An Act to inflict further and other Punishments on runaway Slaves, and such as shall entertain them.

WHEREAS great Numbers of Negroe and other Slaves have of late run away from the Service of their Owners or Employers, and have taken Shelter in the Towns or other Places; and whereas, by their long and frequent Desertion, great Encouragement is given to others to follow their Example, which may prove of dangerous Consequence to this Island, if not timely prevented; and whereas the Punishments hitherto inflicted by Law for such Offences have not proved effectual: In order therefore to remedy the like Inconveniencies for the future, and to deter others from running away, and also to prevent their being harboured or entertained, may it please your most Excellent Majesty, that it may be enacted; be it therefore enacted by the Governor, Council, and Assembly of this your Majesty's Island of Jamaica, and it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the same, That every Negroe or other Slave, or the Age of Eighteen Years, or upwards, born in this Island, or that has been, or shall be imported into this Island, and that hath, or shall reside in the same for the Space of three Years after such Importation, that shall run away, or absent him or herself from the Service of his or her Owner or Employer, without the Consent of such Owner or Employer, for the Space of six Calendar Months, shall be tried in such manner and Form as other Slaves in this Island are usually tried for capital Offences; and on due Proof and Conviction thereof shall suffer Death, or such other Punishment as shall be inflicted by the Justices and Freeholders, or the major Part of them, one of which to be a Justice. 

 

II. PROVIDED always, and it is the true Intent and Meaning of this Act, That no Owner or Owners of any such runaway Negroe, or other Slave, who may be convicted and suffer Death, as aforesaid, shall be paid the Value of such Negroe or other Slave, but that the Loss thereof shall fall upon the Owner of such Negroe or other Slave; any Thing in this Act contained, or any Law, Custom, or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding. 

 

III. AND be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all such Negroe or other Slaves, as aforesaid, that shall be run away at the time of the passing of this Act, and that shall continue to absent themselves for the Space of six Months, shall be tried and punished in like Manner as Negroe and other Slaves, who shall run away after the passing of this Law, and absent themselves for so long Time. 

 

IV. AND be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Negroe, Indian or Mulatto Slave, shall harbour, conceal, or entertain any runaway Negroe or other Slave, knowing him or her to be such, every such Negroe, Indian or Mulatto Slave, so harbouring, concealing, or entertaining any such Runaway, shall be tried in Manner aforesaid; and, on due Proof and Conviction thereof, shall suffer Death, or such other Punishment as the two Justices and three Freeholders, or the major Part of them, of which one to be a Justice, shall adjudge. 

 

V. PROVIDED, That no Negroe, Indian or Mulatto Slave shall be punished by virtue of this Act, for harbouring, concealing, or entertaining any runaway Slave, unless Prosecution for the same be commenced within one Month after the Discovery of the said Offence. 

 

VI. PROVIDED also, That no Negroe or other Slave, shall be punished, by virtue of this Act, for running away, or absenting him or herself from the Service, of his or her Owner or Employer, unless Prosecution for such Offence be commenced within three Months after his or her being taken or returned to his or her Owner or Employer. 

 

VII. AND be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Secretary of this Island do cause this Act forthwith to be printed, and Twenty copies thereof sent to the Custos, or Chief Magistrate, of the respective Parishes of this Island, who are to take the most effectual Method of making it publick.