Know all men by these presents that I John Baynard of Kent County and State of Delaware for divers good causes  and Consideration me hereunto moveing do hereby manumit anfranchise and absolutely Set free my Negro Man William Hawkins aged about twenty Seven years to be free and at his perfect liberty from the date hereof and I do hereby warrant and defend the liberty and freedom of the Said Negro William Hawkins from myself my heirs Executors or administrators and from all and every person or persons lawfully Claiming or to Claim by from or under any of us or otherwise. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal this 24th day of May A.D. 1824. John Baynard {seal}

Witnesses Present John W. Many John Durborow Jr.

State of Delaware Kent County Ss. I do hereby certify that John Baynard personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for the aforesaid County and acknowledged the above manumission of Negro William Hawkins to be his act and Deed agreeable to the true intent and meaning thereof in due form of Law this 24th day of May Eighteen hundred and twenty four 1824. Jacob Furbee

A true Copy recorded and compared with the Original this twenty fourth day of May A.D. 1824. Attest John W. Many Recd.

“Kent, Delaware, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSGD-G3HZ-X?view=fullText : Feb 8, 2025), image 639 of 712; . 008217891

Transcribed 8 Feb 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky