Know all Men by these presents that I Joseph Nock, of Motherkiln Hundred & County of Kent upon Delaware being fully convinced of the Iniquity & Injustice of detaining my fellow Men in Bondage for a Term of Life, as inconsistent in my Judgment to the Tenor of the Gospel delivered us by Christ & his Apostles, and irreconcilable to that special royal Injunction of our Redeemer to “do unto all en as ye would they should do unto you” do therefore from full Conviction of Duty declare, & manumit, my Negroes hereafter named & their Posterity forever absolutely free from Me my Heirs Exrs Admrs or any other Person or Persons claiming or making any Pretence or Colour of Claim derived from Me vis James a negro Man aged about twenty two years now immediately from the Date hereof to be at his own Disposal; Major a Boy born ye ___ Day of the 2d Month 1761; & Boy George born the ___ Day of the ___ Month; both which last mentioned, after they arive at the age of twenty one years, to be in like Manner at their own Disposal and Liberty to act for themselves without the Lett Hindrance or Molestation of Me or any other Person claiming as afsd _ And further, I do hereby bind Myself my Heirs Exrs Admrs & every of them ^ to each of ye afsd Negroes in the ??? & full Sum of two hundred Pounds current lawful Money of this Government to be recovered with Costs, on any Attempt at Law that may, by Me my Heirs Exrs, Admrs or other Person Claiming as afsd be made to deprive them or either of them of their just Liberty (hereby as fully intended to be granted them as any Person may or can enjoy the same) by each or either of the said Negroes in their Persons or attorneys from  Me my Heirs Exrs Admrs or any other Person from by or under my Right making Out on said Account. In Confirmation hereof I do hereunto set my Hand and affix my Seal this ninth Day of the seventh Month Anno Domini 1778. Joseph Nock {seal]

Sealed & acknowledged in the presence of Daniel Mifflin Joseph Jenkins Walker Mifflin Warner Mifflin

Record Examined Warner Mifflin

U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Delaware, Kent, Duck Creek Monthly Meeting, Manumissions 1774-1792, Image 32

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2189/images/31906_275426-00509?pId=2351059

Transcribed 22 Sep 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky