| Date | 1785 |
|---|---|
| Law/Legislation | Law |
| Jurisdiction | VA |
| Title | Chapter LXXVII |
| Description/Full Text | No person shall henceforth be a slave in Virginia, except such as were so on the first day of this Assembly and the descendants of the females of them. Slaves Hereafter brought in and kept one year shall be free. A slave shall not go from where he lives without a license or letter showing he has authority from his master. Slaves shall not keep arms; riot and unlawful assemblies by slaves shall be punished by stripes. It is provided that persons who wish to move into this Commonwealth may take oath that their removal was not with intent to evade laws preventing the importation of slaves, that the slaves are not to be sold, nor have they been bought since Novembver 1, 1778. A penalty is provided for dealing with slaves without the consent of the owner. |
| 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.
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