To all People to whom these Presents Shall Come We Paris Chipman of Kent County on Delaware yeoman and Margaret his wife Send Greeting Whereas we the Said Paris Chipman and Margaret his wife Being Possessed and having under Care a Negro Boy named Thomas who was Born on the Twelfth Day of August in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and fifty Eight which Said Negro Boy according to the Custom of this Land is Deemed a Slave for Term of Life and we the said Paris Chipman and margaret his wife are Convinced By the Inshining Light of Gods Spirit which Teacheth us that it is Contrary to the mind of the Lord to Enslave or keep in Bondage any of our fellow Creatures being that god hath made of one Blood all nations of People upon the face of the whole Earth and Doth Teach us to Let the Oppressed go free and to do unto all men as we would they should do unto us Now Know ye that we the said Paris Chipman and Margaret his wife Being of a good and Perfect mind and without fraud or Deceit Divers good Causes and Considerations us hereunto moving and in Obedience to the most High God have given Granted & Confirmed and by these Presents do give grant and Confirm unto the above said Negro Boy Named Thomas all our right Title and Interest of in or to him the Said Thomas his Labour or Service or any thing arising therefrom after that he the said Thomas Shall arrive at the age of Twenty one years which will on the Twelfth Day of August Annoque Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and twenty nine To have and to hold the Liberty and Freedom of Said Thomas from the above said Slavery and Bondage unto him the Said Thomas to the only Property use and Behoof of him the Said Thomas forever Peaceably and Quietly to enjoy his Said freedom and Liberty from the Said Slavery and Bondage after his arrival at the age of Twenty one years as above said without any manner of reclaim Challange or Contradicttion of us the Said Paris Chipman and Margaret his wife our Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns or of any other Person or Persons By any means Title or Procurement of us or any of us so that neither we the said Paris Chipman and Margaret his wife our Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns nor any other Person or Persons By us for us or in our Names or in the name or Names of us or any of us (at any Time or Times  after the Time above Limited for the freedom of the Said Thomas) May ask Claim Challenge or Demand any right Title or Interest of in or to the Said Thomas his Labour or Service or any arising from any Part thereof But from all action of right Title, Claim, Interest, use Possession and Demand thereof we and every of us to be utterly Excluded and Forever Debarred By these Presents In Witness whereof we the Said Paris Chipman and Margaret his wife Have Interchangeably Set their Hands and Seals to these Presents This Twenty fourth Day of may Anno Domini One Thousand seven Hundred and Sixty Six. Peres Chipman {seal}. Margret Chipman her mark {seal}

Sealed and Delivered in Present of us Thomas Dunning Wm Manlove

Kent County on Delaware Ss Be it Remembered that Paris Chipman Came into the Court of Common Pleas held at Dover in and for Kent County on Delaware the Twelfth Day of August in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and sixty seven and then and there did acknowledge the within Deed unto the within mentioned Boy Named Thomas for the uses Intent and ???????? Herein mentioned. In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto affixed the Publick Seal of Kent County ??? John Vining Prothy

A True Copy Test [page taped, writing obliterated]

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 782, Image 38. Book R, Volume 1, Page 207

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221869-00037?pId=2427872

Transcribed 31 Jan 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky