Manumissions by Quaker Warner Mifflin, 1774 and 1775
Text of Manumission Documents
First Manumission Document, October 22, 1774.
I, Warner Miffiin of the County of Kent on Delaware, Merchant, do hereby manumit and set absolutely free my negro Man called James (whom I set at Liberty some time back and gave an Instrument of Writing for said Purpose under my Hand and Seal) also my negro Woman called Mariah aged about twenty-three & her child Ann aged three years; and her child Lydia aged six years to be absolutely free at eighteen years of age; as also my negro Girl called Melissa about twelve years of age, also to be absolutely free at eighteen years of age: so that the said negro Man James and negro Woman Mariah shall be deemed adjudged and taken as and for free and at their own disposal to all Intents and Purposes; and also her child Ann and her child Lydia & the girl Melissa when they arrive to eighteen years of age as aforesaid without the Lett Hindrance or Molestation of any Person or Persons whatsoever. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this twenty-second Day of the tenth Month in the year of our Lord One thousand, seven hundred and seventy-four --1774. Warner Mifflin. [seal]
Sealed & delivered in the presence of Joseph Jenkins, Daniel Mifflin, James Starr.
Second Manumission Document, January 9, 1775. [Line breaks added for ease in reading]
I, Warner Mifflin, of Kent County on Delaware, Merchant, fully persuaded in my Conscience that it is a Sin of a deep dye to make Slaves of my fellow Creatures, or to Continue them in Slavery, and believing it to be impossible to Obtain that Peace my Soul Desires while my Hands are found full of injustice, as by unjustly detaining in Bondage, those that have as just and Equitable Right to their Freedom and Liberty of their persons as myself --
Therefore for remedying the same I do hereby declare all the Negroes I have hereafter particularly Named, Absolutely Free, them and their Posterity forever, from me my
Heirs, Executors, Adms., and every of them. To witt
Hannah, an ancient Negroe Woman,
Ezekiel, a Man about Twenty-Five Years of Age,
Beniah, a Negroe Man about Twenty-Seven Years of Age,
Paul, a negroe man, about Twenty Years of age,
Nancy, a Negroe Woman about Thirty Years of age, and her Girl Hannah, about Fourteen Years of Age, Daniel, her Negroe boy about Ten years of age, her Girl Jenny, about Five years of age, girl Nanny, about Three years of age, Boy Abram, about ten months old;
Negroe Grace, a woman about Twenty-Seven years of age, her Girl Betty, about thirteen years of Age, Henny, her Girl about Eleven years of age, her boy Richard about Seven Years and Nine months old, Girl Rebecca, about Three years old;
hereby I'm powering them and Each of them with Full and Free Liberty to commence suit in Law against me, my Heirs, Executors, Administrators or any of us that may attempt to enthrawl imbondage or deprive of their liberty in any respect by Colour or Pretence of Right derived from me, and I do hereby convey to them and each of them all the Right Power and Authority I have heretofore had to commence an Action against any person that had heretofore got one of them out of my possession and refused the Delivery Back again; each one to stand in the place for him or herself that I have had to stand for them in behalf of my Own Interest in the same case, when they shall be entitled to recover all such costs as they may be at in prosecuting the Suit from such of us as may attempt as aforesaid. And I do hereby also lay it as a Charge on the Consciences of the Court or Jury before whom it may be brought that they particularly adhere to this evidence in behalf of the aff'd. Negroes;
But believing it to be my Duty to take upon myself the power and authority of the young ones to Raise and Educate them till they arrive to lawful age, do therefore reserve that Prerogative over the Male till they arrive to Twenty-one Years of Age, and the Female till they arrive to Eighteen Years of Age, which I do hereby direct to be determined by the Ages of Each as particularly mentioned afforesaid, calling them the very age this day that they are said to be about such an age.
And whereas a Negroe man named Solomon just came to me (upwards of forty years of age) being left by my Grand-Mother, Mary Mifflin, to serve which of her Grand-children he pleased and by letter just received from my Father, Daniel Mifflin, one of the Executors in her Will named informing me, he the said Negroe Solomon made choice of me. I do also therefore here by declare said Negroe Solomon Absolutely Free from me and my Heirs forever and do entitle him to all and every the privileges of the others on an Attempt to deprive him as afforesaid,
and whereas I have heretofore Manumised and set free my Negroe man James, Negroe woman Meriah, and her children Lidia and Nany and also Negroe girl Melisa, which
Manumission or Clearance I deposited in the Keeping of the Monthly Meeting of the People called Quakers of Duckcreek in this County which I apprehend will be admitted to record by direction of said Meeting together with this, Now we desire is that this being Produced or a copy hereof Certify' d by the Clerk for the time being to said Meeting or in case there should be no Monthly Meeting of and for Duckcreek, Certified copy from the Clerk of the Quarterly Meeting (of said People called Quakers) to which Duckcreek Monthly Meeting last belonged certifying that such record appeared, shall be adjudged, taken and accepted as full as I can enforce it, as if I were personally present and acknowledged the whole thereof, and such I desire that may have anything of the kind before them that they may particularly attend to and distribute justice impartially to the poor Negroes (and not wrest the meaning thereof) the consequence be to them that do otherways, my intention being to clear them from Slavery, to me, my Heirs, or Assigns
forever, -- believing Freedom to be their Natural and just right.
To which I do hereunto set my hand and affix my Seal this Ninth Day of the First Month in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy & Five, 1775.
Warner Mifflin [Seal]
Sealed and acknowledged in presence of us -- Joseph Jenkins, Edward Cole
Persons Named in Manumission Documents
- Manumitted Person's Name: James
Age: Adult male in 1774
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: Not known
Description: "Negro Man"
Status: Manumitted 22 October 1774
Notes:
Date of Record 22 October 1774
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 111-112.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Mariah / Meriah
Age: "aged about twenty-three"
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: circa 1751
Description: "Negro Woman"
Status: Manumitted 22 October 1774
Notes: Mother of Ann and Lydia
Date of Record 22 October 1774
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 111-112.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Ann / Nany
Age: "aged three years"
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: circa 1771
Description: "Child"
Status: To be manumitted at age 18 (1789)
Notes: Daughter of Mariah. Name given as "Nany" in 1775 document.
Date of Record 22 October 1774
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 111-112.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Lydia / Lidia
Age: "aged six years"
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: circa 1768
Description: "Child"
Status: To be manumitted at age 18 (1786)
Notes: Daughter of Mariah
Date of Record 22 October 1774
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 111-112.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Melissa / Melisa
Age: "about twelve years of age"
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: circa 1762
Description: "Negro Girl"
Status: To be manumitted at age 18 (1780)
Notes:
Date of Record 22 October 1774
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 111-112.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Hannah
Age: "ancient"
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: Not known
Description: "Ancient Negro Woman"
Status: Manumitted January 9, 1775
Notes:
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Ezekiel
Age: "about Twenty-Five Years of Age"
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: circa 1750
Description: "Man"
Status: Manumitted January 9, 1775
Notes:
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Beniah
Age: "about Twenty-Seven Years of Age"
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: circa 1748
Description: "Negroe Man"
Status: Manumitted January 9, 1775
Notes:
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Paul
Age: "about Twenty Years of age"
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: circa 1755
Description: "Negroe Man"
Status: To be manumitted at age 21 (1776)
Notes:
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Nancy
Age: "about Thirty Years of age"
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: circa 1745
Description: "Negroe Woman"
Status: Manumitted January 9, 1775
Notes: Mother of Hannah, Daniel, Jenny, Nanny, Abram
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Hannah
Age: "about Fourteen Years of Age"
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: circa 1761
Description: "Girl"
Status: To be manumitted at age 18 (1779)
Notes: Daughter of Nancy
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Daniel
Age: "about Ten years of age"
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: circa 1765
Description: "Negroe Boy"
Status: To be manumitted at age 21 (1786)
Notes: Son of Nancy
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Jenny
Age: "about Five years of age"
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: circa 1770
Description: "Girl"
Status: To be manumitted at age 18 (1788)
Notes: Daughter of Nancy
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Nanny
Age: "about Three years of age"
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: circa 1772
Description: "Girl"
Status: To be manumitted at age 18 (1790)
Notes: Daughter of Nancy
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Abram
Age: "about ten months old"
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: circa March 1774
Description: "Negroe Boy"
Status: To be manumitted at age 21 (March 1795)
Notes: Son of Nancy
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Grace
Age: "about Twenty-Seven years of age"
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: circa 1748
Description: "Negroe Woman"
Status: Manumitted January 9, 1775
Notes: Mother of Betty, Henny, Richard, Rebecca
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Betty
Age: "about thirteen years of Age"
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: circa 1762
Description: "Girl"
Status: To be manumitted at age 18 (1780)
Notes: Daughter of Grace
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Henny
Age: "about Eleven years of age"
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: circa 1764
Description: "Girl"
Status: To be manumitted at age 18 (1782)
Notes: Daughter of Grace
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Richard
Age: "about Seven Years and Nine months old"
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: circa April 1767
Description: "Boy"
Status: To be manumitted at age 21 (April 1788)
Notes: Son of Grace
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Rebecca
Age: "about Three years old"
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: circa 1772
Description: "Girl"
Status: To be manumitted at age 18 (1790)
Notes: Daughter of Grace
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
- Manumitted Person's Name: Solomon
Age: "upwards of forty years of age"
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: prior to 1735
Description: "Negroe Man"
Status: Manumitted January 9, 1775
Notes: Warner Mifflin inherited Solomon from his grandmother, Mary Mifflin, of Virginia. Warner Mifflin included a note on this acquisition in his manumission document:
The reason of my Grandmothers not freeing this negro herself was that she was informed she could not do it because of the Laws of Virginia where she lived, it being a concern to her for several years, but I believe was somewhat relieved with the prospect she had that it would be accomplished by her descendants; she therefore mentioned none of them in her Will except two men, allowing them to make choice of such of her Grand-Children they pleased; this one choosing me and the other my brother Daniel, were both immediately set to their Liberty, and likewise a woman and children before set at liberty in Maryland, confirmed by Will since all are freed by my Father, Daniel Mifflin.
Date of Record 09 January 1775
Source: Manumission documents transcribed in full in Hilda Justice, Life and Ancestry of Warner Mifflin, Friend, Philanthropist, Patriot, Philadelphia, 1905, p. 112-116.
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