BEE itt enacted That in case any English servant shall run away in company with any negroes who are incapable of makeing satisfaction by addition of time, Bee itt enacted that the English so running away in company with them shall serve for the time of the said negroes absence as they are to do for their owne by a former act.
PRIMARY DOCUMENT
“English running away with negroes” (1661)
ORIGINAL IMAGES
CONTEXT
In this act, “English running away with negroes,” passed by the General Assembly in the session of March 1660/61 (Old Style), colonial Virginia‘s government responds to the problem of runaway indentured servants and slaves.
FULL TEXT
MAP
TIMELINE
March 1660—March 1661
The General Assembly passes a law entitled "English running away with negroes" that adds years of service, in addition to the normal penalty, to runaway white servants captured with blacks.
FURTHER READING
General Court Responds to Runaway Servants and Slaves (1640) Runaway Slaves (1642–1643) “An act prohibiting servants to goe abroad without a lycense” (1663) “Against Runawayes” (1669) “An act concerning runaways” (1669–1670) John Nickson Runs Away (1687) “An act for the apprehension and suppression of runawayes, negroes and slaves.” (1672)
CITE THIS ENTRY
- APA Citation:
- General Assembly. “English running away with negroes” (1661). (2020, December 07). In Encyclopedia Virginia. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/english-running-away-with-negroes-1661.
- MLA Citation:
- General Assembly. "“English running away with negroes” (1661)" Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities, (07 Dec. 2020). Web. 06 Dec. 2023
