1839.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 35.

CHAPTER 35.

Passed Mar. 20,
1840.

An act to provide for the better regulation of the Free

Negro and Mulatto Children within this State.

Orphans courts
to summon, &c.

SECTION 1. Be if. enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That, from and after the passage of this act,
the orphans' court of any county in this State, upon in-
formation being given to either of said courts, shall sum-
mon before them the child or children of any free negro

To bind as ap-
prentices.

or negroes or mulattoes in said county; and if it shall ap-
pear, upon examination before such court, that it would be
better for the habits and comfort of such child or children,
that it should be bound as an apprentice to some white per-
son to learn to labor, then such court shall bind, as appren-
tices, such child or children to some white person, males till
they are twenty-one years of age, and females till they are

Judges to wit-

ness indenture.

Name and age

to be stated, &c.

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 the 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 mas-
ter, within three calender months after the making of the

Want of form

not to invali-
date, &c.

same; and any indenture under this act shall not be inva-
lid 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.

Authority to

transfer ap-
prentice.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That the master or the ex-
ecutor, administrator or assignee of such master may,
with the assent of the orphans' court, to be entered on
the minutes of said court, assign and transfer to any other
person residing in the said county, any apprentice bound
under this act.

Penalty for en-
ticing appren-

tice to runaway.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That if any negro or other
person shall entice or persuade any apprentice bound un-
der this act, to run away or abscond from the service of
the master or person entitled to his or her service under
this act, such negro or other person so offending, shall,
upon conviction in the county court, be subject to fine
and imprisonment as for a misdemeanor, or at the discre-
tion of the said court, be confined in the penitentiary
house of this State for not more than four years, nor less
than twelve months.

In case appren-
tice abscond.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That if any apprentice, un-
der this act, abscond or run away, the county court
of said county shall have full power to adjudge and order