John Giddens' Deed of Emancipation to his Slaves - COPY - 14 September 1790 - Transcribed by Gail M. Walczyk
Spelling remains the same.
Know all men by these Presents that I John Giddens of the County of Northampton & State of Virginia for good cause & considerations me hereunto moving & by Virtue of an act of the General Assembly of Virginia passed in the year of our Lord 1782, entitled "an act to authorize the manumission of Slaves" do hereby emancipate and set absolutely free the following Negro Slaves at the expiration or Term of years, as follows, to wit, a woman by the name of Sarah to be free on January the first day & year of our Lord 1791, five children of the same woman, one by name of Rachel which will be fourteen years of age the 20th of September 1790 to be free on the 20th September 1801; comfort by name 12 years of age on the 10th of September 1790 to be free on the 10th of September 1803, George by name 9 years of age November 15th 1790, to be free on the 15th day of November 1806, Milley being 4 years of age of the 1st day of May 1790, to be free on the 1st day of May 1811, Jenney two years old the 19th day of August 1790, to be free on the 19th day of August 1813, at which Time the five last mentioned will have arrive to the age of twenty five Years, and by Virtue of the above act, at the aforesaid Time or times I do hereby warrant & defend the freedom of the said Negroes against myself, ny heirs, Executors & admors: under the penal sum of one hundred pounds current Money of Virginia to be received by each of the said Negroes in case of any attempt to deprive them of their Liberty as by me above granted. In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my Hand & Seal this 14th day of September Anno Domini 1790 John Giddens
At a Court held for Northampton County the 14th day of September 1790. this Deed of emancipation was acknowledged by John Giddens Party thereto to be his act & Deed and ordered to be recorded. Teste Wm. Stith Ck C.
A copy Teste Thos. Lytt: Savage Ck
Sources:
_____. Northampton County VA Chancery Causes, 1721-1816 Robert Fitchett et ux et als vs Nathaniel Giddens et al 1811-002. Local Government Records Collection, Northampton County Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. Accessed 14 February 2010.</http://www.lva.virginia.gov/whatwehave/local/chancery/index.htm>