Henry

 Do you have slave owners in your tree? I wish that I could say that I don't, but I do have a few. Thus, when I come across a document identifying a slave, I feel obligated to share it. Below is a deed where Matthew M. Bland grants freedom to a slave named Henry -- at the cost of $1000. I have no idea who paid the $1000 but that would have been a lot of money in 1855!

Platte County, Missouri

Volume L
Film 988442 DGS 8486854

image 175 of 431
Page 300

M. M. Bland
To deed
Manusituate
Henry
Know all men by these presents that I Mathew M. Bland
of the County of Platte and State of Missouri hath this
day for and in consideration of the sum of one thous
and dollars to me in hand paid manumit[ates] and set
free and by these presents do manumit and set free one
negro boy named Henry owned by me said Henry is of
a Black color twenty eight years of age five feet eight
inches high with his shoes off and a sear by bruise on
the corner part of the left wrist and I do by these presents
as fully and perfectly set free said Henry to all intense
and purposes as if said Henry had been born free and I do
hereby release all right title interest claim and property
which I now have in and to said Boy Henry
Given under my hand and seal
this 17th day of March A. D . 1855 .
Attest Mathew M. Bland (seal)
State of Missouri
County of Platte ⎬ SS
Be it Remembered that at the March
Term of the Platte Circuit Court held at Platte City on

page 301 Monday March 31st 1855 , among other things we the following
to wit Now at this day comes Mathew M Bland and presents
in open Court a Deed of Emancipation ofslave Henry thereupon
the said Mathew M. Bland acknowledged said deed of Emance
pation to be his act and deed for the purposes therein menti
oned
State of Missouri ⎬
County of Ralls ⎬ SS
I William C Remington Clerk of the Circuit
Court within and for said County do certify that the above and f
foregoing is a correct copy of the acknowledgement taken in
open Court of Mathew B. Bland to deed of Emancipation of
Slave Henry as the same now remains of record in my office ℗

In testimony whereof I have unto subscribe
my name and affix the seal of said Court
at office in Platte City this March 17th A. D . 1855 .

W C Remington Clerk
By P. J. Collins DCC

Filed for Record July 3rd Recorded July 24th 1855
W. S. Remington Recorder

Missouri, Platte County. Deed records, 1839-1895. Film #988442 DGS 8486854. Mathew M Bland, 1855; Vol. L: pages 300-301; digitized images, FamilySearch www.familysearch.org : viewed online 11 April 2024.

Adams on Sugar Creek

Garrard County, Kentucky
Deeds 1787-1902; indexes, 1899-1960

Vol. C 1793-1796
Family Search DGS 183284 Film 008141322

Book C page 554 - image 291

This Indenture made this 6th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five Between Charles Bland of the County of Madison and State of Kentucky of the one part and Fethergill Adams of the state and County aforesaid of the other part witnesseth that for an inconsideration of the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds current money of the aforesaid state to him in hand paid by the said Fethergill Adams, the receipt whereof the said Charles Bland do hereby acknowledges and himself therewith fully satisfied and contented hath granted bargained sold aliened and confirmed and by these presents doth grant bargain sell alien and confirm unto the said Feathergill Adams one certain tract or parcell of land containing one hundreds and twenty six acres situate lying and being in the County of Madison and on the waters of Shugar Creek being the [apperend] of a seven hundred acre survey assigned to Walker Daniel by Green Glay and bounded as follows to wit Begining at three beech trees standing in Moses Dooley’s south and north line of his five hundred acre survey and on the west side of a small drain extending from thence south eighty one degrees east at thirty four poles crossing Jno Clarks road in all one hundred and ninety four poles to three beach trees standing in William McClures line thence

image 292 — Page 555

with his line south forty five degrees west two hundred and seventy poles to a Shugartree standing in the said Dooleys south and north line thence with sd Dooleys line north two hundred and eighteen poles to the Beginning with its appurtenances To have and to hold the said land and premises with every of its appurtenances unto the said Feathergill Adams and his heirs forever and the said Charles Bland for himself his heirs exors and admors the said tract of land and premises unto the said Feathergill Adams his heirs Exors and Admors shall and will warrante and defend against the claim of him the said Charles Bland his heirs executors and Administrators or from any other person or persons by or under him or them and against the claim of all and every other person or persons whatsoever In witness whereof the said Charles Bland for himself his heirs exors and Admors hath hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal the day and date above written.
Charles Bland (LS)
Phillis (her mark) Bland (LS)
Signed Sealed acknowledged
and delivered in presence of

At a court held for Madison County on Tuesday the 6th day of October 1795.
This Indenture was acknowledged by Charles Bland and Phillis his wife to be their act and deed she being first privately examined as the law Directs and relenquished her right of dower therein and ordered to be records.
Teste Will Irving MCC