To all whom this may come Know ye that I Joshua Spencer of Cedar Creek Hundred in Sussex County on Delaware do hereby manumit and set absolutely free all my Negroes, hereafter particularly named Towitt my Negro Man named Peter aged upwards of twenty one years, Negro Woman named Jane aged near thirty years, Negro Man Daniel aged nineteen years; Sarah born the 7th Day of 5th Mo 1763; Hercules Boy born the 6th Day of 8th Mo 1765. Nancy a Girl born in the 3d Month 1767 Cudgo Boy born the 13th of 8th Mo 1770; Priscilla Girl born the 3d Day of the 8th Month 1773; so that henceforth they shall be deemed adjudged and taken as and for free People, that is to say Peter & Jane this Day Daniel, Hercules & Cudgo when they arive to twenty one years of Age; Sarah Nancy and Priscilla Girls when they arrive to eighteen years of age. Then to be at Liberty to act for themselves & to be at their own Disposal as Free Men & Women without the Lett hindrance or Molestation of Me my Heirs Exrs Admrs or any other Person or Persons whatsoever. And O further do hereby bind myself my Heirs Exrs Admrs so every of us unto each the aforesaid Negroes in the penal Sum of one hundred pounds lawfull Money of his Government to do and perform any other or further Act or deed that by them may be reasonably needed or required for further confirming and establishing unto them & each of them their just right & Liberty as aforesaid, and also do hereby Authorize them & each of any just Sum with full and free Power and Liberty in their or either of their own proper Names as free Men and Women, to commence Action in Law against any Person or Persons who may attempt to deprive them of the Liberty hereby granted and intended to be granted unto them, when they shall be intituled to recover the like Sum of one Hundred Pounds as Damages for such Attempt, as often as it be made by any Person claiming by Colour or Presence of Right derived from Me; And I do promise for Me & my Heirs to do our best Endeavour to teach or cause to be taught each and every of the young ones to read in the Bible, In Witness whereof I do hereunto set my Hand & affix my Seal this first Day of the fourth month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five. 1775 Peter the above named Negroe Man has been at Liberty upwards of three years. Joshua Spencer {seal}

Witness present John Cowgill. Warner Mifflin. Baptist Lay. William Wilson

Record Examined Warner Mifflin

U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Delaware, Kent County, Duck Creek Monthly Meeting, Manumissions, Image 9, Page 11. 

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2189/images/31906_275426-00486?pId=2350656

Transcribed 4 Feb 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky