| Date | 1795 |
|---|---|
| Law/Legislation | Law |
| Jurisdiction | VA |
| Title | Chapter II |
| Description/Full Text | Whereas great and alarming mischief has arisen in other states of this Union, and is likely to arise in this by voluntary association of individuals, who under cover of effecting that justice towards persons unwarrantably held in slavery, which the sivereugbty and duty of society alone ought to afford; have in many instances been the means of depriving masters of their property in slaves: To the end that an easy mode may be pointed out by law for the recovery of freedom when it is illegally denied, it is enacted that a person conceiving himself to be detained as a slave illegally my make complaint in court; the petitioner shall be assigned counsel who without fee shall prosecute the suit. If any person aid or abet any person in such a claim for freedom and the claim is not established, he shall forfeit one hundred dollars to the owner of the slave. A widow who renounces all benefit under her husband's will shall be entitled to on-third part of her husband's slaves, notwithstanding they may be emancipated by his will; provided, nevertheless, that her part shall be taken out of slaves which are not emancipated if there be enough to make one third. A person forgin or counterfeiting a paper giving a slave freedom shall pay two hundred dollars and suffer one year's imprisonment without bail. |
| Additional Information | – |
| Source | Black Laws of Virginia, By: June Purcell Guild |
| Transcriber Notes | – |
If you are citing this record, please use the following format:
[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.
Pinned records can be viewed at any time by clicking the More menu in the top right corner of the page, then selecting My Pinned Records.