| Date | Oct 2, - Nov 17, 1753 |
|---|---|
| Law/Legislation | Law |
| Jurisdiction | MD |
| Title | An Act to prevent Masters of Ships and Vessels from clandestinely carrying Servants and Slaves, or Persons indebted, out of this Province. |
| Description/Full Text | [Preamble.] Whereas divers Servants and Slaves, belonging to the People of this Province, and Persons Indebted therein, have been carried away out of the same Province, in Ships or Vessels trading therein, to the great Loss and Damage of his Majesty's Subjects, the good People of Maryland: To prevent therefore so great an Evil, it is prayed that it may be enacted ; [Masters of Vessels, when they enter, to be sworn, that they will not clandestinely carry away any Servants &c.] And be it Enacted, by the Right Honourable the Lord Proprietary, by and with the Advice and Consent of his Lordship's Governor, and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly, and the Authority of the same, That from and after the End of this Session of Assembly, when, and as often as, any Commander, or Master of a Vessel, above Eighteen Feet by the Keel, shall come to enter with, or take out a Permit from, any Naval-Officer within this Province, or the Limits or Precincts thereof, it shall not be lawful for such Naval-Officer, to suffer such Commander, or Master, to enter such his Vessels with him or them, or grant him or them a Permit to trade within the said Province, until such Commander, or Master, shall have taken the following Oath, on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God, or Affirma- tion if a Quaker, which Oath, or Affirmation, such Naval-Officer or [The Oath.] Officers are hereby impowered to administer, viz. " I A. B. Com- mander of the Ship or Vessel C. will not clandestinely conceal, or permit to be concealed, on board my Ship or Vessel, during my stay within this Province, any Servant, or Slave, belonging to any Inhabi- tant or Inhabitants thereof, nor will wittingly or willingly carry away, out of this Province, any Servant or Slave, or Servants or Slaves, p. 17 belonging to any Inhabitant or Inhabitants thereof, or any Person or Persons Indebted therein, common Sailors excepted, contrary to the Laws of this Province. So help me God." [Slaves, &c. not to be suffer'd on board Ves- sels;] And be it likewise Enacted, That no Master of a Vessel coming into this Province, and entering to trade therein, shall suffer any Slave or Slaves, Servant or Servants, to frequent his or their Ves- sel or Vessels, or come on board or conceal such Servant or Ser- vants, or Slave or Slaves, on board such his or their Ship or Vessel, or Ships or other Vessels; and in Case any Servant or Servants, Slave or Slaves, shall be kept or concealed on board any Ship or Ships, Ves- sel or Vessels, coming into, and trading within this Province, for the Space of One Hour or longer, the Master or Commander of such Ship or Vessel, shall forfeit and pay at the rate of Twenty Shillings Current Money, for every Hour each Servant or Slave shall be suf- fered to frequent his or their Vessel, or be kept or concealed on board his or their Vessel, to the Party owning such Servant or Slave, or Servants or Slaves, the same to be recovered, in a summary Way before One Justice of the Peace, with Costs. Provided always, That it shall and may be lawful for any Master, of Commander, of any Ship or Vessel coming into, or trading within, this Province, to hire any Servant or Slave, Servants or Slaves, from any Inhabitant within this Province, to work on board such his or [Except on hire.] their Ship and Vessel, or Ships and Vessels; any Thing in this Act contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. " Provided nevertheless, and it is hereby Enacted and Declared, That where it shall happen, the Master of such Ship or Vessel as aforesaid, shall by Reason of Sickness be rendered unable to attend on such Naval-Officer, that then and in such Case, the chief Mate or next Officer of such Ship or Vessel, shall be admitted to make Entry of the said Ship or Vessel; and that afterwards, the said Master, as soon as he is able, and before the Clearing of the said Ship or Vessel, shall be, and is hereby obliged to take the said Oath, or Affirmation if a Quaker, as aforementioned." [Continu- ance.] This Act to continue for Three Years, and unto the End of the next Session of Assembly, which shall happen after the Expiration of the said Three Years. |
| Additional Information | – |
| Source | https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000050/html/am50--284.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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