2-949-871 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Certificate by City and County of New York for Peter Seaman, 1814-04-23. '...the said Peter...is about the age of thirty nine years...hath been reputed and considered to be free, and hath continually acted as a free man...I Peter [McCarlee?], one of the Aldermen of the City of New-York, and a Judge...Do Certify, That...Peter Seaman residing in the said city, a black man exhibited proof before me, reduced to writing, of the freedom of him the said Peter and being satisfied with such proof, I am of opinion, and do adjudge that the said Peter is free according to the laws of this state, and I Do Further Certify, that the said Peter is a person about five feet five inches high, has dark eyes & black hair, that he became free in or before the year 1796 as nearly as the same can be ascertained'.