Manumission Negro Jude & others from James Raymond

To all people before whom these presents may 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 slavry am sensibly convinced that it is unwarrantable as well by the laws of Religion as morality 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 impolitic laws is passed. in consideration whereof I have and do by these presents Emancipate set free and forever discharge from slavery my negro woman called Jude and Benjamin and Abraham her two sons now living with her their Freedom to commence from this present date of this manumission. In Testimony whereof I have set my hand ^and seal 20th day of January Anno Domini 1806. James Raymond {seal}

Signed sealed and Delivered in presence of us: Timothy Cummins, John Raymond,

State of Delaware Kent County Ss.} I do certify that James Raymond appeared before me the subscriber one of the Justices for the County aforesaid & acknowledged the above instruments of writing to be his act & Deed, & the signature & seal thereto annexed to be Respectively his. Witness my hand & seal this 14th day of February Anno Domini 1806. Abraham Ridgely

A True copy recorded examined and compared with the original this 15th day of February 1806. Attest William P. Russel Recr.

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 789, Image 419, Book I, Vol 2, Page 246

Transcribed 5 Jul 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky