Manumission Nathan Keech To Sundry Negroes

Know all men by these presents that I Nathan Keech of Little Creek Hundred County of Kent and State of Delaware haveing in possession seven Negroes, vis four Boys and three Woman as Slaves for life and being fully satisfied and convinced of the impropriety of holding them as Slaves, I have resolved they shall enjoy their freedom after the servitude of a certain length of time hereafter limited and designated by this manumission I do hereby manumit my Negro Boy David to be free, after serving the term and time of Seven Years and no longer from the date hereof at the expiration of the said time of Seven Years servitude David will be about twenty eight years of Age. I do hereby manumit my Negro Boy Perry to be free after serving the term an times of fifteen years, and no longer from the date hereof at the expiration of the said time of fifteen years servitude Perry will be about twenty five years of age  I do hereby manumit my Negro Boy Lewis to be free after serving  the term or times of Sixeteen Years and eight months an no longer from the date hereof at the expiration of the said time of servitude Lewis will be about twenty five years of age I do hereby manumit my Negro Boy James to be free after serving the term or times of twenty one years an eight months and no longer from the date hereof at the expiration of the said times of servitude James will be twenty five years of Age I do hereby manumit my Negro Woman named Hannor to be free and enjoy her freedom after serving the terms or time of two years & no longer from the date hereof at the expiration of the said term or time of servitude Hannor will be about thirty five  Years of age. I do hereby manumit my Negro Woman named Sarah to be free and enjoy her freedom after serving the term or time of Seven Years and no longer from the date hero at the expiration of the said time Sarah will be about twenty nine Years of Age I do hereby manumit my Negro Woman called Rachel to be free and enjoy her freedom after serving the term or time of Seven Years and no longer from the date hereof at the expiration of the said time of servitude Rachel will be twenty six years and eight months of age The testimony to the within manumissions being my own act of liberateing my said Slaves Namely David Perry Lewis James Hannor Sarah and Rachel from slavery or servitude after the time of servitude designated and specified to each individually expirious I do by these presents exclude my self my heirs and every other person or persons claiming under my right to The said Negroes, any services from the aforesaid Negroes after the Expiration of the within described and limited time of services specified in the within manumission whereunto I have set my hand and seal this the second day of May one thousand eight hundred and fifteen. Nathan Keech [seal]

Witness Present ?ordis Norris,,   Rebecca Peterson

A True Copy Recorded and compared with the original the fourth day of May Anno Domini 1815 Attest John W Boyers Recorder

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 792, Image 264, Book P, Vol 2, page 151

Transcribed 20 Apr 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky