Manumission Simon, Flora, Jacob, Abram, Rachel and Eben from Henry and John Farson 1778

Know all Men by this present Instrument of Writing that We Henry & John Farson of Duck Creek Hundred in Kent County on Delaware do hereby manumit and se absolutely free the following named Negroes towitt negro Man called Simon aged about fifty years, who has been at Liberty about two years; also Woman named Flora aged about fifty years who has been paid Wages for three years; Jacob a Man aged about thirty years; Abram a Man aged about twenty six years Rachel a Woman aged about eighteen years, & her Child named Eben aged two months & som Days: so that henceforth they they the forenamed ^Negroes shall be deemed adjudged & taken as and for free People to all Intents & Purposes, that is to say Simon Jacob Abram Flora & Rachel from this day to be at their own Disposal & at Liberty to act for themselves without the Lett Hindrance or Molestation of us or either of us, or any Person or Persons claiming or to claim by from or under us or either of us forever either them or their Posterity And likewise Boy Eben when he shall arive to lawful age, to be entituled to the same Priviledge of disposing of himself as the others now have .

And further we do hereby bind ourselves and each of us, & each of our Heirs Exrs Administrators & every of us Jointly and severally in the penal Sum of one hundred Pounds lawful Money of the lower Counties on Delaware unto each of the aforesaid Negroes, to be recovered by such of them on whom an Attempt may be made to deprive them in any Sort of their Liberty from such of us as may so attempt. As also in the like Sum of one Hundred Pound like lawful Money to compel such of us as may so attempt to do or perform any other or further Act or Deed that they or either of them may may reasonably require or need in Order to further confirm and establish their just & equitable Liberty as aforesaid. In Witness thereof we have hereunto set our Hands and affix’d our Seals this twenty-eighth Day of the fourth Month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred & seventy eight. 1778. Henry Farson {seal} John Farson {seal}

Signed sealed & delivered In presence of us Isaac Jackson Warner Mifflin David Farson

Record Examined Warner Mifflin

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

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2189/images/31906_275426-00504?pId=2350986

Transcribed 19 Jun 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky