Corbin to His Negroes - Manumission - 21 September 1787 - Transcribed by Gail M. Walczyk
Spelling remains the same
To all Christian People to whom these presents come
Greetings Know Ye That I George Corbin of the Parish and county of Accomack in Virginia
for divers good Causes and considerations me hereunto moving but more Especially
from Motives of Humanity, Justice and Policy, and as it is Repugnant to Christianity
and even common Honesty to live in Ease and affluence by the Labour of those whom
fraud and Violence have Reduced to Slavery, (Altho' sanctifying by General consent,
and supported by the law of the Land,) Have, and by these presents do
Manumit and set free the following Persons James, Betty Senior, Jenny senior, Joshua
senr., Alicia, Hannah, Amey, Esther, Jenny Junior, Sue, Bob, Liddia and Will, and
that the Identity of the aforesaid persons may in future be better known and thereby
their Rights to freedom firmly secured, I do hereby for myself my heirs Executors
and Administrators relinquish all my right or title of in and unto the Persons aforesaid
and their increase forever. Reserving only to myself my heirs Executors or Administrators
the power of holding the Young ones who are under lawful age in such manner only
as Negroes born free In Testemony whereof I hae hereunto set my hand and affixed
my Seal this Twenty forst day of September Anno domini One thousand seven hundred
and Eighty sevenGeorge Corbin
At a court held in Accomack county September
27th 1787 This Deed of Manumission was Acknowledged by the said George Corbin as
his Act & Deed and ordered to be Recorded Littleton Savage ClC Examd
Sources:
_____. Accomack County Virginia Deeds 1783-1788, p. 495.