PAS Papers Box 4A Manumissions
Habeas Corpus Actions     

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€ II
Hab^s Corp.
ad Subjⁱ
for Negro Bob to
Barnabas De, Cline

settle            1785.

Pennsylvania Js
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to Barnabas De Cline ?alias Barnt DeKlyn?  Greeting we Command that the Body of Negro Bob undr your Custody as it is said detained by whatsoever name the said Negro Bob may be charged in the same under safe and secure conduct together with the Day and Cause of his being taken and detained you have before the Honourable George Bryan Esquire one of the  ~ Justices of our Supreme Court at his Chamber in the Northern Liberties of the City of Philadelphia the fourth day of March instant ?at twelve of the Clock on the fore noon? then and there to do and submit to whatsoever our same Justice shall consider in that behalf  And have you then there this writ  witness The Honourable Thomas M^cKean [1]  Esquire Chief Justice of the said Supreme Court at Philadelphia the third day of March in the year of our Lord ~ MDCCLXXXV.

Allowed Js
                 Geo. Bryan [2]

[1] In 1785, Thomas McKean, Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court, lived at 522 Third Street in Phliadelphia.  Macpherson’s Directory for the City and Suburbs of Philadelphia (1785), 86.

[2] “George Bryan, a Judge of the Supreme Court” lived at 437 Vine Street in Philadelphia in 1785.  Prior to becoming a Justice on the state Supreme Court, Bryan had been a member of the state legislature and a leader of its Supreme Executive Council.  His leadership was crucial to the passage of the 1780 Gradual Abolition Act.  While on the Court, Bryan often sided with the cause of liberty and the aggrieved slave.  Macpherson’s Directory for the City and Suburbs of Philadelphia (1785), 16.