Know all men by these presents that I Joshua Nickerson of Kent county in the State of Delaware for divers good causes and considerations me hereunto moveing hath and by these presents doth manumit emancipate Liberate an set free and at full liberty a femal negro the slave of me the said Joshua Nickerson named Rachel Ayers and I hereby declare that from and after the date of these presents that the Said Rachel Ayers shall be deemed and considered as free woman and shall be capable of enjoying all the right and privelages that free negros or mulottoes may or can enjoy by the Laws of the Said State of Delaware In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal the first day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Seventeen Joshua Nickerson {seal}

Signed and delivered in the presence of us James Schee Mary Schee

Kent County Sst} Be it Remembered that on the first day of March in the yeare of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Seventeen the above named Joshua Nickerson appeared before me James Schee one of the Justices of the peace of the State of Delaware at Kent County and did acknowledge the above manumission as his act and Deed for the use and purposes therein mentioned. In Testimony whereof I have here unto Set my hand and affixed my Seal the day and  year above written James Schee {seal}

A true copy recorded and compared with the original this 4th day of March A.D. 1817. Attest John W. Many Recorder

“Kent, Delaware, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSGD-2S36-C?view=fullText : Feb 11, 2025), image 169 of 485; . 008217889

Transcribed 11 Feb 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky