March 20, 1857, Acts 81st Legislature, ch. CLXXI, p.467-468.
WHEREAS, the said Simon Nevius did, on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, by the direction of his father, the said David Nevius, then being too unwell to do so, take the said slave Joseph, then being the property of the said David, to Somerville, in the township of Bridgewater, in said county, to manumit the said slave, and the said Simon, in pursuance of such direction, took the said slave before the two overseers of the poor, and two justices of the peace, in said to Somerville, in the township of Bridgewater, and said county, stating to the said justices and the said overseers, the purpose for which he had brought the said slave before them, and that the said slave was the property of the said David Nevius, his father, who was too ill to appear before them in person, and had therefore sent him, the said Simon, and under the advice and direction of the said justices, in view of the facts, as above stated, did, then and there, make and executive and acknowledge a deed of manumission of the said slave Joseph, in his, the said Simon's own name; therefore,
1. BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That the said deed of manumission, of the slave Joseph, by the said Simon Nevius, in his own name, made, executed and acknowledged, be confirmed, as the act and deed of the said David Nevius.
2. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect immediately.
Approved March 20, 1857