DOMINGOS

Manumission of Domingos, Nagô

I hereby state [and] undersign that I have today and henceforth freed a slave, of the nagô nation, by name of Domingos, for the amount of five hundred and fifty thousand reis, which I received from the same in the act of making this letter; and this being true, I have had this [document] signed by me drafted so that he can today and henceforth enjoy his free-dom. Bahia fifteenth of October eighteen hundred and forty-four. Jeronimo Sodré Pereira as witnesses to what I have written José Martins de Lima e Mello. Agostinho da Silva Paranhos. José Antonio da Silva Serva. I recognize the contents of this letter. Bahia, seventeenth of October eighteen hundred and forty-four. Attesting the truth. Notary's Stamp. Francisco Ribeiro Neves. R. (registry) number fifteen. One hundred and sixty. Paid one hundred and sixty reis. Bahia, seventeenth of October eighteen hundred and forty four. Fernandes Ferreira. To the notary Neves. Bahia, seventeenth of October eighteen hundred and forty-four. Filgueiras. Registered, authenticated and verified in Bahia on the seventeenth of October of eighteen forty-four. Francisco Ribeiro Neves Notary signed by me.

(signed) Francisco Ribeiro Neves Source : APEB, LNT, vol. 282, fl. 19

ESPERANÇA

Manumission of the Nagô black woman by the name of Esperança.

I Domingos Sodré am the master and owner of a Nagô slave woman by the name of Esperança, and in consideration for her good service, which she has provided to me, I am freeing her without pay. And in order for her to thus enjoy her freedom, because I cannot read or write, I have asked Mr. Manoel José de Freitas Paço to write this for me and sign it on my behalf, in the presence of the undersigned witnesses.