Be it remembered that I Wm. McKee of Kent County & State of Delaware, being impressed with the Sentiment that all men are born equally free, do entertain a fixed abhorrence at Negroe Slavery & am firmly resolved on this fourth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand, seven hundred, and ninety nine to manumit & set free my Negroes in the manner following, Viz… 1 Big George who since last May enjoyed his freedom, I hereby set free that no claim against him may be preferred against him from me or my Heirs forever. 2 Peter when he shall arrive at the age of Twenty eight, or on first day of August which will be in the year Eighteen Hundred & three: He shall then and not till then be free. 3. Yellow George on the first of May eighteen hundred & four shall be free. 4. Dave on the first of November which will be in the year Eighteen hundred & six, he shall be free 5. Jacob, brother to the above Peter, on the first January which will be in the year Eighteen hundred and seven, he shall be free. 6. Harry on the first of August which will be in the year eighteen Hundred and eight. He shall be free. 7. Peg on the first of May which will be in the year eighteen hundred, and fifteen, she shall be free. 8. Maria, on the first of May which will be in the year eighteen hundred, and Seventeen She shall be free… All the above named Negroes are hereby declared to be free after the dates specified to each of their names, & entitled to all the rights & previleges provided for them by Law, and I hereby renounce all claim to them after the above named dates of their freedom, from me my Heirs Exers Admrs or assigns forever _ But if any of them during the periods above named for their Stay of Servitude should abscond from their service, then in that case they must & shall make good all damages for loss ^of time or otherwise so as may be Judged Sufficient compensation for such misconduct. As Witness my Hand Seal on the day above Written. Wm. McKee {seal}

William Torbut. Benj. Brady. 

State of Delaware Kent County } Ss. I do hereby Certify that on the fourth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand, seven hundred and ninety nine, came the Rev. William McKee before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace for said County and acknowledged the within Manumation to be his act and deed. Witness my Hand the day and Year first above written. Benj. Brady

A True copy, Attest Simon W. Wilson, recorder.

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll: 788, Image 72, Book F, Vol 2, Page 141. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221875-00071?pId=2437947

Transcribed 15 Sep 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky