| Date | Nov 1792 |
|---|---|
| Law/Legislation | Law (Repealed) An ACT relating to runaway servants and slaves |
| Jurisdiction | MD |
| Title | An act to restrain the ill practices of sheriffs, and to direct their conduct respecting runaways |
| Description/Full Text | Preamble. WHEREAS it is reprefented to this general affembly, that the fheriffs of the refpective counties have negleded to advertife runaways, to the great injury of the owners; therefore, Runaways committed to be adver- tifed, &c. II. Be it enacted, by the General Affembly of Maryland, That it be the duty of the feveral and refpedive fheriffs, and they are hereby required and direded, upon any runaway being committed to their cuftody, to caufe the fame to be ad- vertifed in fome public news-paper within twenty days after fuch commitment, and to make particular and minute defcription of the perfon, cloaths and any bodily marks, of fuch runaway. If not applied for, to be a gain adver- tifed, &c. III. And be it enacted, That if no perfon fhall apply for fuch runaway within the fpace of thirty days from fuch commitment, then it fhall be the duty of fuch fheriff, if refiding on the weftern fhore, to caufe the faid runaway to be adver- tifed, as heretofore direded, in the Maryland Journal and George-town Weekly Ledger, and, if refiding on the eaftern fhore, to caufe the fame to be advertifed in the Maryland Herald and Maryland Journal within fixty days from fuch com- mitment, and to continue the fame therein until the faid runaway is releafed by due courfe of law, Penalty for neglect, &c. IV. And be it enacted, That if any fheriff fhall refufe or negled to comply with the directions of this ad, he fhall, for every fuch refufal or negled, forfeit and pay the fum of twenty pounds current money to the owner of fuch runaway. Duration. V. And be it enacted, That this act fhall commence and be in full force from the firft day of April next. |
| Additional Information | – |
| Source | https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000644/html/am644--70.html http://slavery.msa.maryland.gov/html/research/histlaw.html |
| Transcriber Notes | – |
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[Author (if known)], Laws and Legislation Related to Slavery and Free Blacks in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia (1642-1860), [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.
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