Know all men by these presents that I Henry M Ridgely of the town of Dover Kent County and State of Delaware from motives of benevolence and humanity have manumitted enfranchised and Set free from Slavery and do hereby manumit enfranchise and Set free from Slavery my negro male Slave named Richard otherwise called Richard Walcott and Some times Richard Buck whom I purchased from a certain Levi Walcott on the 2nd day of March 1824 when he was in the twenty first year of his Age he the Said Richard being now in the 30th year of his age and being healthy and no ways decrepit or rendered incapable of getting his living. In witness whereof I have Hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Sixth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three. H. M. Ridgely {seal}

Signed Sealed and delivered In our presence by the Said Henry M Ridgely and attested and subscribed by us as witnesses in his presence. T.S. Hillyard C. Kimmey Jr.

State of Delaware Kent County Ss. Be it remembered that on this Sixth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three Henry M Ridgely party to the foregoing Deed of Manumission personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for Kent county aforesaid and did acknowledge that the Said manumission is his act and Deed. In Testimony whereof I the Said Justice of the peace have hereunto Set my hand and Seal the day and year in this behalf above written. J Biddle {seal}

A true Copy recorded and compared with the original this 6th day of May A D 1833. Attest John W Many Recdr.

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 799, Image 226. Book G, Volume 3, Page 54.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221886-00225?pId=2451801

Transcribed 6 Dec 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky