Know all men by thee presents that I Joseph Furtadd of Kent County in the Delaware State do think it wrong and oppressive to hold negroes in bondage do hereby manumitt and sett absolutely free the Following ones that is in bondage to me in the following manner a negro woman Named Lidy (which was purchased by me from a certain David Pell, and her children as following one female child Named Ealce when come to the age of Twenty. one male child name James at twenty two, one male child named Jonathan at the age of twenty two,  So that henceforth they the said Negroes shall be deemed adjudged and taken as and for a free people that is to say the above negroes to be free and at their Liberty when come to the above mention ages and I do hereby Warrant and defend the freedom of the said Negroes against me my heirs or Executors administrators or either of them or any other person or persons claiming or that may claim any right to them by from or under me or my heirs, Executors, Administrators or Assigns, and I do hereby Bind myself my heirs Exrs. Admrs. or and every of them in the penal sum of Two hundred and fifty pounds in Specie to them the said negroes to be recovered by them from such of us as may attempt to deprive them of their Liberty before granted Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of May one thousand seven hundred and Eighty four. Joseph Furtad {seal}

Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presents of Samuel Willoughby, Benjamin Blunt

State of Delaware Kent County Ss } I do hereby certify that Joseph Furtad appeared before me John Lowber one of the Justices of the peace for said County, and Acknowledged the within manumission to be his act and Deed for the use and purposes therein mentioned, John Lowber August 15th 1803.

A true Copy Examined and Compared with the original this 19th day of August Anno Domini 1803 Attest John Caton Recorder.

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll: 788, Image 594, Book H, Vol 2, Page 77. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221875-00593?pId=2439680

Transcribed 25 Aug 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky