1784 - Merritt to Tobe, et al - Brunswick Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
09/27/1784
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
5
Text of Freedom Document
Know all men by these presents that I Henry Merritt of Brunswick County
in the State of Virginia do think it wrong and oppressive to hold Negroes in bondage
considering them to be Men made & preserved by the same Almighty God of love as
other men having the same natural Right both to liberty & Justice as Others.
According to Gods word & under a sense of my duty to Men in doing to others as I would
they should do to me, Do hereby Manumit & Absolutely Free these whose Names Are after
mentioned As follows Tobe of the age of thirty, Fanny of the age of twenty one both to be
free after the first of December next to be adjudged & Deemed as Such likewise Charles
to be free the tenth of February One thousand eight hundred & One. Caty to be free the first
of October One thousand and eight hundred, & Dick to be free the first of January One thousand
seven hundred & eighty Nine, them and their increase forever to enjoy and have the
blessing of free people I Do therefor desire to put it out of the power of my heirs, Executors,
Administrators or any other person Claiming or possessing them as Slaves after
me to Witness where of I have hereunto set my hand & fixed my seal this twenty
fifth of September One thousand seven hundred & eighty four.
Henry Merritt (L. S.)
Brunswick County Court 27th Day of September 1784.
This Deed of emancipation was Acknowledged by Henry Merritt to
be his Act and Deed & Ordered to be Recorded.
Teste
Henry Stith [C&C]
Examd.
in the State of Virginia do think it wrong and oppressive to hold Negroes in bondage
considering them to be Men made & preserved by the same Almighty God of love as
other men having the same natural Right both to liberty & Justice as Others.
According to Gods word & under a sense of my duty to Men in doing to others as I would
they should do to me, Do hereby Manumit & Absolutely Free these whose Names Are after
mentioned As follows Tobe of the age of thirty, Fanny of the age of twenty one both to be
free after the first of December next to be adjudged & Deemed as Such likewise Charles
to be free the tenth of February One thousand eight hundred & One. Caty to be free the first
of October One thousand and eight hundred, & Dick to be free the first of January One thousand
seven hundred & eighty Nine, them and their increase forever to enjoy and have the
blessing of free people I Do therefor desire to put it out of the power of my heirs, Executors,
Administrators or any other person Claiming or possessing them as Slaves after
me to Witness where of I have hereunto set my hand & fixed my seal this twenty
fifth of September One thousand seven hundred & eighty four.
Henry Merritt (L. S.)
Brunswick County Court 27th Day of September 1784.
This Deed of emancipation was Acknowledged by Henry Merritt to
be his Act and Deed & Ordered to be Recorded.
Teste
Henry Stith [C&C]
Examd.
Record Location
WB 2:397
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1784 - Merritt to Tobe, et al - Brunswick Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed July 14, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/3375.