I Luke Spencer of Sussex County on Delaware, Farmer, believing it to be my Duty from a Sense thereof, do hereby manumit and set absolutely free all my Negroes as hereafter particularly named To witt, my negro Woman Esther aged about thirty-five years, my negro Man Jacob aged about twenty eight years, negro Girl Esther aged two years, so that they shall be deemed adjudged & taken for free People henceforth; That is to say negro Woman Esther & Man Jacob this Day, and Girl Esther when she arives to eighteen years of Age, to be at their own Disposal and at Liberty to act for themselves as free Woman & Man without the Lett Hindrance or Molestation of Me or any other Person or Persons Whatsoever. And further I do hereby bind myself my Heirs Executors Admin’r and every of us in the penal Sum of one hundred Pounds Lawfull Money of this Government unto each the aforesaid Negroes, to do and execute any other or further act that they may reasonably require or need for the further confirming and establishing unto them their just Rights & Priviledges as aforesaid: And I do further hereby impower them & each of them to recover from any Person or Persons the like Sum as aforesd. if they may attempt to enslave them by Colour or Presence of Right derived from Me, as Damages to them by such Attempt. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & affixed my Seal this thirty first Day of the third Month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred & seventy five. 1775. Luke Spencer {seal}

Witness present. John Cowgil Warner Mifflin Baptist Lay Killiam Wilson

Record Examined Warner Mifflin

U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Delaware, Kent County, Duck Creek Monthly Meeting, Manumissions 1774-1792, Image 8, Page 10.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2189/images/31906_275426-00485?pId=2350650

Transcribed 3 Feb 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky