Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History & Culture Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva's Black History

Record Detail

Record #46 from Laws and Legislation Related to Slavery and Free Blacks in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia (1642-1860)

Date 1836
Law/Legislation Law
Jurisdiction VA
Title Chapter 73
Description/Full Text The head man of each boat navigating rivers and branches shall keep a list of the crew, and if any slave not belonging to the boat, nor in the list of the crew, be found on board without the leave of his master, he shall be deemed a runaway. The head man of the boat, if white, shall be liable to a penalty of $20.00, to be paid the owner of the runaway; if the head man be a slave or free Negro, he shall be whipped not exceeding thirty-nine lashes on his bare back, but in the case of a free Negro he may discharge himself by paying as in the case of a white man. Free Negroes employed on boats shall carry their freedom papers and be committed to jail if found without them and dealt with as runaways.
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.