An Additional Act to an Act, entitled "An Act for the governing of Negroes"

Whereas by an act of this act, entitled,” An Act for the governing of Negroes” bearing date the eighth day of August, one thousand six hundred eighty and eight, amongst other things, it was enacted in these words," and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all Act heretofore made concerning or any wise relating to the governing of Negroes, enacted before the date of purposes whatsoever.” And whereas by a former Act of this Island, entitled. “A Supplemental Act to a Former Act, entitled, An Act for the better ordering and governing of Negroes,” bearing date the one and twentieth day of April, one thousand six hundred seventy six, it was enacted in these words, viz. ‘That if any Negro or Slave after he hath lived in this Island for the space of Twelve months at least, shall run away from his Master or Mistress, and continue absent above the space of thirty days, such Negro or Slave shall suffer death for the same; the offence to be tried as the offences expressed in the first branch of this Act, and the Owner of such Negro or Slave shall be allowed his reasonable value from the public Treasury of this Island, in the same manner as is allowed for other Negroes that suffer death by this Act.” Which last mentioned Act was often revived and continued; but the same Clause after some Negroes had suffered death for running away as aforesaid, was repealed, it being expected that others would have taken warning thereby, and not have been guilty of such offence for the future. And forasmuch as the first mentioned Act now in force, bearing date the eight day of August, one thousand six hundred eighty eight, hath made no provision, that such Slaves as absent themselves thirty days, shall suffer death as aforesaid; and such is their brutish and barbarous nature, that they will not be reclaimed by any fair means, but by the often running away of Negros and Slaves, and by their long absence from the service [131] of their Owners, they become desperate, and daily plot and commit Felonies and other enormities, not only to the terror and affrightment of the Neighbourhood, but the danger of the Island in general: Be it enacted by his Excellency Colonel James Kendal, Captain General, and chief Governor of this and other the Caribee Islands[…] Any Negro or Negroes, or other Slave or Slaves, after he, she or they have lived in this Island one whole year, that is, are or shall run-away and absent him, her or themselves from the service of his, her, or their Master, Mistress, or other Persons with whom he, she or they reside, and shall continue absent for and during the space of thirty days shall suffer death for the same; the said Offence and Offences to be tried in the like manner by two Justices of the Peace, and three Free-holders, as other criminals in and by the said Act now in force, to which this is an additional, are appointed to be tried; such Negro or Slave to be valued by them the said Justices and Free-holders; which value the Owner thereof shall be paid and allowed, out of the public Treasury of this Island as it allowed for other Negroes that suffer death by the said Act. Passed October 27, 1692

[Copy in in Acts of Assembly, passed in the Island of Barbadoes, From 1648, to 1718. John Baskett (1732), p.138-139]