The North Star (Rochester)/1847/12/03/Free papers
FREE PAPERS.
We give to our readers the evidence of our right to be free in this democratic and Christian country—not so much however to establish our right to ourself as to expose the cold-blooded Methodist man-stealer, who claimed us as his property, and the hypocritical nation that has sanctioned his infamous claim. We shall send him a copy of this paper.
"Know all men by these Presents, That I, Thomas Auld, of Talbot County, and State of Maryland, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred dollars, current money to me paid by Hugh Auld of the city of Baltimore, in the said state, at and before the sealing and the delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof, I, the said Thomas Auld, do hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargained, and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain, and sell unto the said Hugh Auld, his executors, administrators, and assigns, one negro man, by the name of Frederick Baily, or Douglass, as he calls himself—he is now about twenty-eight year: of age—to have and to hold the said negro man for life. And I, the said Thomas Auld for myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators, all and singular, the said Frederick Baily, alias Douglass, unto the said Hugh Auld, his executors, administrators, and assigns, against me, the said Thomas Auld my executors, and administrators, and against all and every other person or persons whatsoever, shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents. In witness whereof, I set my hand and seal, this thirteenth day of November, eighteen hundred and forty-six. THOMAS AULD.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of Wrightson Jones,
John C. Leas."
The authenticity of this Bill of Sale is attested by N. Harrington, a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland and for the county of Talbot, dated same day as above.
"To all whom it may concern: Be it known, that I, Hugh Auld, of the city of Baltimore, in Baltimore county, in the State of Maryland, for divers good causes and considerations, me thereunto moving, have released from slavery, liberated, manumitted, and set free, and by these presents do hereby release from slavery, liberate, manumit, and set free, my negro man, named Frederick Baily, otherwise called Douglass, being of the age of twenty-eight years, or thereabouts, and able to work and gain a sufficient livelihood and maintainance; and him the said negro man, named Frederick Baily, otherwise called Frederick Douglass, I do declare to be henceforth free, manumitted, and discharged from all manner of servitude to me, my executors, and administrators forever.
In witness whereof, I the said Hugh Auld, have hereunto set my hand and seal, the fifth of December, in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-six. HUGH AULD.
Sealed and delivered in presence of T. Hanson Belt,
James N. S. T. Wright"
The attestation of this Deed of Manumission is signed by T. Hanson Belt, a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland, in and for the city of Baltimore, dated on the day and year aforesaid.
Note.—Some time previous to the date of his legal freedom, it appears that Frederick Douglass had been transferred, as a little token of fraternal affection, from one brother to the other. But before Hugh Auld could lawfully execute a deed for F. D.'s manumission, it became necessary that he should show how he had obtained him. Hence the "Bill of Sale," already quoted.
As the phrase "for divers good causes and considerations, me thereunto moving," may appear to some a little mysterious, the following is annexed by way of explanation:
"Baltimore, December, 12, 1846.
Received from , of , by the hands of , the sum of seven hundred and eleven dollars and ninety-six cents, in full of the consideration of a certain Deed of Manumission of a negro man known by the name of Frederick Baily, otherwise Douglass, formerly my slave for life, bearing date on the fifth of December, eighteen hundred and forty-six. HUGH AULD.
—English Paper.