Abridgement of laws relating to Negroes.

I. Anno 1668. Ch. 7. Negro Women, though set free, ought not in all respects to enjoy the full immunities of the English, and are therefore still lyable to the Payment of Taxes.

II. Anno 1671. Ch.4. County Courts are impower'd either to cause the Negroes belonging to Orphans to be duly apprized and fold at an Outcry, or preserved in Kind, as they shall find most expedient for the advantage and improvement of the Orphans Estate and Interest.

III. An. 1680. Ch. 7. All Negro Children imported or to be imported into this Colony, shall be, within three Months after their arrival, brought to the County Court, where their Ages shall be judged and recorded, and such Negro, or other, Slave, shall not be accounted Tythable till he attains the Age of 12 Years.

IV. No Christian Servants imported shall be Tythable before they attain to the Age of 14 Years.

V. Ch. 10. It shall not be lawful for any Negro, or other Slave, to carry, or arm himself with any Club, Staff, Gun, Sword, or Weapon of Defence or Offence, nor to go from off his Masters Ground without a Certificate from Master, Mistress, or Overseer, under the Penalty of 20 Lashes by the next Constable.

VI. If any Negro or other Slave shall lift up his hand in Opposition against any Christian, upon due Proof by Oath of the Party, he shall have 30 Lashes, on the bare Back well laid on.

VII. If any Negro, &c. shall hide himself from his Masters Service, committing Injuries, and shall resist any Person or Persons that come by lawful for such Person or Persons to kill the said Negro, or Slave.

VIII. This Law shall be every six Months published in the County Courts, and Parish Churches.

IX. Anno 1682. Ch. 3. A true Copy of the last mention'd Act shall be enter'd in the Register Book of every Parish in this Country, and the Minister shall yearly in March and September, read it and this present Act, on a Sunday in time of Divine Service, under the Penalty of  650 l. (?) of Tobacco.

X.  No Master or Overseer shall suffer any Negro or other Slave, (without leave of his Master) to remain or be upon his Plantation above the space of 4 hours at any one time, upon pain of forfeiting 200 l. of Tobacco in Cask.