On the other hand, every incentive was held out to assist in the return
of runaways. In North Carolina any person who assisted in taking up
runaways was rewarded, the reward being gauged by the number of miles
away from the master’s house that the servant was taken.[108] In
Pennsylvania any one apprehending a runaway servant and returning him
or her to the sheriff of the county was to receive ten shillings if the
runaway was taken within ten miles of the master’s house and twenty
shillings if at a distance of more than ten miles.[109] In Connecticut
any Indian who returned a runaway to the nearest authority was to receive
as a reward two yards of cloth.[110] In Maryland the allowance was two
hundred pounds of tobacco, while Indians were to receive a match coat or
its value.[111] Persons in Virginia, Delaware, or the northern parts of
America, who apprehended runaways from Maryland, were to receive four
hundred pounds of tobacco, and the servant was to reimburse his master
by additional servitude.[112] Every precaution to prevent runaways was
taken. Indian, negro, and mulatto servants were not to travel without
a pass,[113] nor were slaves to leave their plantation without leave,
except negroes wearing liveries.[114] In Connecticut servants were not
to go abroad after nine o’clock at night,[115] in Massachusetts they
were not to frequent public houses,[116] and in South Carolina and
Massachusetts innkeepers were not to harbor them.[117]
Yet the life under a master or mistress was often such as to tempt a
servant to escape; added to a condition that often involved hard work,
poor lodging, and insufficient food and clothing, was the infliction of
humiliating corporal punishment in case of disobedience or disorder. In
Connecticut a servant could be punished by the magistrate not to exceed
ten stripes for one offence.[118] The Rhode Island law was similar.[119]
In North Carolina runaways were to receive from the constable as many
lashes as the justice of the peace should think fit, “not exceeding
the Number of thirty-nine, well laid on, on the Back of such Runaway,”
while disobedient servants were to be punished with corporal punishment,
not to exceed twenty-one lashes. In cases where free persons suffered
punishment by being fined, servants were whipped.[120] In South Carolina
a servant for striking his master or mistress was to serve not more than
six months’ additional time, or be punished with not more than twenty-one
stripes.[121] In Massachusetts and New York any servants who had been
unfaithful, negligent, or unprofitable in their service, notwithstanding
good usage from their masters, were not to be dismissed until they had
made satisfaction according to the judgment of the civil authorities.[122]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account