ADS, signed “Wm. Ritchie, Clerk, Frederick County Court,” one page, December 23, 1807. Legal affidavit granting John Jones his freedom reads, in part: “I William Ritchie…having been called on by a Negro or Mulatto Man who calls himself John Jones for a certificate of Freedom…and it appearing that a certain Isaac Ijams…by deed dated the 11th day of September in the year 1797…did manumit or intend to manumit and set free the aforesaid John Jones on the 28th day of April 1800…and it having been proved by Testimony satisfactory to me that the person who hath now applied as aforesaid…is the identical person meant and intended…in the deed of manumission aforesaid. I therefore…certify that the said Negro or Mulatto man named John Jones…a blacksmith by trade is a free Negro or Mulatto and as such ought to be considered and permitted to travel on his lawful business he behaving himself as becomes a free Negro or Mulatto.” In very good to fine condition, with small separations along fragile horizontal folds, scattered toning, and some mirroring of ink from folding. These types of documents are quite scarce and not readily available at auction. RR Auction COA.
