An Act, to explain and amend an Act, intituled, an Act, to remedy the Evils arising from irregular Assemblies of Slaves, and to prevent their possessing Arms and Ammunition and going from Place to Place without Tickets, and for preventing the Practice of Obeah, and to restrain Overseers from leaving the Estates under their Care on certain Days, and to oblige all Free Negroes, Mulattoes or Indians to register their Names in the Vestry Books of the respective Parishes of this Island, and to carry about them the Certificate and wear the Badge of their Freedom, and to prevent any Captain, Master or Supercargo of any Vessel bringing back Slaves transported off the Island.

WHEREAS, by an Act, intituled, "an Act to remedy the Evils arising from irregular Assemblies of Slaves, and to prevent their possessing Arms and Ammunition and going from Place to Place without Tickets, and for preventing the Practice of Obeah, and to restrain Overseers from leaving the Estates under their Care on certain Days, and to oblige all Free Negroes, Mulattoes or Indians to register their Names in the Vestry Books of the respective Parishes of this Island, and to carry about them the Certificate and wear the Badge of their Freedom, and to prevent any Captain, Master or Supercargo of any Vessel bringing back Slaves transported off the Island;" it is among other Things enacted, that the Certificates of the Freedom of Negroes, Mulattoes, and Indians shall be renewed annually. 

II. AND whereas the obliging them to renew the same annually is unnecessary and a needless Expence, be it enacted by the Lieutenant Governor, Council, and Assembly, of this your Majesty's Island of Jamaica, and it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the same, that all Negroes, Mulattoes, and Indians, who now are, or hereafter may become free, that all be obliged to take out or renew such Certificates once in Seven Years and not oftener, any Law, Custom, or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding. 

III. AND be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Justices and Vestry in each respective Parish within this Island, shall annually order the Constables to warn all such Negroes, Mulattoes, and Indians of Free Condition, the Term of whose Certificates is near expiring, to attend the Vestry, the Day appointed for Choosing Vestry Men in the respective Parishes, to renew such Certificates. 

IV. AND be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Secretary of this Island do forthwith cause this Act to be printed, and two Copies thereof sent to his Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, and one to the Clerk of the Vestry of each Parish in this Island, the Charges whereof the Receiver-General is to pay out of any Monies in his Hands unappropriated.