To all People to whom these Presents Shall Come We Thomas Dunning of Kent County on Delaware yeoman and Mary his wife Send Greeting Whereas We the Said Thomas Dunning and Mary his wife Having in our Possession a Negro woman Named Dol, aged about Twenty Two years also a Negro Child Born of the Body of the Said Negro woman Named Rachel aged Two months the third Day of this Instant Last Past the Said Negro woman did formerly Belong to a Certain Francis Parrot in Maryland Decd. Which Said Negro woman and Child according to the Custom of this Land are Deemed Slaves and thereby held in Bondage But we the Said Thomas Dunning and Mary his Wife are Convinced By the Inshining Light of Gods Spirit of the injustice of Such a Custom and Practice which Spirit Doth Call all that Walk in the Light thereof with Liberty and Freedom, which ???? ???? Doth Teach us that with God there is no Respect of Persons and that he hath made and that he hath made of our Blood all Nations of People upon the face of the whole Earth and doth further Teach us to Lett the oppressed go free and Break way yoak and to do unto all Men as we would they Should do unto us. Now Know ye that we the Said Thomas Dunning and Mary his wife Being of Good and Perfect mind and without fraud or Deceit, Divers Good Causes and Consideration us Hereunto moving and in Obedience to the most high God Have Given, granted and Confirmed and by These Presents do give grant and Confirm unto the afsd Negro Woman and Negro Child their Liberty and freedom from the afsd Slavery and Bondage To have and to hold the Liberty and freedom of the Said Negro woman Named  Dol as above said unto her the Said Negro woman from the Day of the Date hereof and unto the Said Negro Child Named Rachel after that she Shall arrive at the age of Sixteen years which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Eight Two. To the only Proper use and Behoof of them the Said Dol and Rachel and their Heirs forever freely Peaceably and Quietly to enjoy their Said Liberty and freedom without any manner of Reclaim Challenge or Contradiction of us the Said Thomas Dunning and Mary his wife our Heirs Executors administrators or assigns or any other Person or Persons by us from us or in our Names to be given Rendered or Done in time or Come so that neither we the Said Thomas Dunning or mary his wife our Heirs Executors or Assigns nor any other Person or Persons y us for us or in our Names or in the name or names of us or any of us at any Time or Times as after the Times above Limitted for the freedom of the Said Dol and Rachel may ask Claim Challenge or Demand any Interest right or Title in or to the above named Negroes Dol and Rachel or either of them or either of their heirs or any Part of the Labour or Service of them the said Dol and Rachel or their Heirs But from all Action of right Title Claim, Interest, use, Possession and Demand thereof we and every of us to be utterly Excluded and for ever Debarred By these Presents. In Witness whereof we the Said Thomas Dunning and Mary his wife Have Interchangeably Set their Hands and Seals to these Presents the Twenty eight Day of the fourth month Anno Dom: One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Six. Thomas Dunning {seal} Mary Dunning her mark {seal}

Sealed and Delivered in Presence of us David Hilford Benjamin Chipman

Kent County on Delaware Ss Be it Remembered that Thomas Dunning and Mary his wife 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 Named Negro woman Named Dol and her female Child named Rachel according to the use Intent and Purpose thereof In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Publick Seal of Kent County Aforesaid. John Vining Prothy

A True Copy Test Caesar Rodney Recordr.

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 782, Image 39. Book R, Volume 1, Page 207.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221869-00038?pId=2427872

Transcribed 31 Jan 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky