Know all Men by these presents that I Thomas WainWright of the village of Camden in Kent County and state of Delaware beleave it to be rong and oppresive to hold negroes in Abject slavery have and by these presents doth Manumate and set free my Negro man John Hicks from the day of the date hereof and the freedom of the said John Hicks, I do hereby warrant and for ever defend by these presents from all and every person Claiming by through or under me my heirs Executors and administrators or any of them as witness my hand and seal the The twenty first day of February in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and twenty three. Thomas Wainwright {seal}

Test. Samuel Dickson Benj. Brady

Kent County sst I Benjamin Brady one of the Justices of the peace for said County do hereby Certify that on the 21st day of February 1823, Came before me the said Justice the above named Thomas Wainwright and acknowledged the foregoing Manumission to be his act and Deed and delivered it for the use and purposes therin Mentioned given under my hand and seal the day and year above written Benj. Brady

A true Copy compared March 5th 1823. Attest Chas Kimmey Record.

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 795, Image 260, Book W, Vol 2, Page 153. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221882-00259?pId=2443121

Transcribed 14 Jun 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky