Know all men by these presents that I Thomas Coombe of Kent County in the State of Delaware for divers good causes and considerations me thereunto moving hath manumitted emancipated liberated and set free, and by these presents doth manumitt emancipate liberate and set free a certain negro woman named Rachel which I bought of Moses Biddle negro, after the expiration of ten years from the date hereof; reserving to myself my heirs executors and administrators & assigns the service and labour of the said negro Rachel until the expiration of the said ten years I hereby declare the said negro Rachel a free woman to all intents and purposes, In witness whereof I the said Thomas Coombe have hereto set my hand & affixed my seal the first day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & three. Thomas Coombe {seal}

Sealed & delivered In presence of us Thomas Sipple. Natl. Smithers.

And I the said Thomas Coombe further agree that if the above named negro Rachel shall have any child or children before the expiration of the above mentioned term of ten years that such child or children shall be free when such child or children arrive to lawful age, but that such child or children shall serve me the said Thomas Coombe or my heirs executors or administrators until such child or children shall arrive to lawful age, Witness my hand & seal the 1st day of november 1803 – Thomas Coombe {seal}

Witness Thomas Sipple, Nathl Smithers.

State of Delaware Kent County} Be it remembered, that on the day of the date of the within mentioned manumission, Thomas Coombe the party thereto appeared before me Nathaniel Smithers one of the Justices of the peace for sd. County, and did legally execute and acknowledge the said within instrument of writing as his act & deed for the uses intents and purposes therein mentioned according to the purport and effect thereof, In Testimony I have hereto set my hand & affixed my seal. Nathl. Smithers

A True copy Examined and compared with the original this 24 day of March 1804 Attest John Caton recorder

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 789, Image 57, Book H, Vol 2, Page 199. Ancestry; https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221876-00056?pId=2439947

Transcribed 21 Aug 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky