I Thomas Hanson of Kent County on Delaware do hereby ^set free from Bondage my hereafter named Negroes Viz my negro Man named Cooper about forty ___ years of Age, who has been at his Liberty & away from Me about ___ years; also my negro Woman Ann about forty ___ years of aged & been at her Liberty about ___ years; also my Negro Man Jack about thirty ___ years of age who has had his Liberty and away from Me about two years; also my Negro Woman named Jude about twenty five years of age, who has been at her Liberty & away from Me about two years & a half; also my negro Woman named Joan, who had Liberty & left Me before she was eighteen years of age, with her young Child named Phebe which child is now about ___ And do for Myself my Executors & Administrators release unto the said Negroes and to each ^ and every of them, all my Right, and all Claim whatsoever as to their Persons or to any Estate they may acquire;  hereby declaring the said Negroes Namely Cooper, Ann, Jack, Jude & Joan, absolutely ^free from the Date hereof, & the Child Phebe to be free when she shall arive to the eighteenth year of her Age, without any Interruption from me or any Person or Persons claiming or pretending to claim under Me. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal this thirtieth Day of the fourth Month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred and Seventy-eight. Thomas Hanson {seal}

Sealed & delivered in the presence of Isaac Jackson John Churchman

*Joan was born ye 1st of 8th Month 1759.

Record Examined Warner Mifflin

U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Delaware, Kent County, Duck Creek Meeting, Manumissions

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2189/images/31906_275426-00505?pId=2351011

Transcribed 20 Jun 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky