2340

LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1839,

western shore, to the chancellor for his approbation, and being
attested by him, and signed by the governor of the state for
the time being, the seal of the state shall be thereunto an-
nexed ; but if the said lands shall be on the eastern shore,
then the register making out such grant or patent, shall pre-
sent the same to the judge of the land office for the eastern
shore, for his approbation ; and the same being approved of by
him, and so certified, shall be transmitted by the said register,
at his own proper expense, to the chancellor for his attesta-
tion, and being attested by him, and signed by the governor
for the time being, the seal of the state shall be thereunto an-
nexed, the cost and expense of which seal shall be paid by the
said register, which sum so paid by the said register, together
with the sheriff's commission for collection, may be collected
from the owner or owners of the patent, by the said register, in
the same manner as officers' fees are by law directed to be col-
lected; and every grant or patent so obtained as aforesaid,
shall immediately thereafter be recorded in the land office for
Hie shore on which such lands shall lie, in a proper and suffi-
cient book to be kept for the purpose of recording all such
grants and patents.

AN ACT, entitled, an Act to provide for the better regulation of the Free
Negro and Mulatto Children within this State.— 1839, ch. 306.

Children of
free negroes
may be
bound out
by orphans
court.

SEC. 1. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That from and after the passage of this act, the orphans court
of each county in this state, upon information being given to
either of said courts, shall summon before them the child or
children of any free negro or negroes, or mulatto, in said county,
and if it shall appear upon examination before such court that
it would be better for the habits and comfort of such child or
children, that such child or children should be bound as an ap-
prentice to some white person to learn to labour, then such
court shall bind as apprentices such child or children to some
white person ; males till they are twenty-one years of age, and
females till they are sixteen years of age; and the indenture of
apprenticeship shall be witnessed by the judges of such court,
or some two thereof, and shall state name and age of the child
bound, and the name of the master, and shall be recorded in
the clerk's office of said county at the expense of the master,
within three calender months after the making of the same,
and any indenture under this act shall not be invalid for want
of form, if it contains the name and age of the apprentice, the
name of the master, and is witnessed by the court binding the
same, or any two judges thereof.

Master may

assign his

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That the master, or the executor,
administrator or assignee of such master, may, with the assent