October the 6 1799
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
Set At Liberty 