The Blind African Slave: Memoirs of Boyrereau Brinch, Nicknamed Jeffrey Brace

Appendix A: Deeds of Manumission Drawn by William Welch

Appendix A Deeds of Manumission Drawn by William Welch Copied from copies in the Barbados Department of Archives Edward Bridges—Clerk to James Sutherland of Birchin lane, London, maketh oath and saith that he this Deponent was present and did see William Welch of London Mariner Master and Commander of the Ship Berwick trading from the Port of London to the Island of Barbados and now at the Port of London sign seal and as and for his act and deed in due form of Law deliver the Deed of Manumission hereunto annexed and marked A bearing date the Eighteenth Day of October now last past, and being a Deed of Manumission from the said William Welch to his Negroe man slave named Michael, that James Alexander Sutherland of Birchin lane aforesaid was also the present, and that he this Deponent and the said James Alexander Sutherland did severally subscribe their Names as witnesses to the due Execution of the said annexed Deed of Manumission Edwd Bridges Sworn at London this 22nd November one thousand Eight Hundred and Six—Before me.— Wm. Leighton— To all to whom these presents shall come, William Welch of London Mariner Master and Commander of the Ship Berwick trading from the Port of London to the Island of Barbadoes and now at the Port of London sendeth Greeting. Whereas by a certain Deed of Conveyance bearing date the twenty fourth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six Sarah Hartle of the Parish of Saint Michael in the Island of Barbadoes free Negroe for the considerations therein mentioned did grant bargain and sell alien remise release enseosse and con- firm unto the said William Welch his heirs and assigns a certain negroe man slave named Michael to hold unto the said William Welch his heirs and assigns to the sole and only proper use benefit and behoof of the said William Welch his heirs and assigns forever as by the said Deed of Conveyance herein before in part recited reference being thereunto had may more fully and at large appear, and whereas the said William Welch for the considerations herein after mentioned is desirous of manumising his said Negroe man slave named Michael now in the Island of Barbadoes of and from all Bondage and future servitude and slavery whatsoever Now therefore know ye and these presents witness that the said William Welch for and in consideration of the sum of ten shillings of good and lawful money of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland current in Great Britain at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents to him the said William Welch in hand well and truly paid by or on behalf of the said Appendix A 187 negroe man slave named Michael (the Receipt whereof he the said William Welch doth hereby confess and acknowledge) and for other good causes and valuable considerations him the said William Welch thereunto moving He the said William Welch hath manumitted enfranchised released and forever set free and by these presents doth manumise enfranchise release and forever set free the said negroe man slave named Michael of and from all and all manner of bondage future servitude and slavery whatsoever as well in the said Island of Barbadoes as in any other Island Part Port or Place whatsoever and wheresoever whereat or wherein Providence may order his Lot to be at all times forever hereafter and the said William Welch for the considerations aforesaid the freedom of the said Negroe man slave named Michael against him the said William Welch his heirs executors and administrators and all and every other person and persons whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim by from under or in trust for him them or any of them shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents.—In witness whereof the said William Welch in presence of James Sutherland of the City of London Notary Public and the witnesses hereunto subscribing hath hereunto set his hand seal at London this eighteenth day of October in the forty sixth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King Defender of the Faith of and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six—And in further confirmation thereof...