Know all men by these presents that we George Soward, Thomas Soward, William Green, James Hindsley, Meriam Williams, John Burchinal & William Lowber do hereby manumit & Set absolutely free Certain Negroes Vizt. Negro Caesar, an old man & a young man named Caesar & a Boy named Nat or Nathaniel and a boy named Joe and a negro Girl named Nancy So that Henceforth they shall be absolutely Free from us or either of us or our Heirs Reserving the right of the young Negroes until they shall arrive to the age of Twenty one that is the male & the females until they arrive to the age of Eighteen years agreeable all other white persons being of lawfull age and Considered free is the intent of this instrument to make the above negroes on the same Foundation for the Confirmation of the said Negroes freedom as aforesaid that is all our right to manumit them & our Heirs we do bind ourselves jointly & Severally & our Heirs also to the above said Negroes in the full & just Sum of One hundred pounds lawfull money of the Delaware State Witness our hands and seals this twenty second day of October One thousand Seven hundred ninety six. 1796. Meriam Williams {seal} George Soward {seal] John Burchinal {seal} Thomas Soward {seal} Letithe Lowber Administratrix {seal} Wm Green {seal} James Kiney {seal}

Witness present Mark Powell, James Green, Thomas Bedwell, John Wheeler

3d October 1797 Appeared James ____ before me and did affirm that he saw George Soward, & Thomas Soward Sign Seal and deliver the within Instrument of writing also same day appeared Mark Powell before me and being affirmed did declare he saw William Green, James Hindsley Miriam Williams, & John Burchinel Sign Seal and deliver the within instrument of writing. Geo. McCall

A True copy test Simon Wilmer Wilson Recorder

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll: 787, Image 618, Book F, Vol 2, Page 39. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221874-00617?pId=2437570

Transcribed 17 Sep 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky