Barbados Slave Code, Page 2
Dublin Core
Title
Barbados Slave Code, Page 2
Subject
Colonial Law
Description
Page 2 of the Barbados Slave Code — image and transcription.
Note that some abbreviations have been extended. Square brackets indicate likely readings where the document is damaged or illegible.
An Act for the better ordering and governing of Negroes [Ctd.]
necessary, and usefull in the former Lawes of the [...]
Governing and ordering Negroes, and to add thereunto such further Lawes and ordinances, as
at this time we thinke absolutely needful for the publique safety and may prove
in the future behovefull to the peace and utility of this Isle by this Act
repealing and dissolving all other former Laws made concerning the said
Negroes and for the time to come.
CLAUSE 1:
Be it enacted published and declared and it is by the President, Councill, and
Assembly of this Isle and by authority of the same enacted, ordained, & published
that no Master, Mistress, Commander, or Overseer of any family within this Island
shall give their Negroes leave on Sabbath days, holy days or at any other
time to go out of their plantations except such Negroes as usually wait upon
them at home and abroad, and them with a ticket under his Master, Mistress,
Commander, or Overseers' hand, the said Ticket specifying the time of his or her,
coming from the plantation and the time allowed for his or her returne &
noe other Negroes except upon necessary business, and then to send a
Christian or Negroes' Overseer along with them with a ticket as aforesaid upon
forfeiting for every Negroe so limited to go abroad 500 pounds of Muscavado sugar,
half the said five to the Informer and the other half to the publique
Treasury; And if any Master, Mistress, Commander or Overseer of any plantation
shall finde any Negro or Negroes at any time in their plantation without a Ticket
and business from his said Master and not apprehend them or endeavor so to
doe and having apprehended them and shall not punish them by a moderate
whipping, shall forfeit 500 pounds of the like sugar to be disposed off as aforesaid, the said
penalty to be recovered before some Justice of the Peace of that precinct
where such default shall be made who is hereby authorized and upon Complaint
made to examine upon oath to heare and determine the same and by Warrant
under his hand directed to the Constable to cause such penalty to be levied
as in case of servants wages is appointed.
Note that some abbreviations have been extended. Square brackets indicate likely readings where the document is damaged or illegible.
An Act for the better ordering and governing of Negroes [Ctd.]
necessary, and usefull in the former Lawes of the [...]
Governing and ordering Negroes, and to add thereunto such further Lawes and ordinances, as
at this time we thinke absolutely needful for the publique safety and may prove
in the future behovefull to the peace and utility of this Isle by this Act
repealing and dissolving all other former Laws made concerning the said
Negroes and for the time to come.
CLAUSE 1:
Be it enacted published and declared and it is by the President, Councill, and
Assembly of this Isle and by authority of the same enacted, ordained, & published
that no Master, Mistress, Commander, or Overseer of any family within this Island
shall give their Negroes leave on Sabbath days, holy days or at any other
time to go out of their plantations except such Negroes as usually wait upon
them at home and abroad, and them with a ticket under his Master, Mistress,
Commander, or Overseers' hand, the said Ticket specifying the time of his or her,
coming from the plantation and the time allowed for his or her returne &
noe other Negroes except upon necessary business, and then to send a
Christian or Negroes' Overseer along with them with a ticket as aforesaid upon
forfeiting for every Negroe so limited to go abroad 500 pounds of Muscavado sugar,
half the said five to the Informer and the other half to the publique
Treasury; And if any Master, Mistress, Commander or Overseer of any plantation
shall finde any Negro or Negroes at any time in their plantation without a Ticket
and business from his said Master and not apprehend them or endeavor so to
doe and having apprehended them and shall not punish them by a moderate
whipping, shall forfeit 500 pounds of the like sugar to be disposed off as aforesaid, the said
penalty to be recovered before some Justice of the Peace of that precinct
where such default shall be made who is hereby authorized and upon Complaint
made to examine upon oath to heare and determine the same and by Warrant
under his hand directed to the Constable to cause such penalty to be levied
as in case of servants wages is appointed.
Source
National Archives of the United Kingdom, Kew
Date
1667
Contributor
Slavery, Law, and Power Project
Format
Handwritten document
Language
English
Type
Manuscript
Identifier
CO 30/2/16-26, PRO, NA
Files
Citation
“Barbados Slave Code, Page 2,” Slavery, Law, and Power , accessed May 4, 2024, https://slaverylawpower.omeka.net/items/show/2.