1806-04-28 Manumission: Mars Willson

Identifier
NJS-EVE-00826
Source
Manumission certificate for Mars Willson, by David Ford for the Estate of Isabella Kearny
Manumission deed for Mars Willson, by David Ford for the Estate of Isabella Kearny

Manumission certificate for Mars Willson, by David Ford for the Estate of Isabella Kearny, April 28, 1806. Archival location: Morristown Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (Private Collection).

Manumission deed for Mars Willson, by David Ford for the Estate of Isabella Kearny, May 7, 1806. Archival location: Morristown Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (Private Collection).
Event Description
David Ford, the executor of the estate of Isabella Kearney, late of the Irish Lot in Hanover, Morris County, manumitted a Black man named Mars Willson, aged 33. The manumission deed noted that Mars Willson and his enslaver, Isabella Kearney, had made a formal agreement during Kearney's lifetime to the effect that Mars Willson would gain freedom.

The Irish Lot, mentioned as Isabella Kearney's late residence, refers to the name of her (then already deceased) brother Michael Kearney's estate in Hanover, where Isabella had been living for some time after the American Revolution.

Transcript of the manumission certificate, dated April 28, 1806:

"State of New Jersey
County of Morris

We do hereby Certify that on the twenty eighth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and Six, David Ford Esquire, Executor of the Estate of Isabella Kearny, late of the Irish Lot, in said County, deceased, brought before us two of the Overseers of the Poor of the Township of Hanover in the said County, and two of the Justices of the Peace of the said County, a Negro Man, named Mars Willson, late the property of the said Isabella Kearny, who, on view and examination, appears to us to be sound in mind, and not under any bodily Incapacity of obtaining a Support; and also, is not under the age of twenty one years, nor above the age of forty years. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands the day and year above written.

John Dehart
Enoch Clarke
Overseers of the Poor of the Township of Hanover

Abraham Kitchell
Abraham Fairchild
Justices of the Peace for the County of Morris"


Transcript of the manumission deed, dated May 7, 1806:

"To all whom these presents come, know ye, that I, David Ford, Executor of the last will and testament of Isabella Kearny, late of the Township of Hanover in the County of Morris, in the State of New Jersey, in consideration, and in pursuance of an agreement heretofore made between the said Isabella Kearny, in her lifetime, of the one part, & Mars Willson, her Negro Slave, of the other part, and duly recorded in the Morris County Register of Manumitted Slaves, Lib. A, Fol 12. And also in consideration of the Powers and Trusts in me reposed by the last will and testament of the said Isabella Kearny deceased,have Emancipated, Manumitted, and set free, and by these presents, do Emancipate, Manumit, and set free, the said Negro Slave, named Mars Willson, aged thirty three years, and do hereby forever Discharge the said Mars Willson from Servitude. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of May in the Year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Six.
David Ford
Executor to the Estate
of Isabella Kearny

Signed Sealed and Delivered
in the presence of
John J. Faesch
John M. Carter"
Event Type
Manumission
Date
April 28, 1806 – May 7, 1806
Location of Event
Hanover
Primary Participants

Mars Willson (b. 1773)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02001
Role: Manumitted Person
Age: 33
Status: Transition
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Isabella Kearney (1716-1806)
Verbatim description from source:
"Negro Slave, named Mars Willson, aged thirty three years"
Additional Participants

Isabella Kearney (1716-1806)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02000
Role: Enslaver, Deceased
Comment: made agreement to manumit Mars Willson before she died

David Ford
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02002
Role: Executor or Administrator
Comment: manumitted Mars Willson on behalf of Isabella Kearney's estate

John Dehart
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02023
Role: Overseer of the Poor
Comment: Overseer of the Poor of Hanover

Enoch Clarke
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02024
Role: Overseer of the Poor
Comment: Overseer of the Poor of Hanover

Abraham Kitchell
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02025
Role: Judge
Comment: Justice of the Peace of Morris County

Abraham Fairchild
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02026
Role: Judge
Comment: Justice of the Peace of Morris County

John J. Faesch
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02027
Role: Witness

John M. Carter
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02028
Role: Witness
Record Contributor
Susan Bailey
Jesse Bayker
Resource class
Event