Manumission Negro Sarah & others From Joseph Harper

To all People to these presents shall come I Joseph Harper of Murderkill hundred and Kent County in the State of Delaware farmer send Greeting Know ye that I the said Joseph Harper do hereby set free and at full liberty, and do Emancipate and manumit the following Negroes at the ages & times herein after mentioned to wit Negro Sarah at the present time, Negro Susannah when she shall arive to the age of Eighteen years, Negro Harry when he shall arive to the age of Twenty one years and Negro Stephen when he shall arive at the age of Twenty one years and that the said Negroes severally shall be considered as free to all intents and purposes at the ages and times herein before specified and that my heirs Executors or Admns. shall lay no claim right or title to the service of sd. Negroes after they shall arive at the age here in before mentioned Witness my hand & Seal the eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & Ninety five. Joseph Harper his mark {seal]

Sealed & Delivered in Presence of Nathl. Smithers, David Beauchamp

Nathaniel Smithers one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing deed of manumission being solemnly sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God makith oath and deposeth, that he put his name as a witness to the execution of the within and foregoing deed of Manumission, that he saw Joseph Harper party thereto (by way of making his mark) sign, seal and deliver the same, that the Name David Beauchamp there to Subscribed as the other Witness is of the hand writing of the said David Beauchamp, and that he saw him sign his name  there to as the other subscribing Witness. And that the said Joseph Harper party to the said deed of Manumission is now dead. Sworn and Subscribed to this 25th day of Nathl. Smithers July 1809. Before me the undersigned one of the Justices of the Peace in and for Kent County. John Lowber

A True Copy Recorded and Compared with the Original this 26th day of  July Anno Domini 1809. Attest William P. Russel Recr.

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 790, Image 371, Book L, Vol 2, P 114

Transcribed 27 Apr 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky