Setting free Maria and her four children.
State of North Carolina, New Hanover County } Court of Pleas & quarter Sessions, June Term 1797
Know all men by these Presents that We John McLellan, George Hooper, Henry Urquhart and John Allan all of the County aforesaid, are held and firmly bound unto his Excellency Samuel Ashe esq’r Governor, Captain General and Commander in Chief in and over the State aforesaid in the just and fill sum of One thousand Pounds, for the which payment will and truly to be made to his Excellency the Governor aforesaid his successors or assigns We do hereby jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, bind our seves and each of us our Heirs Executors and Administrators, Sealed with our Seals and dates as above –
The Condition of the above Obligation is such, that Whereas, the Justices presiding in the Court aforesaid at the Term aforesaid have on the Petition of the aforesaid John McLellan, emancipated and sett free, as fully and amply, as by the Laws of this State they are entitled, a certain female Negroe Slave, belonging to the said John McLellan named Maria and her four Children named William Elizabeth Margaret and Mary; And in case the said female Negroe Slave Maria and her four Children William, Elizabeth, Margaret and Mary or either of them shall not in any manner whatsoever become chargeable to or on this or any other County within this State, then the above Obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and Virtue. /s/ John Mclellan, G. Hooper, Henry Urquhart, John Allan
Signed Sealed & Delivered in presence of /s/ James W. Walker
Slave Records, New Hanover County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
Fourth Generation Inclusive 