PAS Papers Box 4A Manumissions
Actions Involving Fugitive Slaves

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I am of Opinion that Captain Hunt’s [1] discharging Frank Antonio from his Indenture will not render him liable for his maintenance at any future period. This is not the case of a manumission of a Slave and if it were, the circumstance of Frank’s being under twenty eight years of age would save master from liability under the act of 1780.

Nor do I think that Captain Hunt can be made chargeable to the public under any of the Laws of this State against the importation of poor and impotent persons, the man not coming in under an indenture nor being a passenger but having been actually paid wages as a Sailor on board.

          In short I know of nothing in this case which can make Captain Hunt legally chargeable.

May 2^nd 1797                                                  JMilnor[2]

[1] Captain John Hunt, shipmaster, lived at 356 South Front Street in 1797.  Cornelius William Stafford, The Philadelphia Directory for 1797, 94.

[2] James Milnor, an attorney who often worked with the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, resided at 84 Arch Street in 1797.  Cornelius William Stafford, The Philadelphia Directory for 1797, 129.