To William Emott and John P Vemont

overseers of the poor of Poughkeepsie town

Gentelmen it is my Earnest Desire and

Request that you [decide] with all convenient speed

to manumitt my Black male slave Hannibal

aged about forty seven years or thereabout agreeable

to the Existing Laws of the state of New York

Your humble servent

John Willse

Witness [?]

James S Smith

Recorded this 27 Day of July

1799 Richd Everitt} Town Clark