Records of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia Relating to Slaves, 1851-1863.

National Archives Microfilm Publication M433, Roll 3
“Manumission Papers, 1857-1863.”

To all whom it may concern. Be it known that Letty Speaks of the city of Washington in the District of Columbia, for divers good causes and considerations me thereunto moving, also in further consideration of five dollars current money to me in hand paid, have released from slavery, liberated, manumitted and set free, and by these presents do hereby release from slavery, liberate, manumit and set free my Negro woman named Winney being of the age of twenty five years and able to work and gain a sufficient livelihood and maintenance and her the said Negro woman named Winney I do declare to be henceforth free, manumitted, and discharged from all manner of servitude or service to me, my executors and administrators forever. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and seal, this twenty fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and fifty seven—-

Signed Sealed and Delivered
in the presence of
H. Naylor Letty (X) Speaks {seal}
Jas. H. McKenney

District of Columbia, Washington County

On this 25th day of November 1857 personally appeared Letty Speaks (colored woman) party to the above and foregoing deed of manumission, before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county and district, and acknowledges the same to be her act and deed for the purposes therein expressed and the Negro woman therein named to be herewith free manumitted and discharged from all services to her or to any claims made on her, and to be free and manumitted according to law.

Acknowledged before me
H. Naylor J. Peace {seal}