Fourth Generation Inclusive

United States of America

State of Maryland, to wit:

I, Samuel Farnandis, Notary Public, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the State of Maryland, Commissioned and duly Qualified, residing in the City of Baltimore, in the State aforesaid, do hereby CERTIFY, ATTEST, and MAKE KNOWN, that on the day of the date hereof, personally appeared Thomas Wilson and made oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God that he knew and was personally acquainted with a Negor Boy named Charles Rigby, now aged twenty two to twenty four years old black complexion, five feet two to five feet four Inches high, has one tooth broke in front, has a long face and large Head; that he knows the said Boy Charles to be free, and that he was born free, that he lived in his Family from the time he was about one year old until about four years since; said Wilson further saith he was understood and verily believes that the said Charles is now confined in Jail in the State of North Carolina as a Runaway Slave.    /s/ Thomas Wilson

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the said deponent hath hereunto subscribed his name, and I the said Notary have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my Notarial Seal, the Eighteenth day of August in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Six   /s/ Saml. Farnandis, Not’y Pub.

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Charles Rigby Was born in Harford County and lived with Thomas Jenney until he was about 8 or 9 years old the most of the balance with me or under my controle he sail’d with Captain Bernard Johnson in the Schooner Christopher Hughes ran away & was taken and put in Fredericksburg jail I think he is hardly to tall as is mentioned in Mr. Farnandes instrument

Balt August 18^th 1836                     Respectfully Yours, &&c, Thos. Wilson

Chowan County Records, North Carolina State Archives.