State of Delaware Kent County Know all men by these presents that I Elias Shockley of the Village of Milford county & State aforesaid for divers good Causes and Considerations me hereunto moving do hereby Manumit enfranchise and absolutely set free my Negro boy Named Robert from and after the Sixteenth day of April in the year of our  Lord one thousand Eight hundred and twenty five at which time he will be about Twenty Six years of age he the aforesaid Robert to serve me my heirs or assigns untill the aforesaid Sixteenth day of April Eighteen hundred and twenty five and then to be free and at his perfect liberty and I the aforesaid Elias Shockley do hereby warrant and defend the liberty and freedom of the aforesaid Robert from the Lawful Claim of me my heirs Executors and administrators and Every other person Claiming by from or under me In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this twenty ninth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Nineteen Elias Shockley {seal}

Sealed and Delivered in presence of Waitman Boddy Benjamin McSwain

State of Delaware Kent County Before me Spencer Williams one of the Justices Assigned to keep the peace in and for the aforesaid County on the twenty ninth day of January n the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Nineteen Personally appeared the within named Elias Shockley in his proper person and did Acknowledge and declare the within Manumission of his Negro boy Robert 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. S. Williams

A true Copy recorded and Compared with the Original the 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 197, Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221881-00102?pId=2443121 

Transcribed 1 Jun 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky