546 Assembly Proceeditigs, June 29-July 22, 1699.

Lib. L. L.
p. 316

Provided allways that if any feme Covert be named a party
Grantor in any Such Writeing Indented the Same shall not be
of force to debarr her or her heires Except upon her Acknowl-
edgment of the Same and the person or persons takeing Such
her Acknowledgment shall Examine her privately out of the
hearing of her husband whether she do make her Acknowl-
edgment of the Same willingly and freely and without being
induced thereunto by fear or threats of or used by her
husband or fear of his displeasure and the person or persons
so Examining her shall in a Noat or Certificate of the said
Caption of the said Acknowledgment Certifie her Examina-
tion and Acknowledgment thereupon and That Such Certifi-
cate be Likewise Enrolled upon Record in which Case and by
such feme Covert shall be Barred and not otherwise anything
herein before Conteined to the Contrary Notwithstanding.

An Act relateing to Servants and Slaves.

Whereas There have been Severall Acts Provided against
Servants Runaways which have hereto proved ineffectuall in
reguard they do not Sufficiently provide Encouragm^t for Such
person or persons Inhabitants of this Province as Shall Seize
Such Runaways or Servants by this Act Deemed Runaways
therefore for the better discovery Seizing and Apprehending
Such Runaways Be it Enacted by the Kings most Excellent
Maty by and with the Advice and Consent of this present

p.317

Generall Assembly and by the Authority of the Same That
from and after the publication hereof no Servant or Servants
whatsoever within this Province whether by Indenture or
Custom of the County or hired for Wages shall Travell by
Land or Water ten Miles from the house of his her or their
Master Mistris or Dame without a Note under their hands or
under the hand of his or their Overseer if any be under the
Penalty of being Taken for a Runaway and to Suffer Such
Penalties as are hereafter Provided against Runaways And it
is hereby further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that any
Such Servant or Servants as aforesaid unlawfully absenting
him her or them from his her or their Said Master Mistress
Dame or Overseer shall Serve Tenn Days of every one days
Absence to be Judged when Such Master Mistres or Dame
shall bring their Said Servant before the Justices of the Pro-
vinciall or County Court where the Owner Master or Dame or
Overseer of Such Servant shall live dureing the Sitting of the
Court be it before or after the Expiration of Such Servants
first time of Servitude by Indenture or otherwise And be it
further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that any person or