1. _Hunting_: Slaves were permitted to hunt on their masters’
plantations, but, by the Act of 1729, were prohibited from hunting
elsewhere unless they were accompanied by a white man.[20] If the slaves
violated this restriction, the master paid a fine of twenty shillings to
the owner of the land on which the slaves were hunting. Slaves were not
permitted to be armed in any way, or hunt anywhere, unless they held a
certificate from their master, granting this privilege. Any citizen could
seize an armed slave and deliver him to a constable whose duty it was
to administer twenty lashes on the slave’s naked back. The master was
charged a fee on recovering such a slave.[21]
The master was permitted to send a slave on business missions, or to
designate one slave to hunt on his plantation, to care for his stock, or
to kill game for his family; but this could only be done by the master’s
securing, from the Chairman of the County Court, a permit which specified
the slave that was granted such privileges. This was an ineffectual
regulation, and in 1753, the master was required to give bond to the
County Court, with good security, to guarantee the county against damages
that might be done by a slave enjoying any special privileges.[22] Such
permission was granted only during the time of cultivation or harvesting
of crops.
This act empowered the justices of the county courts to district their
counties and appoint three freeholders as searchers in each district,
who, under a very strict oath,[23] were to disarm the slaves of their
district. These persons were exempted from services as constables,
jurors, on the roads, and in the militia, and from the payment of county
and parish taxes.[24] This legislation laid the foundation for the patrol
system of North Carolina and Tennessee.
Slaves were especially prohibited from killing wild deer, either on
their own initiative or by command of their masters or overseers.[25]
For violation of this inhibition, they suffered punishment in the first
instance, and their masters or overseers in the second. This prohibition
was constantly strengthened by later legislation.[26] These restrictions
were intended to prevent damages to crops, and to limit the opportunities
of the slaves to run away and organize insurrections. By these acts,
masters were made very largely responsible for the peace and welfare of
the community.
2. _Travel_: The slave was permitted to travel, in the daytime, “the
most usual and accustomed road”; but he subjected himself to a whipping,
not exceeding forty lashes, if he violated this restriction.[27] He was
not permitted to travel at night or visit the quarters of other slaves.
He was subject to forty lashes, and the visited slave twenty lashes,
for violation of this regulation. Masters, however, were not prohibited
from sending their slaves on business missions with written permits. In
1741, an exception to the above regulation was made for negroes wearing
liveries.[28]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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