Know All men by these presents that I Mary Shewel widow of Smyrna Kent County & State of Delaware Being the owner and in Possession of a Certain Female Slave Namely, Mary Harris she now being Eighteen years of age lacking four Days And having to serve until she arrives to the age of one and twenty agreeable to Law her mother being my manumitted slave and the said mary Harris being born after the manumition of her said Mother and before she was free, Therefore to all whome these presents may Come Know ye that from divers Causes me thence to moveing I do herby release against myself my heirs Executors Administrators and against all and singular and other Person or persons whatsoever Claiming or that may Claim by through or under me in any way or manner Whatsoever All my Right title Claim Interest & demand of in and unto the said Mary Harris Negro aforesaid from the day of the date here of henceforth & for ever And further more that the same mary Harris is now at Liberty to depart in peace to act & Transact for hir self and to enyoy all the privileges of a free Woman of Colour. Given under my hand and seal this twenty seventh Day of march in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and twenty three. A.D. 1823. Mary Shewell {seal}

Signed Sealed & Delivered, in, presence of us Jacob Pennington Alex M. Clyment

Kent County ss: Personally Came Mary Sewell before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in & for said County and acknowledged the above manumition or freeing of said Mary Harris therein Named to be hir property act and  Deed for the use and purpose therein mentioned And requested it should be recorded as such Given under my hand and seal at Smyrna this 27th day of March 1823. Alex. MClyment

A true Copy Recorded March 28th Day A.D. 1823. Attest Charles Kimmey Recordr.

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 795, Image 270. Book W, Vol 2, Page 163. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221882-00269?pId=2443121

Transcribed 10 Jul 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky