We Were Always Free: The Maddens of Culpeper County, Virginia : a 200-year Family History [B0020]

1992 HCDJ 1st edition. Ever since 1758, when Sarah Madden was born to an unmarried Irish woman and an unknown black father, the Maddens have been free, escaping--and sometimes defying--the laws and customs that condemned other African Americans to slavery in their native state of Virginia. "A deeply personal account of an extraordinary American family."--Newsweek. Based on family documents and extensive research, this chronicle of one American family captures two centuries of African-American history through the eyes of the Maddens of Virginia.

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "This book is a very interesting and detailed account of the Madden legacy in Culpeper, VA. Fantastic detail based on a treasure trove of records kept by the Madden ancestors and accumulated over hundreds of years. Through several generations, Madden weaves the true story into an incredible page turner. A jewel of a true story with countless twists and turns. Great read."; "This is an excellent book about the history of free blacks in America, focused on the author's family. It is well researched, well written, and well worth reading."