A Bill for the Manumission of a Certain Slave (June 19, 1779)

[19 June 1779]

WHEREAS a negro man slave named Kitt, the property of a certain Hinchia Mabry of the county of Brunswick, hath lately rendered meritorious service to this commonwealth, in making the first information and discovery against several persons concerned in counterfeiting money, whereby so dangerous a confederacy has been in some measure broken, and some of the offenders have been discovered and brought to trial; and it is judged expedient to manumit him for such service; Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, That the said Kitt be, and he is hereby declared to be emancipated and set free; any law or usage to the contrary notwithstanding. And it is farther enacted, That the treasurer of this commonwealth may, and he is hereby required to pay to the said Hinchia Mabry, on producing the auditors warrant, which they are hereby directed to grant, the sum of one thousand pounds out of the publick treasury, as a full compensation for the said slave.