1836.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 167

said charter or constitution, be and the same are here-
by declared to be valid in law to all intents and purposes,

CHAPTER 167.

Passed Mar.11,
1837.

An act to authorise Dairy Barmen, a free man of colour,
of Worcester County, to set free his wife and children,
who are his slaves for life.

Preamble

WHEREAS, it is represented to this General Assem-
bly, that a certain Henry Harman, a free man of co-
lour, of Worcester county, several years prior to the
passage of the law of eighteen hundred and thirty-one,
c!iaptcr two hundred and eighty-one, purchased his
wife and children from Robert I. Handy, of the same
county, who were the slaves for life of the said Handy,
with the intention of securing their freedom; and
whereas, instead of a deed of manumission being giv-
en, as was intended, a bill of sale was executed to the
said Harman, whereby they became his slaves for life,
and he being desirous of giving them freedom; — There-
fore,

Permission
(ranted

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That the said Henry Harman is hereby au-
thorised to manumit and set free his said wife and chil-
dren, whom he purchased from the said Robert I. Han-
dy, and that they may remain in this State as free
persons of colour, any thing in any law to the contrary
notwithstanding.

Record directed

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That the clerk of Worces-
ter county court, is hereby required to receive and re-
cord any deed of manumission which may be given by
virtue of this act, and to deliver to such manumitted
negroes, certificates of freedom, whenever demanded,
as is now usual according to the existing laws of this
State.