Chapter 285, Acts of 1908). The law requiring the above affidavits was repealed by Chapter
934 of the Acts of 1945.

POLL BOOKS

Reports of the results of elections held in the several election districts of each county,
giving date, place and purpose of election, certificate of qualification of judges and clerks,
list of persons who voted and return of results. Earlier Poll Books—those dating before the
adoption of the secret ballot in Maryland—also show how each individual voted.

CIVIL COMMISSIONS (COMMISSIONS, COMMISSION BOOKS)

Record of civil commissions issued by the Governor and transmitted by the Secretary of
State to the clerks of the circuit courts to be delivered to the persons residing within their
respective counties (See Chapter 284, Acts of 1843). The commissions were recorded in the
Court Minutes and Land Records as well as in special volumes.

TEST BOOKS (OATHS OF OFFICE, BOOK OF OATHS)

Record of subscribers to the oaths of office required to be taken by persons appointed or
elected to offices of profit or trust, including justices of the peace, clerks of court, sheriffs,
coroners, notaries public and attorneys (See Chapter 5, Acts of February 1777; Chapter 82,
Acts of 1814; Chapter 172, Acts of 1852). Early oaths were sometimes entered in Court
Minutes or Land Records, but usually special books were kept for this purpose.

MANUMISSIONS

Record of Negro slaves set free by owners. The procedure for doing so was first regulated
by Chapter 1 of the Acts of 1752, which required that deeds of manumission be recorded
among the records of the clerk of the county court. In most counties they were entered in the
Land Records. Chapter 67 of the Acts of 1796 repealed and reenacted the laws relating to
Negroes. It required, among other things, that manumissions be enrolled in a good and suffi-
cient book, regularly alphabeted by the names of both parties.

CERTIFICATES OF FREEDOM

Record of certificates issued by the clerk of the county court to free Negroes, attesting
that the bearer had furnished satisfactory proof of his freedom. The certificates included
name of Negro, brief physical description, name of former owner, if any, and date issued.
(See Chapter 66, Acts of 1805).

LIST OF FREE NEGROES, 1832

Census of free Negroes taken by the sheriff and delivered to the clerk of the county court
as required by Chapter 281 of the Acts of 1831. This was part of the movement to colonize the
free Negroes of Maryland in Liberia.

SLAVE STATISTICS

Register of slaves in each county on November 1, 1864, made under the provisions of
Chapter 189 of the Acts of 1867. It gives name of owner, name of slave, age, sex, physical
condition, time of servitude, if enlisted or drafted into military service, regiment and compen-
sation paid owner. It is arranged alphabetically by name of owner within each election district.

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