The translation on the right is edited for clarity and for the handwriting that could not be read.
We do hereby certify that on this fourteenth day of April in the year of Our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Twenty Seven Sarah Compton of the Township of Bridgewater County of Somerset … brought before us two of the “Overseers of the Poor” … and two “Justices of the Peace” … this Negro woman Slave named Catharine who on view and examination appears to us to be sound in mind and under no bodily incapacity of obtaining a support and also is not under the age of twenty one years nor above the age of forty years.
In witness whereof we have here to set our hands the day and year above.
“Overseers of the Poor” of Township of Bridgewater
A. Runyon - John Voorhees
“Justices of the Peace” for County of Somerset
A. Howell & F. Barcalow
Know all men by this present that I Sarah Compton of the Township of Bridgewater County of Somerset and State of New Jersey for and in consideration of the faithful services of my negro woman Catherine and within good causes and consideration … do fully and absolutely emancipate and set free my said negro woman named Catharine.
In witness whereof I the said Sarah Compton have here unto set my hand and seal this 14th day of April in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Twenty Seven 1827
Sealed delivered in the presence of
Sarah Compton & A. Howell
Received and recorded April 14th, 1827 by Isaac Southard - Clerk