than one or

And be it further Enacted, That if any Perfon or Perfons fhall wilfully and Forgery to knowingly procure more than one Order as aforefaid, for any one Bounty to procure more which he might be intitled by this Act, with a View to defraud this State, he der, &c. fhall, upon legal Conviction thereof, fuffer the fame Pains and Penalties as if he had been legally convicted of Forgery.

An Act concerning Indian, Molattó, and Negro Servants and
Slaves.

latto, or in

E it enacted by the Governor, Council, and Reprefentatives, in General Court affembled, and by the Authority of the jame, That whatfoever Negro, Molatto or Indian Servant or Servants fhall be found wandering out of the Bounds of the Town or Place to which they belong, without a Ticket or Pafs in Writ ing under the Hand of fone Affiftant, or Juftice of the Peace, or under the Negro, moHand of the Master or Owner of fuch Negro, Molatto or Indian Servants, dian fervants shall be deemed and accounted to be Run-aways, and may be treated as fuch not to travel And every Perfon inhabiting in this State, finding or meeting with any fuch without a Negro, Molatio or Indian Servant or Servants not having a Ticket, as afore país, &e. faid, is hereby imopwered to feize and fecure him or them, and bring him or them before the next Authority to be examined and returned to his or their Mafter or Owner, who fhall fatisfy the Charge according thereby.

And all Ferry-men within this State, are hereby required not to fuffer any Ferrymen not Indian, Molatto or Negro Servant, without Certificate, as aforefaid, to pals to tranfport over their respective Ferries, by affifting them therein, directly or indirectly, on fuch on pe the Penalty of paying a Fine of Twenty Shillings, for every fuch Offence, to nalty of 20s. the Owner of fuch Servants.

ken up, &c.

And all Vagrants or fulpected Perfons may be ufed in the like Manner, when Vagrants, found Wandering from Town to Town having no Certificate or Pafs, as afore- &c. to be ta faid; who shall be feized and conveyed before the next Authority; to be examined and difpofed of according to Law.

Free negroes

not to travel

And if any free Negroes fhall travel without fuch Certificate or Páfs, and be ftopped, feized or taken up as aforesaid, they fhall pay all Charges arifing without país. thereby

And for the preventing fuch Servants from Stealing from their Mafters and others, and for the better governing them ;

Be it further enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That every free Perfon which thall prefume, either openly or privately, to buy or receive of or from

fervants,

any Indian, Mulatto or Negro Servant or Slave, any Money, Goods, Merchan-Perfons prodizes, Wares or Provifions, without Order from the Mafter or Mistress of fuch hibsted from Servant or Slave; every Perion fo offending, and being thereof convicted, trading with fhall be fentenced to reftore all fuch Monies, Goods, Wares and Provifions unto the Party injured, in the fpecific Articles, (if not altered) and alfo forfeit to the Party double the Value thereof, over and above, or treble the Value where the fame are difpofed of, or not to be obtained: And if the Perfon fo offending be unable to, or fhall not make Restitution as awarded, then to be publicly whipt with fo many Stripes (not exceeding Twenty) as the Court or Juftice that hath Cognizance of fuch Offence, fhall order; or make Satisfaction by Service: To be aligned therein by fuch Court or Justice,

On penalty,

&c.

Indian fer

And every Indian, Negro or Molatto Servant or Slave, of, or from whom fuch Money, Goods, Merchandizes, Wares or Provifions fhall be received or bought, if it appear they were ftolen, or that shall teal any Money, Goods, vants, &c. Realing to be Merchandizes, Wares or Provifions, and be thereof convicted, (although the whipped. Buyer or Receiver be not found) fhall be punished by Whipping, not exceeding thirty Stripes, and the Things ftolen to be restored to the Party injured, if found, or the Value thereof if not found: To be determined as aforefaid.

234

Servants, &c.

Slaves.

1 hat if any Negro, Molatto or Indian Servant or Slave, thall be found abroad from Home in the Night-season, after nine of the Clock, without fpe cial Order from his or their Master, or Mistress, it shall be lawful for any Per fon or Perfons, to apprehend and fecure fuch Negro, Molatto, or Indian Ser vant or Slave, fo offending, and him, her, or them, bring before the next Affiftant or Juftice of the Peace; which Authority fhall have full Power to pafs Sentence upon fuch Servant or Slave, and order him; her, or them, to be pubnight, unless, licly whipped on the naked Body, not exceeding ten Stripes, and to pay Coft. of Court; except his or their Mafter or Mistress shall redeem them, by paying a Fine not exceeding ten Shillings.

not to go a

bread after 9 o'clock at

&c.

Penalty for entertaining fervants; &c.

No flaves to be bro'tinto

And if fuch Servant, or Slaves, hall have entertainment in any Houfe after nire of the Clock, as aforefaid, (except to do any Bufinefs they may be fencupon) the Head of the Family, that entertains, or tolerates them in his or her Houfe, or any the Dependences thereof, thall forfeit and pay the Sum of t Shillings: One Half to the Complainer, and the other Half to the Treasurer of the Town where the Offence is committed.

And whereas the increase of Slaves in this State is injurious to the Poor, and inconvenient

Be it further enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That no Indian, Negro or Molacto Stave,, fhail at any Time hereafter; be brought or imported into this bro State, by Sea or Land, from any Place or Places whatsoever, to be difpofed of, left or fold within this State.

this ftate.

Be it further enaded by the Authority aforesaid, That any Person or Persons who had hereafter, contrary to the true Intent of this A&t, import or bring any Indian, Negro, or Molatto Slave or Slaves into this State, to be difpofed of, left or fold within the fame, or who knowing fuch Slave or Slaves to be Penalty on fo imported and brought into this State, fhall receive and purchase them, or importers or any of them, hall forfeit and pay to the Treasurer of this State the Sum of chaters of One hundred Pound lawful Money, for every Slave fo imported, brought into this State, received or purchaled, to be recovered by Bill, Plaint, or Informati on, in any Court of Record proper to try the fame. And that it be the Duty of all Conftables and Grand-jurors, to enquire after, and make Prefentment of

il.ves.

Slaves fet free to bmun

tained by their late owner's in cafe

the come to want

Provifo.

all Breaches of this Act.

And that all Slaves for are

And that all Slaves fet at Liberty by their Owners, and all Negro, Molasto, and Spanish Indians Servants to Mafters for Time; in Cafe they come to Want, after they fhall be fet at Liberty, or the Time of their faid Service be expired, fhall be relieved by fuch Owners or Matters refpectively; their Heirs, Executors, or Adminiftrators; and upon their, or either of their Refufal fo to do, the faid Slaves and Servants fhall be relieved by the Select-men of the Towns to which they belong; and the faid Select men fhall recover of the faid Owners or Mafters, their Heirs, Executors, or Adminiftrators all the Charge and Coft they are at for fuch relief, in the ufual Manner, as in Cafe of any other Debts.

Provided nevertheless, That if any Mafter or Owner of any Servant or Slave, fhail apply to the Select-men of the Town to which he belongs, for Liberty or Licence to emancipate or make free any fuch Servant or Slave, it shall be the Duty of fuch Select-men to enquire into the Age, Abilities, Circumstances and Character of fuch Servant or Slave, and if they or the major Part of theim, fhall be of Opinion that it is likely to be confiftent with the real Advantage of fuch Owners of e-Servant or Slave, and that it is probable that the Servant or Slave will be able flaves inred to fupport his or her own Perfon, and he or she is of good and peaceable Life from charge, and Converfation; fuch Select-men or the major Part of them, fhall give to the on vertincate Owner or Master of fuch Servant or Slave, Certificate under their Hands, of being procur- their Opinion in the Premifes, and that the Mafter or Owner of fuch Servant

mancipated

ed, &c.

or Stave, hath Liberty to emancipate and fet at Liberty fuch Servant or Slave.. And it the Master or Owner of any Servantor Slave, thall, on receiving fuch

Certificate, emancipate and fet at Liberty fuch Servant or Slave, he, his Heirs,
Executors and Adminiftrators, fhali be forever difcharged from any Charge or
Coft, which may be occafioned by maintaining or fupporting the Servant or
Siave, made free as aforefaid; any Law, Ufage or Cuftom, to the contrary
potwithstanding.

And whereas found Policy requires that the Abolition of Slavery should be effelled as foon as may be, confiftent with the Rights of Individuals, and the public Safety and Welfare.

Therefore,

All born after

Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Negro or Molatto Child, that fhall, after the first Day of March Que thousand seven hundred and eighty- ft Mar. 1784, four, be born within this State, fhall be held in Servitude, longer than until to be free at they arrive to the Age of twenty-five Years, notwithstanding the Mother or the age of 25. Parent of fuch Child was held in Servitude at the Time of its Birth; but fuch Child, at the Age aforefaid, fhall be free; any Law, Ufage or Cuftom to the contrary notwithstanding.

An Act for forming, ordering, and regulating Societies.

ly, &c. on

B E it enacted by the Governor, Council and Reprefentatives, in General Court affembled, and by the Authority of the jame, That the settled and approved Inhabitants, qualified as is hereafter in this Act provided, in each refpective Inhabitants to Society made, or that shall be made, and conftituted by this Affembly, fhall meet annualmeet and affemble together, annually, fome time in the Month of December, of five days noin any other Month in the Year, as they fhall judge most convenient, at some tice. Place in luch Society, according to the Notice thereof, to be given them at least five Days before fuch Meeting, by the Committee, for ordering the Affairs of the Society, or for want of fuch Committee, by the Clerk of the Society.

clerk

And the Inhabitants being legally affembled, are impowered by the Vote of the major Part of them pretent, to choofe a Moderator, a Society Clerk, and To choose three or more discreet, able Inhabitants, to be a Committee to Order the A moderand fairs of the Society for the Year enfuing, which Clerk thall take the Oath by committee. Law provided for Society Clerks; and being fo qualified, fhall have the fame Powers and Authorities, as to the Bufinefs of the faid Society, as the Town, Clerk to be Clerks have in the refpective Towns; and his Doings fhall be as effectual in fworn. Law And the faid Society Clerk, being chofen and fworn, fhall continue, in his Office until another be chofen and fworn in his Room.

I Alfo fociety And alfo to choose a Society Treasurer, who shall be under the fame Regula- treasurer. tion, and have the fame Power and Authority in faid Societies, as Town Trea-, furers have in their respective Towns.

And alfo the faid Inhabitants, in their lawful Meetings, by their major Vote, as aforefaid, fhall have Power to grant, and lay fuch Rates and Taxes, on the Inhabitants of fuch Society, and others by Law rateable by fuch Society, for the raifing fuch Sum or Sums of Money, as may be needed for the Support of the Miniftry, and School there, and other Matters neceflary for them to do; and to appoint Committees for fuch Purposes as their Occafions call for, as the Law directs: And to choose and appoint a Collector or Collectors for the gathering fuch Rates and Taxes. And every Collector fo chofen that shall refufe to ferve, hall fuffer the fame Penalty as is provided by Law in Cafe of Town Officers refufing to ferve in the Offices to which they are chofen.

That when any Society or Societies are legally fet off in any Town or Towns in this State, whereby fuch Town or Towns are divided into feparaté Societies, fuch new Society fo fet off, and alfo the remaining Part or firft Society in any Town may, in order to their being formed and furnished with proper Officers, warn their first Meeting in the following Manner, viz. Ant Affittant or Juftice of the Peace, together with three principal, Inhabitants

rates and levy"

taxes.

in any fuch firft Society, or in any fuch other Society fet off as aforefaid, thall New focieties grant a Warrant under their Hands, to fome proper Perion by them deputed, how warned to warn all the Inhabitants in the Limits of fuch firft or other Society, to meet to meet the together at fuch Time and Place as they shall appoint: The faid Warning to fira time. be given five Days before fuch Meeting; and being fo met, fhall and may ad and do all and every Thing lawful and proper for a Society to do as before in this Act is provided.

Such inhabi.

sants as have the gospel preached for

sertain

months, &c.

Their privileges and power.

Who have

That fuch Inhabitants of Towns and Societies as have obtained or hereafter fhall obtain Liberty of the General Affembly to procure, and have the preaching of the Gofpel among themfelves for certain Months in the Year, distinct and feparate from the established place of Worship in fuch Town or Society to which they belong, shall and may, when and fo often as there may be Occafion, meet together at fuch Time and Place as fhall be appointed, and according to the Notice thereof to be given them at leaft five Days before fuch Meeting, by their Committee, or for want of Committee, by one of the faid principal Inhabitants; and being fo affembled, may choose a Clerk to enter their Votes, and alfo a Committee of three or more able, difcreet Men, of the Inhabitants aforefaid, to order the prudential Affairs of fuch Precincts, for the End aforefaid; and may by their major Vote in fuch their Meetings, grant and lay fuch Rates and Taxes on the faid Inhabitants as shall be needful for the support of the Minister whom they shall procure to preach with them for fuch Time, and for other neceffary Charges arifing among them; and to appoint a Collector or Collectors for the gathering fuch Rates: Who fhall have the fame Power to proceed in Collecting the fame as Collectors of Societies have, and fhall be accountable therefor in the fame Manner as Collectors of Society Rates by Law are. And for the preventing Disputes about the Votes made in Society Meetings, and for the determining the Qualification of Voters therein.

Be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Perfon fhall prefume to vote in any Society Meeting, aforefaid, unlels fuch Perfon hath a Freehold in' the fame Town or Society, rated at fifty Shillings, or forty Pounds in the common Lift, or is a Perfon of full Age, and in full Communion with the Church;" nor fhall any Person who is or fhall be by the Laws of this State, freed or `exright to vote. empted from the Payment of thofe Taxes, granted by any Town or Society, for the Support of the Worship, and Miniftry of the prefbyterian, congregational or confociated Churches, in this State, and for the building and maintaining Meeting-Houles for fuch Worship, on Account or by Reason of his diffenting from the Way of Worship and Miniftry, aforefaid; be allowed or admitted to act or vote in any Town or Society Meeting, in thofe Votes which refpect_or relate to the Support of the Worfhip and Ministry, aforefaid, and the building and maintaining of the Meeting-Houfes aforefaid.

