Whereas the said Reuben Anderson by his petition to the General Assembly represents, that by his intermarriage with Ann Purnell of Worcester County and State of Maryland he hath become entitled in law to four slaves to wit Daniel, Mingo, Leah and Minty, who are now in the said State of Maryland and he is prevented from bringing the said negroes into this state without the authority of the Legislature. And whereas it is just and reasonable that The Citizens of this State should be permitted under such Cercumstances, to bring their property thus acquitted into this State. Be it enacted by the Senate, and House of Representatives of the State of Delaware in General assembly met that the said Reuben Anderson shall be and he is hereby permitted to bring the said Negroes to wit Daniel, Mingo, Leah and Minty, into this State and the same to hold as his proper right and act of Assembly to the Contrary thereof in any wise notwithstandng. Provided nevertheless that if the said slaves, to wit Daniel, Mingo, Leah and Minty were not the property of the said Ann or her Parents, relations or Guardian, twelve Months previous to her intermarriage with the said Reuben Anderson, the said slaves if brought into this State shall be deemed free to all intents and purposes.

Stephen Lewis, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Daniel Rogers Speaker of the Senate.

Dover, February 9, 1796.

State of Delaware Ss. I James Booth secretary of the said State of Delaware, do hereby Certify that the above, and preceding pages are a true copy of the original act, whereof the same purports to be a copy Deposited in the Office of the secretary of the said State. In Testimony I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Public Seal of the said Office at New Castle the twenty sixth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred and ninety six. Jas. Booth

A True copy test Simon Wilmer Wilson Recorder

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll: 787, Image 482, Book E, Vol 2, Page 197. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221874-00481?pId=2437130

Transcribed 18 Sep 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky