To all People to whom these Presents Shall Come I William Anderson of Kent County on Delaware yeoman Send Greeting Whereas I the Said William Anderson having in my Possession a Negro man Named John aged about Twenty Six years also a Negro woman Named Lydia aged about Twenty five years also three Negro Children Born of the Body of the Said Lydia The Two Eldest of which Children, the one Named Comfort, and the other named Mariam Both born at a Birth on the Eighteenth Day of May in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty four. the youngest of which Children named Jessey Born on the Tenth Day of September Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Six, which Said Negro man and Woman and Three Children according to the Custom of this Land are deemed Slaves and thereby held in Bondage. But I the said William Anderson Being Convinced by the Inshining Light of Gods Spirit of the unjustness of Such a Custom and Practice which Spirit Doth Call all that Walk in the Light thereof into Liberty and freedom Which hath Taught and Doth Teach me that with God there is no Respect of Persons and that he hath made of our Blood all nations of People upon the face of the whole Earth and Doth further Teach me to Let the oppressed go free and Break every yoke and do unto all men as I would they Should go unto me, Now Know ye, that I the Said William Anderson being of a good and Perfect mind and without fraud or Deceit, Divers good Causes and Considerations me hereunto moving and in Obedience to the most High God Have given granted and Confirmed and by these Presents do give grant & Confirm unto the above said Negroes and every of them their Liberty and freedom from the afsd Slavery and Bondage To have and to hold  the Liberty and freedom of the Said Negro man named John and the Said Woman Named Lydia as above said unto them the said John and Lydia from the Day of the Date thereof and unto the Two Eldest negro Children named Comfort and Mariam when they shall arrive to the age of Sixteen years which will Be in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eight and unto the youngest of Said Children Named Jesse when he Shall arrive to the age of Twenty one years which will Be in Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Seven to the only use and Behoof of the above named  Negroes and their offspring forever, freely Peacably and Quietly to Enjoy their Sad Liberty and freedom without any manner of Reclaim Challange or Contradiction of me the Said William Anderson my heirs Executors administrators or assigns & of any other Person or Persons by me for me or in my name or any Person by any means Title or Procurement in any manner or wise in my name to be Given Rendered or Done in time to Come So that neither I the Said William Anderson my heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns or any other Person or Persons in our Names or in the Name or Names of us or any of us, at any Time or Times after the Times above Limited for the freedom of the above Named Negroes May ask Claim Challenge, or Demand any Interest Right or Title of in or to the Labour or Service of the above Named Negroes or either of them or either of their offspring But from all action of Right Title Claim Interest use Possession and Demand thereof or any advantage arising therefrom we and every of us to be utterly Excluded and Delivered forever by their Presents In Witness whereof the Said William Anderson have hereunto set my hand and seal this twelfth Day of August Anno Dom. One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Seven 1767. William Anderson {seal}

Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of David Hilford, Saml Robinson Thomas Dunning

Kent County on Delaware Ss Be it Remembered that William Anderson 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 Negroes for the uses Intents and Purposes therein mentioned In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Publick Seal of Kent County afsd. John Vining Prothy

A True Copy Test Caesar Rodney Recordr

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll 782, Image 38. Book R, Volume 1, Page 206.

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

Transcribed 31 Jan 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky