Manumission Negro Hetty & others from Benjamin Blackiston & Jacob Griffin

Know all men by these presents that we Benjamin Blackiston of Kent County and State of Delaware and Jacob Griffin of New Castle County and State aforesaid possessing, as heirs of David Griffin deceas’d a Joint right to certain negroes herein after mentioned, for divers good and sufficient causes us thereunto moving do by these presents manumit set free and forever discharge them individually from slavery, to be free from us, our heirs Executors &tc Reserving unto us, our heirs and assigns the property of their individual services untill the time of the date of their respective freedoms herein after mentioned Viz. Hetty now thirty three years old we declare to be free this day. James now Eight years old we declare to be free on the first day of April which shall be in the year of our Lord 1824. George now four years old we declare to be free on the fifteenth day of November which shall be in the year of our Lord 1827. Rachel now one year old we declare to be free on the first day of January which shall be in the year of our Lord 1827. In Testimony whereof we have unto these presents set our hands and affixed our seals this 14th day of January 1807. Benja. Blackiston {seal} Jacob Griffin {seal}

Witnesses Present: James W Dowell, Rebekah Redman, Stuart Redman,

State of Delaware Kent County Ss} Personally appeared Benjamin Blackiston & Jacob Griffin parties to the within Instrument of writing & acknowledged the same to be their act & Deed & the signatures & seals thereto annexed to be respectively theirs. Witness my hand this 14th March 1807. Abraham Ridgely.

A True copy Recorded and Compared with the Original this 16th day of April 1807. Attest William P. Russell Recr.

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 790, Image 17, Book K, Vol 2, Page 60

Transcribed 7 Jun 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky