Mary Bell v. Susan Armistead and Eleanora Bell v. Susan Armistead. Deed of Manumission Jennifer Guiliano Trevor Muñoz William G. Thomas III transcription and encoding Elizabeth Askren Kaci L. Nash Laura K. Weakly University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Maryland National Endowment for the Humanities 2014 O Say Can You See University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
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 Deed of Manumission September 14, 1835 Our transcription is based on a digital image of the original. National Archives and Records Administration Record Group 21, Entry 6 Box 755, Folder 376 Case Papers Exhibit Civil Petition for Freedom October 1851 Armistead, Robert Bell, Andrew Bell, Caroline Bell, Daniel Bell, George W. Bell, Harriet Bell, Mary E. Butt, Richard Naylor, George Washington County (D.C.) Washington (D.C.) Bell, Mary Armistead, Susan Bell, Eleanora Armistead, Susan United States. Circuit Court (District of Columbia) Washington (D.C.) added xml:ids reviewed; edited Encoded and transcribed.

Robert Armistead To Mary Beall &c

Acknowledgement Freedom September 14th, 1835

District of Columbia, Washington County, towit;

To all whom it may concern be it known that I, Robert Armistead, of Washington County in the district of Columbia, for diverse good causes and considerations me thereunto moving, as also in further consideration of one dollar current money to me in hand paid, have released from slavery, liberated manumitted and set free, and by these presents do hereby release and from slavery liberate manumit and set free my negro woman named Mary Bell, at my death, and her six children, when they shall have arrived at the following ages, towit: Andrew Bell, aged about 11 years to be free when he shall have arrived to the age of 40 years; Mary E. Bell, aged about 8 years when she shall have arrived at the age of 30 years; Caroline Bell, aged about 6 years to be free when she shall have arrived at the age of 30 years; George W Bell, about 4 years of age, to be free when he shall have arrived at the age of 35 years; Daniel Bell, aged about 2 years to be free when he shall have arrived at the age of thirty five years; Harriet Bell aged 3 months to be free, when she shall have arrived to the age of 30 years, and they the said slaves being able to work and gain a sufficient livelihood & maintenance I do declare to be free when they shall have arrived at the respective ages aforesaid, manumitted and discharged from all manner of servitude or service to me my executors or administrators forever.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this fourteenth day of September, A D, 1835.

Robert Armistead {seal}

Signed sealed & delivered in the presence of George Naylor Richard Butt.

District of Columbia, Washington County, towit;

On the 14th day of September, 1835, Before me the subscriber, a justice of the Peace in and for the district and county aforesaid, personally appears Robert Armistead and acknowledges the within and aforegoing deed of manumission to be his act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned and that the negroes therein named to be free and discharged from all manner of service to me, my heirs, executors or administrators forever.

Acknowledged before & certified by George Naylor J. P.

Robt Armistead to Mary Bell & al

Deed of manumission