Handwritten manumission document for thirteen enslaved persons
date: label: Date
content: 1827; modified 1831
name: label: Written by
content: John Berry, American
notes: label: Description
content: A single folded sheet, handwritten manumission document.
label: Description
content: On one side, the document reads "This is to certify that I John Berry of the Territory of Arkansas and the county of Hempstead by these presents do emancipate and set free at my death, or sooner if I think proper, all my negroes now in my possession, which namely are there, Solloman Dina Alphred Amareetta, Neroe Prisella Peter, Lanley, of another family as followeth namely Kitty Lewis Caroline Vice Lee which I do hereby discharge at the time of my death as above, all these above negroes I have [revised?] in my [illegible] except Sollomon which I bought of William Temple upwards of twenty years back, and Kitty which I bought about fifteen years ago and I do for myself and my heirs executors and administrators by there presents release, grant and confirm unto the said negroes above named with all their futer posterity at the time of my death.
label: Description
content: In witness whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal this 23rd day of April 1827."
label: Description
content: The document is also signed by witness Jacob Whiteside on April 23, 1827 and witness John Henry on August 15, 1827. This copy was handwritten by Hempstead circuit court recorder Allen M. Oakley and entered into the records of Hempstead County, Arkansas Territory on January 8, 1831. The witness statements and notes by Oakley are recorded on the opposite page.
place: label: Place made
content: Hempstead County, Arkansas, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: American West
label: Topic
content: Emancipation
label: Topic
content: Families
label: Topic
content: Freedom
label: Topic
content: Slavery
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1815-1861
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Slavery and Freedom Objects
label: Classification
content: Documents and Manuscripts
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Candace Greene
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2009.47.2
objectType: label: Type
content: free papers
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Public domain
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: ink on paper
label: Dimensions
content: H x W: 12 3/16 x 7 13/16 in. (31 x 19.8 cm)