Transcribed from “Acts and Resolutions of the General Assembly”:
“(No. 534.)
An Act to manumit a negro man slave, named Boston, the property of E.B. Way, Catharine P. Wheeler, Thomas B. Wheeler, H.R. Wheeler and Eugene Bacon of the State of Georgia and county of Liberty, and John Savage of the county of Chatham, and State aforesaid.
Approved, March 6th, 1856.
Whereas: during a long life, the negro man slave, named Boston, has served his owners with uniform fidelity, and whereas, during the war of 1812, he served with his master in the company from Liberty county, which marched to Darien, and remained there under arms in momentary expectation of an engagement with the British, who threatened a landing, and other important services to the public.
4. Sec I. Be it therefore enacted &c., That in consideration of the services stated in the foregoing preamble, and the petition accompanying this bill, the negro, man slave Boston, the property of E. B. Way, Catharine P Wheeler, Thomas B. Wheeler, H R Wheeler and Eugene Bacon of the county of Liberty, and State aforesaid, and John Savage of the county of Chatham, and State aforesaid, said owners all consenting thereto, be and he is hereby manumitted and forever set free, and shall hereafter enjoy all the rights and privileges to which free negroes in the State of Georgia are entitled.
5. Sec II. (Repeals all conflicting laws.) “
Source: “Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia, Passed in Milledgeville, at a Biennial Session, In November, December, January, February & March, 1855-1856,” compiled and notes added by John W. Duncan. Published by Boughton, Nisbet & Barnes (State Printers), Milledgeville, 1856. [Accessed online at Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?id=yN5JAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false ]