Acts valid without, &c.

Society

clerks, &c. refufing, others to be chofen.

And the Acts and Votes of fuch Town and Society Meetings, passed without computing Perfons not qualified as above is expressed, and the Acts and Votes, refpecting the Support of the Worship and Ministry, and Meeting-Houfes aforefaid, made and paffed without computing the Votes of fuch exempt Per fons, shall be deemed and accounted the Acts and Votes of fuch Town and Society; any Law, Ufage or Cuftom, to the contrary in any wife notwithftanding,

And be it further Ena&ed, That upon the Refufal, Death or Removal, of any Society Clerk or other ordinary Society Officer in any Society in this State, fuch Society may affemble together, and choose a New to fill up fuch vacant: Place.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That the Fines by Law inflicted on Perfons chofen to any fociety Office, and who do not accept or execute fuch Office, shall be paid to the Treasury of fuch fociety; and shall be

recovered by Action brought in the Name of the Committee of fuch Society; any Law, Ufage, or Cuftom to the contrary notwithstanding.

Penalty on

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Person, unqualified who is not duly qualified according to this Act. to vote in any Society Meet- voters, &c. ing, fhall adventure to act, deal or intermeddle, or prefume to vote in any Society Meeting, for the choice of Officers, granting of Rates, or any other Affairs whatsoever, fuch Offender fhall forfeit the Sum of fifteen Shillings, for every fuch Offence; to be levied by Diftrefs and Sale of the Offender's Goods; one Half thereof to the Complainer, who fhall profecute to Effect, the other Half. to the Treasurer of fuch Society wherein said Offence is committed.

:

Where focie.

by local li

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That where two or more ties are not Societies, conftituted by Act of the General Affembly, have the fame Limits diftinguished and Boundaries, the Members belonging to each fhall be defignated by inrol- mits, to be ling their Names with the Clerk of the Society to which they refpectively be- defignated by long; and it fhall be the Duty of the faid Clerks to inrol the fame accordingly, enrollment. And all Perfons who shall arrive at the Age of Twenty-one Years, or Women who shall become Widows, dwelling within the Limits of fuch Societies, fhall have Liberty at any Time within twelve Months after faid Times refpec- In cafe they tively, to elect which Society they will belong to And all Perfons that fhall make no eleccome from any other Place, to dwell within the Limits of fuch Societies, may tion, how to at any Time elect which Society he or they will belong to; which Election be confidered, thall be manifefted by caufing his or their Name or Names to be inrolled with the Clerk of the Society to which they join And in cafe of Non-election within the Time limited by this Act, the Perfons brought up within faid Limits fhall belong to that Society to which their Parents belonged, (if they dwelt there) otherwife to the Society to which the Head of the Family in which they were brought up, belonged; and Widows, to the Society to which their Husbands did belong: And Perfons who come from any other Place to dwell there, shall be taxed by the Society lowest in the Lift within fuch Limits, which fupport the Ministry by taxing, until they make their Election, as aforefaid.

&c.

members, un

And all Perfons who have or fhall become legal Members of any fuch Socie- To continue ty, shall continue Members of the fame, during their Continuance within the to that focieLimits thereof, unless released by Act of the General Affembly, or Vote of ty whereof fuch Society, and joining to another Society within the fame Limits; which they are legat Releafe fuch Society is hereby authorized to grant, by a legal Vote in their lefs, &c. Meeting, if they think fit, on Application of any Perfon defiring the fame. Provided, That nothing in this A&t shall affect the Privileges allowed by Law to any Perfons who foberly diffent from the Worship and Ministry efta- Provife: blished by the Laws of this State.

An Act appointing Stocks to be made and maintained in the

feveral Towns in this State.

BE it E it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives, in General Court Towns to affembled, and by the Authority of the same, That every Town in this provide State fhall make and maintain at their own Charge, a good pair of Stocks, stocks. with a Lock and Key, fufficient to hold and secure fuch Offenders as shall be fentenced to be fet therein.

And if any Town fhall at any Time be without a pair of Stocks, as aforefaid, the Select-men of fuch Town fhall forfeit the Sum of fix Shillings to the

County Treafury, and fo the fame Sum for every Month fuch Town fhall be Penalty for defective therein: to be heard and determined by one Affiftant or Justice of the neglect, 6s. Peace; or by the County Court, when the Forfeitures amount to a Sum above per month. the Cognizance of an Affiftant or Juftice of the Peace.