An Act for the encouragement of such Negroes and other Slaves as shall behave themselves courageously against the enemy in time of invasion.

FORASMUCH as there are many negroes and other slaves in this Island who are worthy of being trusted and having confidence reposed in them, and therefore may be of great service to this Island, should the same be invaded; To the end therefore that encouragement may be given for every negro or other slave to behave themselves courageously against an enemy, We, Your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the commander in chief for the time being in and over all Your Majesty’s Leeward Charibbee Islands in America, and the council and assembly of Nevis, do pray Your most sacred Majesty, That it may be enacted; and be it and it is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, That every negro or other slave within this Island, who in time of invasion by His Majesty’s enemies, or other attempt to be made on this Island, shall engage and courageously conduct himself in time of battle, and behave with fidelity to his master, so as to be particularly distinguished, the said negro or other slaves, and every of them, upon due proof thereof made to the satisfaction of the council and assembly of this Island, shall be rewarded either with freedom, or with a sum of money, as they may judge proper. 

And to the end that the owners of every such negro or other slave who shall gain their freedom by virtue of this Act, may receive a full recompense for the loss which they shall sustain thereby; BE it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That every negro or other slave who shall happen to be set free by this Act, shall be valued and appraised on oath by two of the neighbouring freeholders to the place where the owners of such negro or other slaves may live, before one of His Majesty’s justice of the peace in the said Island, which justice of the peace shall give a certificate of the value to the owner or owners of such negro or other slaves, who are to produce the same to the commander in chief on the Island; and thereupon the said commander in chief, by and with the advice and consent of the council and assembly, shall issue his order or orders on the public treasurer of his Island for the time being, forthwith to pay the same; and in case it shall so happen, that at the time of the issuing of such order or orders, there shall not be money sufficient in the treasury to discharge the same, then, upon the treasurer’s certifying the same on the back of such order or orders, the respective owners or holders thereof shall be allowed interest at and after the rate of eight pounds per cent. per annum, from the time of the said certificate, until the full value of every such negro or other slave shall be paid and satisfied.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any negroes or other slaves, at the time of invasion or appearance of an enemy, shall happen to be killed or maimed, the owner or owners of such negro or other slaves shall be paid the full value of every such negro or other slaves, out of the public treasury of this Island, such valuation to be ascertained and paid as hereinbefore mentioned with respect to the valuation, appraisement, and payment of any negro or other slave who shall be freed in consequence of their good conduct and behaviour against an enemy, and the negro or other slaves so maimed shall be made free, and be entitled to receive from the public treasury five pounds per annum, during his or their natural life or lives, as a maintenance. 

Dated in Saint Christopher’s, the fourth day of [blank] in the thirty-fifth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth; and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five. Wm. Higgins, Speaker.

Passed the House of Assembly this thirtieth day of May one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five. John Huggins, Clerk of the Assembly.

Passed the Council, this thirtieth day of May one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five. Wm. Burke, Clerk of the Council.

Passed by the Commander in Chief, at Saint Christopher’s, the fourth day of June one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five. John (L. S.) Stanley. 

Published by beat of drum, in Charlestown, this sixth day of June one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five. C. Simpson, D.P.M