| 1817.
CHAP. 226. |
LAWS OF MARYLAND.
to be paid by the persons to whom such indenture shall be
made; and the said register shall keep an accurate register or account
of the name or names of every person indented or bound
before him as aforesaid, their sex, age, time of apprenticeship or servitude,
the country whence they came, to whom bound, and transmitted
by said register as aforesaid for record. |
No minor to be indented
except by
parents. |
4. AND BE IT ENACTED, That no minor under
the age of twenty
one years shall be indented before the said register, except by his or
her parents, or next of kin; and in default of relatives, then by the
direction of the orphans court of the county where such emigrant
shall arrive. |
| Covenant to indenture. |
5. AND BE IT ENACTED, That every such indenture
shall contain
a covenant or stipulation by the master or mistress of any
minor under the age of twenty-one years, to give to such minor,
annually, at least two months schooling during his or her apprenticeship
or servitude. |
No emigrant to
serve longer than
four years. |
6. AND BE IT ENACTED, That no emigrant shall
in any case be
bound to serve longer than four years, unless in case of male minors,
under the age of seventeen years, and female minors under
the age of fourteen years, who may be obliged to serve any period
so that the males may be free at the age of twenty-one years, and
the females at eighteen. |
Not to be detained
longer on board
vessels than 30
days, &c. |
7. AND BE IT ENACTED, That no German or Swiss
emigrants
arriving within any port, harbour, or place in this state, shall be
detained on board of the vessel in which he or she arrived, longer
than thirty days after such arrival, and during this detention, such
emigrants shall receive from the master, consignee, or owners of
such vessel, good and sufficient provisions, without any increase in
the period of apprenticeship or servitude, or any cost or charge on
such emigrants. |
| Penalty for ill-treatment. |
8. AND BE IT ENACTED, That if any emigrants
shall be longer
detained, or shall receive cruel or ill-treatment from the master or
officer on board of said vessel, or shall take sick, or be otherwise
incapable of remaining on board, it shall be the duty of the register,
after being informed of the complaint, to communicate the
same to the judge of the county court of the county where such
emigrant shall arrive, or to a judge of the Baltimore city court, if
the emigrant shall arrive in the port of Baltimore, who on being
satisfied of the correctness of the statement, may order and direct
that such emigrant shall, with his property, be brought on shore
at the expense of the owners of the vessel, until some one shall
contract for a term of servitude with such emigrant, and if no
purchaser shall appeal within thirty days after such emigrant
shall come on shore, that is, within sixty days after arrival, the
master or owners of the vessel shall have no lien or claim on such
emigrant, but the liability for the passage money, and other expenses,
shall attach, like any other debt or contract, any contract,
custom or usage, to the contrary notwithstanding. |
Children not answerable
for passage
money. |
9. AND BE IT ENACTED, That no child or children
shall in any
case be answerable in any manner for the freight or passage money
of their parents, dead or alive, nor shall parents be responsible for
the freight or passage money of the deceased children, nor a husband
for his deceased wife, nor a wife for her deceased husband, |
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