1846 - Reed to Hercules - Norfolk Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
06/15/1846
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
1
Text of Freedom Document
Know all men by these presents, that I Polly Read of the Town of Portsmouth
and County of Norfolk have manumitted, emancipated and set free, and by these
presents do manumit, emancipate and set free, a negro man slave named Hercules
sometimes called Hercules Alfred who was sold to me by Benjamin Alfred of the Town
of County aforesaid. and I hereby declare him the said Hercules to be entirely liberated
from slavery, and entitled to all the rights and privileges of a free person with
which it is in my power to vest him. He the said Hercules hereby emancipated
is a man of black complexion; about five foot ten inches, and is in his sixtieth
year. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my
seal this 15 day of June 1846
Signed Sealed and delivered }
in presence of } Polly Read (Seal)
Arthur Emmerson }
Wm S Howland }
At a Court held for Norfolk County the 15th day of June 1846
This Deed was proved in open Court by the oaths of Arthur Emmerson and
William S Howland the two subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be
recorded
Teste
Arthur Emmerson c c
and County of Norfolk have manumitted, emancipated and set free, and by these
presents do manumit, emancipate and set free, a negro man slave named Hercules
sometimes called Hercules Alfred who was sold to me by Benjamin Alfred of the Town
of County aforesaid. and I hereby declare him the said Hercules to be entirely liberated
from slavery, and entitled to all the rights and privileges of a free person with
which it is in my power to vest him. He the said Hercules hereby emancipated
is a man of black complexion; about five foot ten inches, and is in his sixtieth
year. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my
seal this 15 day of June 1846
Signed Sealed and delivered }
in presence of } Polly Read (Seal)
Arthur Emmerson }
Wm S Howland }
At a Court held for Norfolk County the 15th day of June 1846
This Deed was proved in open Court by the oaths of Arthur Emmerson and
William S Howland the two subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be
recorded
Teste
Arthur Emmerson c c
Record Location
DB 73:316
Document Type
Deed
Files
Collection
Citation
“1846 - Reed to Hercules - Norfolk Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed October 13, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/4596.