the 1850 census. She’s not listed as a slave so I’m guessing she was free? Only freedmen/women were listed on the census correct? In any case thanks for your insight. I’ve been trolling through you blog. Very good content/research.
I’m embarking on a genealogical journey in NC myself. It’s been fascinating thus far. What I also find remarkable is the number of my family members who could read and write, especially at a time where many Southern African Americans were illiterate.
Correct. If they were listed in the 1850 census, they were FPoC. (The term “freedman” is generally applied to formerly enslaved persons emancipated after the Civil War.)