Two Hundred Pounds of Tobacco, to be paid by the Owner of
such
Runaway Servant, Negro or Slave, so apprehended and taken up; and if
such suspected Runaway or Runaways be not Servants, and refuse to pay
the
same, he, she, or they, shall make Satisfaction by Servitude, or otherwise,
as the Justices of the Provincial and County Courts, where such Person
shall
be so apprehended and taken up, shall think fit.
VII. And
for the better Discovery of, and Encouragement of our Neighbour
Indians to size, apprehend, or take up, any Runaway Servants
or Slaves,
and bring them before a Magistrate, they shall, for a Reward, have
a Match
Coat paid him or them, or the Value thereof, which said Reward shall
be
paid and satisfied by the County where such person shall be so apprehended:
And such Runaway, if not a Slave, to re-imburse the said County be
Servitude,
or otherwise, as the Justices of the Provincial or County Court shall
think fit.
VIII. And be
it further Enacted, by the Authority, Advice and Consent aforesaid,
That at what Time soever any of the said Persons, Runaways, shall be
seized
by any Person or Persons within this Province, such Person or Persons
so
apprehending or seizing the same, shall bring, or cause him, her, or
the, to be
brought before the next Magistrate, or Justice of the County where
such Runaway
is apprehended, who is hereby impowered to take into Custody,
or otherwise
him, her, or them to secure and dispose of, as he shall think fit,
until such
Person or Persons, so seized and apprehended, shall give good and sufficient
Security to answer the Premises the next Court that shall first ensue
in the
said County: Which Court shall secure such Person or Persons
till he or they
can make Satisfaction to the Party that shall so apprehend or seize
such Runaways,
or other Persons, as by this Act is required, except such Person shall
make Satisfaction as aforesaid before such Court shall happen.
And that
Notice may be conveniently given to the Master, Mistress, Dame, or
Overseer
of Runaways taken up as aforesaid, the Commissioners of the Counties
shall forthwith cause a Note ofd the Runaway's Name, so seized and
apprehended
as aforesaid, to be set up at the next adjacent County Courts, and
at
the provincial Court and Secretary's Office, that all Persons may view
the
same, and see where such their Servants are, and in whose Custody.
IX. And furthermore,
for ascertaining what each Servant, according to the
Custom of the Country, shall have at the Expiration of their Servitude;
Be it
Enacted, by the Authority,
Advice and Consent aforesaid, That every Man-Servant,
shall, at such Time of Expiration of his Servitude as aforesaid, have
allowed
and given him, One new Hat, a good Suit, (That is to say,) Coat
and Breeches,
either of Kersey or Broad Cloth, One new Shift of White Linen, One
new
Pair of French-Fall Shoes, and Stockings, Two Houghs, and One
Axe, and
One Gun of Twenty Shillings Price, not above Four Foot by the barrel,
nor less than Three and a Half; which said Gun shall, by the Master
ot
Mistress, in the Presence of the next Justice of the Peace, be delivered
to
such Free-man, under the Penalty of Five Hundred Pounds of Tobacco
on
such Master of Mistress omitting so to do: And the like Penalty
on the said
Free-man selling or disposing thereof within the Space of Twelve Months;
the one Half whereof to our Sovereign Lord the King, his Heirs and
Successors,
the other to the Informer. All Women-Servants, at the Expiration
of their Servitude as aforesaid, shall have allowed and give, a Waist-coat
and
Petty-coat of new Half-thick, or Pennistone, a new Shift of White Linen,
Shoes and Stockings, a blue Apron, Two Caps of White Linen, and Three
Barrels of Indian Corn.
X. And be it
further Enacted, by the Authority, Advice and Consent aforesaid,
That no Person whatsoever, shall trade, barter, commerce, or any Way
deal with any Servant, whether hired, or indented, or Slave, belonging
or
appertaining to any Inhabitant within this Province, without Leave
or Licence
|
CHAP.
XLIV.
Indians apprehending
any
Runaway,
to have a
Matchcoat is
Satisfaction.
Persons so apprehended,
how to be
disposed of
and secured
till they
make Satisfaction.
Freedom
Dues.
To a Man
Servant.
The Gun to
be delivered
in Presence of
a Magistrate,
on Penalty of
500 lb Tobacco,
and the same
Penalty on
such Free-man
selling
his Gun
within 12
Months.
To a Woman
Servant.
Persons dealing
with Servants
without
leave, &c.
forfeit 2000
lb Tobacco. |
