William Johnson

Summary

Prindowell M. Dorsey and Ransom Akin certify that 22-year-old William Johnson is a “free man of colour.”

Partial Transcription

Freedom Papers of William Johnson 

State of Indiana, Floyd County, Sct. We Prindowell M Dorsey and Ransom Akin of New Albany, Floyd County and State of Indiana do hereby certify, that we, have been well acquainted with William Johnson, a Black Man, the bearer hereof for upwards of Six years last past, at Bloomington in this State and elsewhere and know him to be a free man, of good and honest character and as such entitled to the confidence and protection as well as patronage of all good citizens, Said Johnson is now about twenty two years of age from the best of our knowledge and belief, Witness our hands and seals this 13th day of October 1836.

P. M. Dorsey (Seal)    Ran Akin (Seal)

Before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the county of Floyd and State of Indiana, this day personally appeared the above named Prindowell M. Dorsey and Ransom Akin, Citizens of New Albany Floyd County and State aforesaid, and made the foregoing certificate of the freedom and good character of William Johnson, a free man of colour, Given under my hand and seal this 13 Oct 1836,

Wm. Hardin J. P. (Seal)

I William Hardin, Recorder of the County of Floyd in the State of Indiana, do hereby certify that the foregoing certificates of the freedom of William Johnson are true copies from the Records of my office in Deed Book H page 477. In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my said Office, at New Albany this 12th day of August 1837.

Wm Hardin R. F. C. (Seal)

I Benj. P. Thornton, of the Town of New Albany, Floyd County and State of Indiana Notary Public, by Authority of Law duly appointed and qualified do hereby certify that William Hardin Esquire whose certificate signature and seal of office appears on this Sheet is now and was at the time of certifying and sealing the same Recorder in and for the county of Floyd and State of Indiana, and that full faith and credid are due and should be given to all his official acts, as well in Courts of Justice as thereout. In Testimon Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my said office at New Albany, the 2d day of August 1837.

Benj. T. Thornton Notary Public. (Seal

Recorded 25th June. A. D. 1839