The manumission of Jane Smith, 1818
Dublin Core
Title
The manumission of Jane Smith, 1818
Subject
Slaves--Manumission; Jesuits--History-- 19th century; Georgetown University
Description
On May 4, 1818 Benedict Fenwick, a former President of Georgetown University recorded in the city of Washington the manumission of an enslaved woman named Jane Smith.
The document describes Smith as "formerly of Virginia," and "between five and six feet high, middle aged."
The city delivered her freedom papers on July 27, 1818.
Fenwick was president of the College in 1817 and acting president in 1825. In 1825, he became Bishop of Boston and went on to found Holy Cross.
The research on Jane Smith's manumission and life is currently ongoing.
The document describes Smith as "formerly of Virginia," and "between five and six feet high, middle aged."
The city delivered her freedom papers on July 27, 1818.
Fenwick was president of the College in 1817 and acting president in 1825. In 1825, he became Bishop of Boston and went on to found Holy Cross.
The research on Jane Smith's manumission and life is currently ongoing.
Creator
National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Publisher
Georgetown Slavery Archive
Date
05-04-1818
Contributor
Elsa Barraza Mendoza
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Manuscript
Identifier
GSA373
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Benedict Fenwick Recorded May 4th, 1818
Manumission to Negro Jane Smith
To all whom these presents may concern, let it known that I Benedict Fenwick, President of George Town College of the County of Washington and District of Columbia for divers good causes and considerations and thereunto moving have released from slavery, liberated manumitted and set free and by these presents do hereby release from slavery, liberate and manumit and set free the following slave namely Jane Smith a black woman between five and six feet high, middle aged and formerly of the state of Virginia. I do declare the said black woman Jane Smith above mentioned free manumitted and discharged from all manner of servitude or service to me, my executors, and administrators and assigns forever. In testimony where I have hereunto set my hand and said this twenty seventh day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. Benedict Fenwick, president of Georgetown College.
Washington County
District of Columbia.
{On the left margin of the handwritten liber the following is written: "Examined and delivered to Negro Jane July 27 1818 Paid."}
Manumission to Negro Jane Smith
To all whom these presents may concern, let it known that I Benedict Fenwick, President of George Town College of the County of Washington and District of Columbia for divers good causes and considerations and thereunto moving have released from slavery, liberated manumitted and set free and by these presents do hereby release from slavery, liberate and manumit and set free the following slave namely Jane Smith a black woman between five and six feet high, middle aged and formerly of the state of Virginia. I do declare the said black woman Jane Smith above mentioned free manumitted and discharged from all manner of servitude or service to me, my executors, and administrators and assigns forever. In testimony where I have hereunto set my hand and said this twenty seventh day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. Benedict Fenwick, president of Georgetown College.
Washington County
District of Columbia.
{On the left margin of the handwritten liber the following is written: "Examined and delivered to Negro Jane July 27 1818 Paid."}
Original Format
Manuscript
Files
Collection
Citation
National Archives, Washington, D.C., “The manumission of Jane Smith, 1818,” Georgetown Slavery Archive, accessed January 31, 2025, https://slaveryarchive.georgetown.edu/items/show/423.