Know all men by these presents that I William Sorden of Kent County and State of Delaware, for Divers Goods reasons and considerations do hereby manumit and set at free liberty all my Right & Claim of the two following negroes. In the manner following that is to say one fifth part of a negroe man called Abner formerly the property of my Father James Sorden, and devised by him to his Daughter Mary Sorden, who since died Intestate, which negroe Abner then fell to the several heirs of the dec’d which I am one of; the other a negroe woman call’d Comfort formerly the Property of William Hill of Sussex County decd. & by him devised to his daughter Sarah Hill whom I Intermarried with & she the said Negroe Comfort has become my property. And further I do hereby warrant and defend one fifth part, or share, of the above Negroe Abner, and all the Claim and property of negroe Comfort from the lawful claim of me my heirs Executors & Administrators or any or either of them and from the lawful claim of all and every other person or persons whatsoever In Witness whereof I do hereby set my hand and affix my seal this the fourth day of May in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one – 1801. William Sorden {seal}

Signed sealed & delivered in the presence John Newcomb. James Gibson

Kent County & State of Delaware } Before me John Ralston one of the Justices of the peace for sd. County on the seventh day of May one thousand eight hundred and one personally appeared William Sorden esquire of the afsd. County and did acknowledge the within Instrument of writing and manumission to be his act and Deed according to the true Intent and meaning of the same. John Ralston

A True Copy Attest

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll: 788, Image 288, Book G, Vol 2, Page 47. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221875-00287?pId=2438663

Transcribed 12 Sep 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky