Whereas my beloved Husband John Bowers did in his last Will & Testament devise unto Me the following Negroes towitt, Charles a negro Man aged about forty years to be for my use during my natural Life, also his Wife called Fill aged about forty years also to my own use and Behoof forever, Now I Rachel Bowers Widow of murtherkiln Hundred & County of Kent on Delaware do hereby manumitt & set Absolutely free the aforesd Negroes (who have been at their own Disposal some Time) that is to say Man Charles for and during my natural Life as afd (he being then to  return to my son Isaac Lowber who also hath time back absolutely discharged him) as  also his Wife Fill and at Liberty to act for themselves without the left Hindrance or Molestation of Me my Heirs Executors Admrs or any other Person or Persons Whatsoever claiming or to claim by from or under me. And further do hereby bind myself my Heirs Executors Administrators & every of us to each the afsd Negroes in the penal Sum of one hundred Pounds lawfull Money of this Government to do or perform any other or further Act or Deed that they may reasonably require or need to further confirm their just Liberty afsd. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affix’d my Seal this 3d Day of ye 6th Month one thousand Seven Hundred & seventy six. 1776. Rachel Bowers her mark {seal}

Sealed & delivered in presence of John Cowgill. Warner Mifflin. William Wilson John Dickinson

Record Examined Warner Mifflin

U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Delaware, Kent, Duck Creek Monthly Meeting, Manumissions 1774-1792, Image 11, Page 16.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2189/images/31906_275426-00488?pId=2350688

Transcribed 6 Feb 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky