[19] Iredell, James, Laws of State of North Carolina, p. 85. [20] Acts of G. A. of N. C., 1729, Ch. 5, Sec. 7. [21] Acts of 1741, Ch. 24, Sec. 40. [22] Acts of 1753, Ch. VI, Secs. 2-3. [23] This oath read: “I, A. B., do swear that I will, as searcher for guns, swords, and other weapons among the slaves of my district, faithfully, and as privately as I can, discharge the trust reposed in me, as the law directs, to the best of my power. So help me God.” Acts of 1753, Ch. VI, Sec. 4. [24] Acts of 1753, Ch. VI, Sec. 6. [25] Acts of 1738, Ch. X, Secs. 1-3. [26] Acts of 1745, Ch. 3, Sec. 3; Acts of 1768, Ch. 13, Sec. 2; Acts of 1784, Ch. 33, Sec. 2. [27] Acts of 1729, Ch. 5, Sec. 8. [28] Acts of 1741, Ch. 24, Sec. 43. [29] Anyone trading with slaves “without the license or consent in writing under the head of his or her or their master or owner ... shall forfeit treble the value of the thing bought, sold, or traded, trucked or borrowed or lent.” Acts of 1715, Ch. 46, Sec. 10. [30] No slave was “permitted, on any pretense whatever, to raise any horses, cattle or hogs; and all horses, cattle and hogs that, six months from the date thereof, shall belong to any slave, or of any slave’s work in this government, shall be seized and sold by the church wardens of the Parish where such horses, cattle or hogs shall be, and the profit thereof be applied, one-half to the use of the said Parish and the other half to the Informer.” Acts of 1741, Ch. 24, Sec. 44; see also Acts of 1779, Ch. 5, Sec. 6. [31] Acts of 1741, Ch. 31, Sec. 2. [32] Acts of 1741, Ch. 24, Sec. 48. [33] Ibid., Sec. 51. [34] Ibid., Sec. 52. [35] Acts of 1774, Ch. 31, Sec. 2. [36] Acts of 1741, Sec. 48, Ch. 24. [37] Ibid., Sec. 51. [38] Ibid., Sec. 52. [39] Acts of 1783, Ch. 14, Sec. 2. [40] It was directed “to take for evidence the confession of the offender, the oath of one or more credible witnesses, or such testimony of negroes, mulattoes or Indians, bond or free, with pregnant circumstances as to them shall seem convincing, without solemnity of jury; and the offender being then found guilty, to pass such judgment upon the offender, according to their discretion, as the nature of the offense may require; and on such judgment to award execution.” Acts of 1741, Ch. 24, Secs. 48-52. [41] Ibid., Sec. 48. [42] “All negroes, mulattoes, bond or free, to the third generation, and Indian servants and slaves, shall be deemed to be taken as persons incapable in law to be witnesses in any case whatsoever, except against each other.” Acts of 1746, Ch. 2, Sec. 50. [43] Bassett, Op. Cit., p. 30. [44] Acts of 1741, Ch. 24, Sec. 50. [45] The preamble to this act reads: “Whereas the evil and pernicious practice of freeing slaves in this state, ought at this alarming and critical time to be guarded against by every friend and well-wisher to his country.” Acts of 1777, Ch. 6, Sec. 1. [46] Acts of 1777, Ch. 6, Sec. 2.