Whereas Negroe Charles aged about 24 or 25 years ran away from my service on or about the 24th day of December last Therefore Know all men by these presents that I Benjamin Stout of Little Creek Hundred in the County of Kent and State of Delaware have made ordained Authorized and appointed and by these presents do make ordain authorise and appoint Doctor John Ham of the Town of Dover in the County and State aforesaid my True and Lawfull Attorney for me and in my name and for my own proper use and benefit to ask demand and sue for recover apprehend and receive the said Negroe Charles to all and every person or persons in whose possession the said Negroe Charles may be found And to have use and take all lawful ways and means in my name or otherwise for the apprehending recovering or receiving the said Negro and being so apprehended recovered or received him to sell or otherwise dispose of for my own proper use and benefit; and Acquitances or other sufficient discharges for the same for me and in my name to make seal and Deliver and to do all other Lawfull Acts and things whatsoever concerning the premises as fully and in every respect as I myself might or Could do were I personally Present at the doing thereof ratifying and Confirming and by these presents Allowing whatsoever my said Attorney Shall in my name lawfully do or cause to be done in and about the premises by virtue of these presents In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the second day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and two. Ben Stout {seal}

Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of James Battle. Thos. Smith

Kent County ps. Personally appeared Thomas Smith before me John Clayton Esquire one of the Justices of the supreme Court of the State of Delawae, on the Nineteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two and made oath that he saw Benjamin Stout sign, Seal and deliver the above and foregoing power of Attorney as and for his act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned; and that he saw James Battle subscribe his name thereto as a witness, and that he himself subscribed his own name to the same as one other Witness In Testimony where of I have hereto set my hand the day and year last Above written. John Clayton.

A True Copy Attest. Abraham Ridgely Recorder.

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll: 788, Image 417, Book G, Vol 2, Page 177. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221875-00416?pId=2439125

Transcribed Sep 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky