Know all men by these presents that I Nathaniel Smithers the Elder of Kent County in the State of Delaware do manumit Emancipate liberate and Set free, and by these presents Hath manumitted liberated Emancipated and Set free a certain Negro woman named Mary the Slave of me the said Nathaniel Smithers she being now about twenty years old and a healthy woman and I hereby declare the Said Negro Mary a free woman to all intents and purposes from and after the date of these presents, and that she shall be capable of enjoying all the rights and privileges that a free negro or mulatto can or may enjoy by the Laws of the said State of Delaware In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the twelfth day of May in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred and fifteen. Nathl. Smithers {seal}

Sealed & delivered in the presence of us. Benjn Blackiston Thomas George

Kent County Sst. Be it remembered that the above named Nathaniel Smithers personally appeared before me Benjamin Blackiston one of the Justices of the peace of the State of Delaware for Said County of Kent and did acknowledge the above manumission as his act and deed for the uses & purposes therein mentioned and desired that it may be recorded as such In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the twelfth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred & fifteen. Benjm Blackiston

A true copy recorded and compared with the original this 11 day of September Anno Domini 1815. Attest John W. Many Recr.

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 792, Image 378, Book Q, Volume 2, Page 15. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221879-00377?pId=2443121

Transcribed 17 May 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky