MARCH, 1642-3--18th CHARLES 1st. ACT XXII. 1: 254.
WHEREAS there
are divers loytering runaways in the collony who very often absent themselves from their masters service,
And sometimes in two or three monthes cannot be foundÉ Be it therefore enacted and confirmed that all runaways that shall absent themselves from their
said masters service shall be
lyable to make satisfaction by service at the end of their tymes by indenture
(vizt.) double the tyme of service soe neglected, And in some cases more if
the comissioners for the place
appointed shall find it requisite and convenientÉ it further also enacted that if any servant running away as
aforesaid shall carrie either peice, powder and shott, And leave either all or any of them with the Indians,
And being thereof lawfully convicted shall suffer death as in case of felony.
MARCH, 1660-1, 13th Charles II, ACT XXII, 2:26.
English
running away with negroes.
BEE itt enacted That in case any English servant shall run away in company
with any negroes who are incapable
of makeing satisfaction by addition of time, Bee itt enacted that the English so running away in
company with them shall serve for the time of the said negroes absence as they are to do for their owne
by a former act.
MARCH, 1661-2, ACT CII, 14th Charles II, 2:116.
Run-aways.
And if the negroes be
lost or dye in such time of their being run away, the christian servants
in company with them shall by
proportion among them, either pay fower thousand five hundred pounds of tobacco
and caske or fower yeares service for every negroe soe lost or dead.
December 1662 - 14th Charles II, 2:170, Act XII.
Negro womens children to serve according to the condition
of the mother.
WHEREAS some doubts have arrisen whether children got by any
Englishman upon a negro woman
should be slave or ffree, Be it therefore enacted and declared by this
present grand assembly, that all children borne in this
country shalbe held bond or free only
according to the condition of the mother, And that if any christian shall
committ ffornication with a negro
man or woman, hee or shee so offending shall pay double the ffines imposed by the former act.
September 1667 - 19th Charles II, ACT III, 2:260.
An act declaring that baptisme of slaves doth not exempt
them from bondage.
WHEREAS some doubts have risen whether children that are
slaves by birth, and by the
charity and piety of their owners made pertakers of the blessed
sacrament of baptisme, should by
vertue of their baptisme be made ffree; It is enacted and declared by
this grand assembly, and the authority thereof, that the conferring of baptisme
doth not alter the condition of
the person as to his bondage or freedome; that diverse masters, ffreed from this doubt, may more
carefully endeavour the propagation of christianity by permitting children, though slaves, or
those of growth if capable to be admitted to that sacrament
September 1668 - 20th Charles II, Act VII (1668), 2:267.
Negro
women not exempted from tax.
WHEREAS some doubts, have arisen whether negro women set
free were still to be accompted
tithable according to a former act, It is declared by this grand assembly that negro women, though permitted to enjoy their freedome
yet ought not in all respects to
be admitted to a full fruition of the exemptions and impunities of the English,
and are still lyable to payment of
taxes.
October 1669 - 21st Charles II, 2:270, Act I.
An
act about the casuall killing of slaves.
WHEREAS the only law in force for the punishment of
refreactory servants (a) resisting their master,
mistris or overseer cannot be inflicted upon negroes, nor the obstinacy of many of them by other then
violent meanes supprest, Be it enacted and declared by this grand assembly, if any slave resist his master (or
othe by his masters order
correcting him) and by the extremity of the correction should chance to
die, that his death shall not be
accompted ffelony, but the master (or that other person appointed by the master to punish him) be
acquit from molestation, since it cannot be presumed that prepensed malice
(which alone makes murther ffelony) should induce any man to destroy his owne estate.
October 1670 - 22nd Charles II, Act V, 1670,2:280.
Noe
Negroes nor Indians to buy christian servants.
Whereas it hath beene questioned whither Indians or negroes
manumited, or otherwise free,
could be capable of purchasing christian servants, It is enacted that noe negro or Indian though baptised and enjoyned their owne
freedome shall be capable of any
such purchase of christians, but yet not debarred from buying any of
their owne nation.
June 1680 - 32nd Charles II, Act X, 2.481.
An
act for preventing Negroes Insurrections.
WHEREAS the frequent meeting of considerable numbers of
negroe slaves under pretence of
feasts and burialls is judged of dangerous consequence; for prevention
whereof for the future, Bee it
enacted by the kings most excellent majestie by and with the consent of the generall assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the
authority aforesaid, that from and after the publication of
this law, it shall not be lawfull for any negroe or other slave to carry or arme himselfe with any club, staffe,
gunn, sword or any other weapon of defence or offence, nor to goe or depart from
of his masters ground without a
certificate from his master, mistris or overseer, and such permission
not to be granted but upon
perticuler and necessary occasions; and every negroe or slave soe offending
not haveing a certificate as
aforesaid shalbe sent to the next constable, who is hereby enjoyned and required to give the said
negroe twenty lashes on his bare back well layd on, and soe sent home to his said master, mistris or overseer. And
it is
further enacted by the authority
aforesaid that if
any negroe or other slave shall presume or lift up his hand in opposition against any christian, shall
for every such offence, upon due
proofe made thereof by the oath of the party before a magistrate, have and
receive thirty lashed on his bare
back well laid on. And it is hereby further enacted by the authority aforesaid that if any negroe or other slave
shall absent himself from his masters service and lye hid and lurking in
obscure places, comitting injuries to the
inhabitants, and shall resist any person or persons that shalby any
lawfull authority be imployed to
apprehend and take the said negroe, that then in case of such resistance,
it shalbe lawfull for such person
or persons to kill the said negroe or slave soe lying out and resisting, and that this law be
once every six months published at the respective county courts and parish churches within this colony.
October 1705 - 4th Anne, Chap XXIII, 3.333.
An act declaring the Negro, Mulatto, and Indian slaves
within this dominion, to be real estate.
I. FOR the better settling and preservation of estates
within this dominion,
II. Be it enacted, by the governor, council and burgesses
of this present general assembly,
and it is hereby
enacted by the authority of the same; That from and
after the passing of this act, all negro, mulatto, and Indian slaves, in
all courts of judicature, and
other places, within this dominion, shall be held, taken, and adjudged, to be real estate (and not chattels;) and
shall descend unto the heirs and widows of persons departing this life, according to the manner and custom of
land of inheritance, held in fee
simple.
October 1705 - 4th Anne. CHAP. KLIX. 3.447.
An
act concerning Servants and Slaves.
I. Be it enacted, by the governor, council, and
burgesses, of this present general
assembly,and it is hereby enacted, by the authority of the same, That all servants brought into this country without
indenture, if the said servants be christians, and of christian parentage, and above nineteen years of age, shall
serve but five years; and if under
nineteen years of age, Ôtill they shall become twenty-four years of age, and
no longer.
IV. And also be it enacted, by the authority aforesiad,
and it is hereby enacted, That all servants imported and
brought into this country, by sea or land, who were not christians in their native country,
(except Turks and Moors in amity with her majesty, and others that can make due proof of their
being free in England, or any other christian country, before they were shipped, in order to transporation
hither) shall be accounted and be
slaves, and as such be here bought and sold notwithtanding a conversion to
christianity afterwards.
VII. And
also be it enacted, by the authority aforesaid, and it is hereby enacted, That all masters and owners of servants, shall find and provide for their
servants, wholesome and competent
diet, clothing, and lodging, by the discretion of the county court; and shall not, at any time, give
immoderate correction; neither shall, at any time, whip a christian white servant naked, without an order from
a justice of the peace: And if
any, notwithstanding this act, shall presume to whip a christian white
servant naked...
XI. And for a further christian care and usage of all
christian servants, Be it also
enacted, by the authority aforesaid, and it is hereby enacted, That no negros, mulattos, or Indians, although
christians, or Jews, Moors, Mahometans, or other infidels, shall, at any time, purchase any
christian servant, nor any other, except of their own complexion, or such as are declared slaves by this actÉ
XVIII. ÉAnd if
a free christian white woman shall have such bastard child, by a negro, or mulatto, for every such
offence, she shall, within one month after her delivery of such bastard child, pay to the
church-wardens for the time being, of the parish wherein such child shall be born, for the use
of the said parish fifteen pounds current money of Virginia, or be by them sold
for five years to the use aforesaid: And in both the said cases, the church-wardens shall bind
the said child to be a servant, until it shall be of thirty one years of age.
XX. And be it further enacted, That no minister of the church of
England, or other minister,or
person whatsoever, within this colony and dominion, shall hereafter wittingly presume to marry a white man
with a negro or mulatto woman; or to marry a white woman with a negro or mulatto man, upon pain of forfeiting
and paying, for every such
marriage the sum of ten thousand pounds of tobacco; one half to our
sovereign lady the Queen, her
heirs and successors, for and towards the support of the government, and
the contingent charges thereof;
and the othe half to the informer; To be recovered, with costs, by action of debt, bill, plaint,
or information, in any court of record within this her majestyÕs colony and dominion, wherein no essoin,
protection, or wager of law, shall
be allowed.
XXXV. And also be it enacted, by the authority aforesaid,
and it is hereby enacted, That no slave go armed
with gun, sword, club, staff, or other weapon, nor go from off the plantation and seat of land where such slave shall be
appointed to live, without a
certificate of leave in writing, for so doing, from his or her master,
mistress, or overseer: And if any
slave shall be found offending herein, it shall be lawful for any person or persons to apprehend and
deliver such slave to the next constable or head-borough, who is hereby enjoined and required, without
further order or warrant, to give such slave twenty lashes on his or her bare
back, well laid on, and so send him or
her homeÉ
XXXVI. And also it is hereby enacted and declared, That baptism of slaves doth not exempt them from bondage; and that
all children shall be bond or free, according to the condition of their mothers, and the particular directions of this act.
XXXVIII. Provided always, and it is further enacted, That for every slave killed, in
pursuance of this act, or put to death by law, the master or owner of such slave shall be paid by the public:
Source:
http://www.law.du.edu/russell/lh/alh/docs/virginiaslaverystatutes.html