Know all men by these presents That I Molton Rickards of the village of Milford County and State aforesaid for divers good causes and Considerations me hereunto moving do hereby Manumit Enfranchise and abasulitly set free my Negro boy named John from and after the sixteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and twenty Seven at which time he will be about twenty six years of age he the aforesaid John to Serve me my heres or assigns untill the aforesaid Sixteenth day of April Eighteen hundred and twenty seven and then to be free and at his perfect liberty and I the aforesaid Molton Rickards do hereby warrent and defend the liberty and Freedom of the aforesaid John from the Lawfull Claim of me My heirs Executors and Administrators and every other person Claiming by from or under me In Testimony whereof I have hereunto I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty ninth day of January in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred & Nineteen. Molton Rickards {seal}

Sealed & delivered in the presence of Mark Greer Elias Shockley      

State of Delaware Kent County Before me Elias Shockley one of the Justices assigned to keep the peace in and for the aforesaid County on the twenty ninth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and nineteen Personally appeared the within named Molton Rickards in his proper Person and did Acknowledge and declare the within Manumission of his Negro boy John therein named and mentioned to be his act and Deed according to the true intent and Meaning thereof. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal. Elias Shockley

A true copy recorded and compared with the original this 10th day of May A.D. 1819. Attest John W. Many Recdr.

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 794, Image 103, Book S, Vol 2, Page 196. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221881-00102?pId=2443121

Transcribed 27 May 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky