Voter Registration of Former Georgia Slaves and Free People of Color

Wilkinson County Georgia

The Reconstruction Act of 1867 gave the vote to all adult former male slaves and free men of color. Overwhelmed with enthusiasm, they swore allegiance to the United States and registered to vote through out Georgia. Complete voter registration lists for numerous Georgia Counties are available on microfilm at the Georgia State Archives, Macon Regional Library Genealogy Dept, and thru Family History Centers. These list record date of registration, names of voters, oath of allegiance book/page , color, and whether in Georgia 12 months or less. Voter registration lists are useful as locators of former slaves(especially if they have uncommon surnames) and links them to a post slavery surname. Downloadable list will be available thru the kinpeople store April 15.

Following is a portion of the Reconstruction Voter Registration List for Wilkinson County, Georgia. The Treaty of Fort Wilkinson (June, 1802) ceeded lands of the Creek Indian Confederation to Georgia. These lands became Wilkinson and Baldwin Counties. Wilkinson County lies in east central Georgia.

Voter Registration Page