Manumission Negro Benjamin & others from Jas. Raymond

To all People before whom these presents come Greeting: Know ye that I James Raymond of Duck Creek hundred Kent County in the State of Delaware. having weighed in the scale of Justice the conditions of slavery am sensibly convinced that it is unwarrantable a well by the laws of Religion as morallity and God Originally distributed equally to the human race unaleinable right to the enjoyment of personal liberty so it behoves each man to restore to his fellow creatures that unvaluable blessing of which he by unjust and impolitick laws is passed in consideration whereof I have and do by these presents Emancipate set free and forever discharge from slavery my Negro man named Benjamin whom I purchased of John Raymond his freedom to commence on the Twenty fifth day of April in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and Twelve also my negro Boy Aron whom I raised his freedom to commence on the first day of January in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and twelve: also my negro Boy Jacob whom I raised his freedom to commence on the first day of January in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and Eighteen and also my negro Boy John (both sons of Jude) his freedom to commence on the first day of January in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and Twenty also my negro Boy James (son of Rebecca) his freedom to commence on the first day of January the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and Twenty six In testamony whereof I have set my hand & seal the 13th day of January Anno Domini 1806.

James Raymond {seal}

Witness Present: Daniel Ireland, Abraham Ridgely,

State of Delaware Kent County Ss.} Personally appeared James Raymond before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace for the said County, & acknowledged the within Instrument, of writing, to be his act & Deed & the signature & seal thereto annexed to be respectively his, witness my hand & seal this thirteenth day of January Anno Domini 1806. Abraham Ridgely {seal}

A True copy recorded, examined and compared with the Original This 22d. day of January 1806. Attest William P. Russel Recr.

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 789, Image 404, Book I, Vol 2, Page 231

Transcribed 21 Jun 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky