New Jersey Council and General Assembly; William Livingston, Ephraim Harris, Maskell Ewing, and B. Reed DS to Peter Williams, August 31, 1784 - September 1, 1784

An act for setting free Peter Williams, a
negro late the property of John Heard.

Whereas it appears upon proof to the legis-
lature, that John Heard of Woodbridge in the
county of Middlesex joined the enemies of the
United States by going into their lines, and took
with him a negro man, then his property, named
Peter, that said negro man came back from the
enemy in the year one thousand seven hundred
and eighty, and served some time with the troops
raised by this state for the defence of the frontiers;
that he enlisted out of said troops into the conti-
nental army where, he served faithfully until
the end of the war; that said John Heard's estate
became confiscated, and consequently the said
negro man now known by the name of Peter
Williams, became the property of this state:
Therefore in consideration of the faithful
services of the said Peter.

Be it enacted by the Council and General
assembly of this state, and it is hereby enacted
by the authority of the same that the negro-
man named Peter known and called by the
name of Peter Williams, late the property of
John Heard, shall be and he the said Peter Williams,
as hereby declared to be manumitted and set
free from slavery & servitude as fully to all in-
tents and purposes, as though he had been free-
born and continued in such state of freedom,
any laws, usage or custom to the contrary
notwithstanding.