1855 Maryland Oath Acknowledging Manumission of Freed Slave

Legal document, measuring 7.75" x 4.75", dated February 24, 1855, Frederick County, MD. A record of an individual appearing in court to swear his acknowledgment of the manumission of one William Smith, identified within the text as a "colored man", who would be officially manumitted the next day February 25th. Areas of ink smudging in places, with clipping to top left corner. Else, near fine condition- a rare piece of Maryland's slave history.

In full:
"State of Maryland Frederich [sic] County to wit, this 24th day of Febr 1855 before me the subscriber of Justice of the Peace in and for said county personally appeared John A Sinalous[?] and made oath on the Holy Evangely [sic] of Almighty God, that he knows William Smith (colored man) now present was Manumitted by Meckace & Jacbob Keefer and of Henry Keefer by deed of Manumission date Febr 25th 1855…/ Sworn before M Baltzese"

In Maryland, slavery as an institution lasted nearly 200 years, finally ending after it was prohibited in 1864 upon the passing of a new state constitution. Historically throughout the eighteenth century, as the cultivation of tobacco increased within the state, so too did the need for labor which in turn caused the number of enslaved persons imported into Maryland to increase greatly. By the mid-nineteenth century, however, while many families still held slaves, the institution was becoming more localized in its popularity, particularly among plantation owners, and by 1860 the state's freed population would reach 49.1% of all African American residents .

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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