Know all men by these presents that I Jonathan Manlove of the Vilage of Milford in the county of Kent and State of Delaware do hereby manumit enfranchise and absolutely free ???? ???? the following Black People or negroes in manner and form and at such time & times as herein after expressed that is to say negro Ruth I hereby declare to be free and at her own free liberty from and after the first day of January which shall be in the year of our Lord God one thousand Eight hundred and four. and negro Philip I also declare to be free from and after the first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and four. And negro Moses I hereby declare to be a free man from and after the first day of January which shall be in the year of our Lord  One thousand Eight hundred and six. Negro Cato I also declare to be free in like manner as afsd from and after the first day of January which shall be in the year of our Lord  One thousand Eight hundred and Seventeen & negro Easter to be free on the same day as Cato. and negro Rachel to be free at her own liberty on the first day of January  which shall be in the year of our Lord God One thousand Eight hundred and twenty three and no one of the afsd negroes will except the age of thirty five years at their respective times of being free and at their own liberty.

And further I do hereby warrant and defend the freedom of the afsd negroes from the Lawful claim or claims of all and every person Claiming or ^to Claim them or either of any of them by from or under me my Heirs Executors administrators or any or either of them and from the lawful claim of all and every other person or persons whatever In Testimony whereof I do hereunto set my Hand & affix my seal this third day of July I the year of our Lord God One thousand Eight hundred and one. 1801. Jona. Manlove {seal}

Signed Sealed & delivered in presence of us John Ralston William Ralston

State of Delaware Kent County.  SS Before me John Ralston one of the Justices of the peace for sd. County on the ___ day of July One thousand Eight hundred & one personally appeared Jonathan Manlove Esqr did acknowledge the within instrument  of writing or manumission to be his act and deed according to true intent & meaning thereof Given under my Hand at Milford in the afsd county the day & year above mentioned. John Ralston

A True Copy Attest

“Kent, Delaware, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSGD-LSPV-L?view=fullText : Feb 10, 2025), image 88 of 596; . 008217887

Transcribed 10 Feb 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky