Know all men by these presents that I William Fisher of the County of Kent and State of Delaware bricklayer, for good Causes and Considerations, Me hereunto ma[de] Do hereby Manumitt and enfranchise a certain Negro man named Abner w[ho] formerly belonged to Mary Sorden daughter of James and Henrietta Sorden of the aforesaid County, and the said James Sorden father of the said Mary being now deceased, as also the said Mary being deced in the State of Minority, and the aforesaid William Fisher obtained Letters of Administration her Estate; to whom the said Negro Abner was appraised as the Law [di]rects in other Intestate Cases. And I the aforesaid William Fisher do hereby Free and set Free the afforsd. Negro man Abner from the date of these presents for and during his natural life, and I do also warrant his Freedom from me, my heirs, executors and every other person or persons Claiming by, from, or under, me, my heirs, executors or any or either of them. In Testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and affix my Seal this the sixth day of February A.D.________1802. William L. Fisher {seal}

Witness Present Lowder Layton. John Davis.

State of Delaware Kent County.} Ss. Before me John Ralston being one of the Justices of the Pea[ce} for said County of Kent personally appeared the above nam[ed] William Fisher in his proper person and did acknowledge the above Manumission and Instrument of writing to be his Act and Deed and the Neg[ro] man Abner therein mentioned to be free and at his own liberty from and after the date hereof, according to the true meaning of the same, this the sixth day of February – 1802. Before me, Jno. Ralston

Attest John Caton Recorder Novemr. 5th 1802.

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll: 788, Image 441, Book G, Vol 2, Page 200. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221875-00440?pId=2439215

Transcribed 9 Sep 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky