Source: British Library, Endangered Archives Programme, EAP148/3/1/2, Jamaica deeds register, Liber 31, Sarah Archbould to Scotland, manumission deed, 15 November 1756, image/canvas 120, accessed june 6 2026.
Archbould Sarah
to
Scotland
Lib. 31 Deeds
1756
Jamaica ss. To all Christian People to whom these presents shall Come Sarah Archbould of the Parish of Saint Andrew in the said Island widow and Relict of the late Honourable Henry Archbould Esquire Deceased Sendeth Greeting Whereas the said Henry Archbould by his last will and Testament in writing bearing Date the twelfth Day of July in the year of Our Lord God One Thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty Six Did amongst Various Bequests expressly Declare it to be his will and Desire that his diligent and faithful Negro Servant Named Scotland should be set free and accordingly he being only Tenant for Life by Courtesy did therein most Earnestly request and Intreat his wife Sarah Archbould in whom the Reversion is Invested That she his said wife would Manumit Enfranchise and for Ever Set free the said Scotland of and from all and all Manner of Servitude and Slavery whatsoever and as a Gratuity and Acknowledgment and upon that Special Condition alone and not Otherwise Give and Bequeathed unto his said wife the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds of Current Money aforesaid payable on Demand &c And Whereas Robert Ashburne of the aforesaid Parish of St. Andrew Esqr is Nominated and appointed one of the Executors in the said last will and Testament Now Know ye that I the said Sarah Archbould as well to the Honour the Memory of the said Testator as also for and in Consideration of the said Two hundred Pounds Current Money of Jamaica to me in hand well and truly Paid at or Before the sealing and Delivery of these presents by the said Robert Ashburne as according to the Trust reposed in him as One of the Executors aforesaid the Receipt whereof I do hereby Acknowledge and thereof and of every part and parcell thereof Do acquit Exonerate & Discharge as well the Estate of the said Testator as also the said Robert Ashburne his heirs Executors and Administrators Have Manumitted Enfranchised and set free and during his Natural Life by Virtue of these Presents Do Manumit Enfranchise and set free the said Negro Scotland of and from all and all Manner of Servitude and Slavery whatsoever TO HAVE AND TO HOLD unto the said Negro Scotland an absolute Manumission and Freedome from Slavery together with all the Rights and privileges as Enfranchised Slave can Legally enjoy or be entitled unto without the Let Impediment or hindrance of me my heirs Executors Administrators or of any other Person or Persons Claiming or that may or shall hereafter Claim under me or them for Ever. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this fifteenth day of November in the thirtieth year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George the Second By the Grace of God of Great Britain France & Ireland King and of Jamaica Lord Defender of the Faith &c And in the Year of our Lord God One Thousand Seven Hundred and fifty Six.
Sarah Archbould
Sealed and Delivered in the presence of the words [do] between the Eleventh & twelfth Lines and the words God of between the eighteenth & nineteenth Lines from the Top being first interlined.
William Greig
John Hauton
Received the Fifteenth day of Novr 1756 of Robert Ashburne Esqr the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds Current Money being the full Consideration above Mentioned. £200
P. me Sarah Archbould
Witness
William Greig
Memorandum that on the Twenty Eighth Day of December In the year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and fifty Six Personally appeared before me and being duly Sworn on the Holy Evangelists did depose and Testify that he was present and saw the above Mentioned Sarah Archbould Seal and Deliver this Instrument as her proper Act and Deed.
Before
Edmond Hyde