Know all all Men by these Presents that we Agnes Sykes and James Sykes Executors of the last Will and Testament of James Sykes Esquire both of the Town of Dover in Kent County and State of Delaware for A valuable Consideration have bargained and sold unto John Gibbs Negro of the Town and State afsd. one Negro Girl named Venus now of the age of  sixteen Years to have and to hold the said girl Venus untill she arrives at the age of twenty four years from the Date of this Instrument and we do by these presents declare the said Girl Venus to be free and to have the full Enjoyment of her liberty from and after the time that she arrives at the twenty fourth year of her age and we further declare that should the said Venus have Issue during the Term of eight years for which she is sold that the same shall be bond servants to the said John Gibbs his heirs & for and during the Term of Twenty one Years only. Agnes Sykes {seal} James Sykes {seal}

Witness our Hands and Seals this Twenty seventh day of June Anno 1794 {Note the words “and after” were Interlined before signing}

Witness: Henry Bell. George Sykes

A True Copy Test Francis Many Recorder

This 2nd day of July 1794 The above is Transferred & Assigned to Cuffe Ellis see folio 112 this Book

[image 396, page 112]

I do hereby assign and Transfer the within Bill of Sale to Cuffe Ellis for value received, Witness my Hand and Seal this first day of May anno 1795. John Gibbs his mark {seal}

Witness James Sykes. Joseph Hale.  

See the bill of Sale recorded in this Book folio 41 by Mr Many now decd}

A True Copy test, Simon Wilmer Wilson Recorder

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 787, Image 322, Book E, Vol 2, Page 41. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221874-00321?pId=2436571

Transcribed 19 Sep 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky