An Act for publique recompence To the masters of Slaves putt to Death by Law

An Act for publique recompence To the masters of Slaves putt to Death by Law

Whereas it may fall out uppon This Island as it hath donne in other places where the Number of Slaves is increased To great Multitudes That Divers Treasonable and felonious acts punnishable by death both by The Lawes of England, & Statutes of This Island, may bee by the Slave Or Slaves of This Island over Some person or other perpetrated & committed whereby, The Law cannot bee Sattisfied, Without the death of Such Slave Or Slaves, & beesides itt may fall Out That for feare of Such Losse Some poor & Ignorant Christian may happen To Conceale Such Cappittall offence of the Slave Or Slaves To the Whole Collonny Or many good Members Thereof, for the prevention Whereof & bitter discoveries of all Such Capitall Crimes That by any Slave Or Slaves may Or Shall bee Comitted. 

Bee itt Therefore declared Orderred & Enacted by the Authorrity aforesaid, That if any Slave Or Slaves belonging Or appertaining To any person Or persons uppon This Island Shall by due order of Law bee Convicted, Condemned and Executed for any fault Whatsoever The Master or Propriettor of the Said Slave Or Slaves so Condemned & Executed, Shall have & receive for Every Slave So Executed, & to him or them belonging Such a vallew out of The publique Treasurie as Two indifferrant Men Shall Judge Award Esteeme & Vallew the Slave Or Slaves att.

Allwaies provided That if any Master or proprietor Shall bee Consenting or any Way accessing to any Such Cryme Or Crymes by his Slaves Or Slaves So Comitted Or after knowledge Or heareing of any Such Act, Shall Not Within Twenty fower howers discover The Same to the Governor Or Someof the Councill or Some other Justice Or officer of the peace of This Island hee Shall Not only Loose his privileges Bennifitt & Sattisfaction by This Statute of the Kingdome of England in Such Cases provided and beeing Thereof Lawfully Convicted Shall Suffer by Losse of Life Member or otherwise by fine & Imprisonment according To the Quallitty of his offence, dated the 21 October 1669

Jerremiah Wattkins Speaker

Francis Sr. John’s Secretary                                                                    H. Willoughby

Recorded the 28 October 1669 by John Hodge, Councill Secretary 

                                                                                    Jno. Vernon, Deputy Secretary 

Editorial Note: Any abbreviations found in the original of this law have been spelled out in full for clarity. This law was assigned two pages numbers; one at the time it was written, and another sometime later.