Montague County, Texas · 1867 voter registration
Montague County, Texas: freedmen, slavery and the 1867 voter registration
Slavery in Montague County
In 1860 the census counted 35 enslaved people in Montague County, 4% of everyone living there. Seven years later 5 freedmen registered to vote there, 2% of the county's voters. Most were born in Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia, and 5 reported reaching Texas before 1865.
- 35
- Enslaved in 1860
- 4%
- Of the county in 1860
- 209
- Registered voters
- 5
- Freedmen
- 2%
- Freedmen
- Alabama
- Largest birthplace
- 8 years
- Median time in Texas
- 6
- Register pages
Where Montague County's freedmen were born
| Birthplace | Registrants | % |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 | 20% |
| Arkansas | 1 | 20% |
| Georgia | 1 | 20% |
| North Carolina | 1 | 20% |
| Texas | 1 | 20% |
When they arrived in Texas
Decade each registrant reported arriving in Texas, as recorded in Montague County.
| Decade | Registrants |
|---|---|
| 1840s | 2 |
| 1850s | 2 |
| 1860s | 1 |
Surnames of freedmen in Montague County
- Gamlin [Gadlin?] 1
- Herndon 1
- McKeg 1
- Veasy 1
- Vincin 1
Montague County genealogy: search the register by name
The first 5 names in the Montague County register, alphabetically. Each opens a search for that name.
| Name | Birthplace | Arrived | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gamlin [Gadlin?], Louis | Texas | 1840 | 21 |
| Herndon, William | Arkansas | 1859 | 3 |
| McKeg, Jesse | Alabama | 1859 | 2 |
| Veasy, Randolph | Georgia | 1863 | |
| Vincin, Henry | North Carolina | 1841 | 21 |
Sources and county history
Figures come from the 1867 to 1870 Texas voter registration held by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The 1860 population figures come from Population of the United States in 1860, printed by the Census Office in 1864. Montague County's entries fill 6 pages of the handwritten register. Race was recorded for part of the statewide register, so the freedmen count is the number identified.
Montague County was formed out of Cooke County by 1860.
Questions about the Montague County records
How do I find African American ancestors in Montague County, Texas?
Search the Montague County records by surname, then open the entry to read the original handwritten register page. Each entry gives the man's name, his birthplace and the year he reached Texas. Spellings vary, so try the sound of a name as well as its spelling, and names appear in the order men came to register, so a family can sit pages apart.
How many freedmen registered to vote in Montague County in 1867?
5 freedmen registered in Montague County between 1867 and 1870, 2% of the county's 209 registered voters.
Where were Montague County's freedmen born?
Alabama (1), Arkansas (1) and Georgia (1) were the birthplaces reported most often; 1 was born in Texas.
Was slavery widespread in Montague County, Texas?
In 1860 the census counted 35 enslaved people in Montague County, 4% of everyone living there. In 1867, 2% of Montague County's registered voters were freedmen, 5 of 209. 5 of them reported reaching Texas before 1865.
Keep looking
Counties that share a boundary history with Montague County: Cooke County.
For African American genealogy beyond Montague County, browse the register by birthplace, search it by name or follow the migration map.
All countiesBrowse by birthplaceSee the migration mapSearch Montague County