OF THE

NEGRO RACE IN AMERICA

FROM 1619 TO 1880

NEGROES AS SLAVES, AS SOLDIERS, AND AS CITIZENS

TOGETHER WITH

A PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION OF THE UNITY OF THE HUMAN
FAMILY, AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF AFRICA, AND AN

ACCOUNT OF THE NEGRO GOVERNMENTS OF

SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA

BY

GEORGE W. WILLIAMS

FIRST COLORED MEMBER OF THE OHIO LEGISLATURE, AND LATE JUDGE ADVOCATE OF THE
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF OHIO, ETC.

POPULAR EDITION-TWO VOLUMES IN ONE

NEW YORK & LONDON

G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS

The Knickerbocker Press

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT

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1646-1775.

The Founding of Connecticut, 1631-36. — No Reliable Data given for the Introduction of

Slaves. Negroes were first introduced by Ship during the Early Years of the Colony.

"Committee for Trade and Foreign Plantations." - Interrogating the Governor as to

the Number of Negroes in the Colony in 1680.. - The Legislature (1690) passes a Law

pertaining to the Purchase and Treatment of Slaves and Free Persons. - An Act passed

by the General Court in 1711, requiring Persons manumitting Slaves to maintain them.—

Regulating the Social Conduct of Slaves in 1723. The Punishment of Negro, Indian,

and Mulatto Slaves, for the Use of Profane Language, in 1630. — Lawfulness of Indian

and Negro Slavery recognized by Code, Sept. 5, 1646. — Limited Rights of Free

Negroes in the Colony. - Negro Population in 1762. Act against Importation of

Slaves, 1774

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PAGE

252

CHAPTER XIX.

THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND.

J 1647-1775.

Colonial Government in Rhode Island, May, 1647.

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An Act passed to abolish Slavery in

1652, but was never enforced. An Act specifying what Times Indian and Negro Slaves

should not appear in the Streets. An Impost-Tax on Slaves (1708). - Penalties

imposed on Disobedient Slaves.- Anti-Slavery Sentiment in the Colonies receives Little

Encouragement. Circular Letter from the Board of Trade to the Governor of the

English Colonies, relative to Negro Slaves. Governor Cranston's Reply. - List of

Militia-Men, including White and Black Servants. Another Letter from the Board

of Trade. - An Act preventing Clandestine Importations and Exportations of Passen-

gers, Negroes, or Indian Slaves. - Masters of Vessels required to report the Names and

Number of Passengers to the Governor. Violation of the Impost-Tax Law on Slaves

punished by Severe Penalties. - Appropriation by the General Assembly, July 5, 1715,

from the Fund derived from the Impost-Tax, for the paving of the Streets of Newport.

An Act passed disposing of the Mcney raised by Impost-Tax. - Impost-Law repealed,

May, 1732. An Act relating to freeing Mulatto and Negro Slaves passed 1728. — An

Act passed preventing Masters of Vessels from carrying Slaves out of the Colony, June

17, 1757-1

Eve of the Revolution. An Act prohibiting Importation of Negroes into

- The Population of Rhode Island in 1730 and 1774

New Jersey passes into the Hands of the English. - Political Powers conveyed to Berkeley

and Carteret. Legislation on the Subject of Slavery during the Eighteenth Century. -

The Colony divided into East and West Jersey. Separate Governments. - An Act

concerning Slavery by the Legislature of East Jersey. — General Apprehension respect-

ing the rising of Negro and Indian Slaves. East and West Jersey surrender their

Rights of Government to the Queen. - An Act for regulating the Conduct of Slaves. —

Impost-Tax of Ten Pounds levied upon each Negro imported into the Colony. - The

General Court passes a Law regulating the Trial of Slaves. - Negroes ruled out of the

Militia Establishment upon Condition. - Population of the Jerseys in 1738 and 1745 282

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CHAPTER XXI.

THE COLONY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

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1665-1775.

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PAGE

Era of

The Carolinas receive two Different Charters from the Crown of Great Britain.

Slavery Legislation. - Law establishing Slavery. - The Slave Population of this Prov

ince regarded as Chattel Property. — Trial of Slaves. Increase of Slave Population. -

The Increase in the Rice-Trade. - Severe Laws regulating the Private and Public Con-

duct of Slaves. Punishment of Slaves for running away. - The Life of Slaves re-

garded as of Little Consequence by the Violent Master Class. - An Act empowering

two Justices of the Peace to investigate Treatment of Slaves. An Act prohibiting the

Overworking of Slaves. - Slave-Market at Charleston. - Insurrection. A Law authoriz-

ing the carrying of Fire-Arnis among the Whites. - The Enlistment of Slaves to serve in

Time of Alarm. - Negroes admitted to the Militia Service. - Compensation to Masters

for the Loss of Slaves killed by the Enemy or who desert. - Few Slaves manumitted. -

From 1754-76, Little Legislation on the Subject of Slavery. Threatening War between

England and her Provincial Dependencies. — The Effect upon Public Sentiment.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE COLONY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

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1669-1775.

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289

The Geographical Situation of North Carolina favorable to the Slave-Trade. The Locke

Constitution adopted. — William Sayle commissioned Governor. - Legislative Career of

the Colony. The Introduction of the Established Church of England into the Colony.

-The Rights of Negroes controlled absolutely by their Masters. -An Act respecting

Conspiracies. The Wrath of Ill-natured Whites visited upon their Slaves.

- An Act

against the Emancipation of Slaves. - Limited Rights of Free Negroes.

The Provincial Government of Massachusetts exercises Authority over the State of New

Hampshire at its Organization.- Slavery existed from the Beginning. - The Governor

releases a Slave from Bondage.-Instruction against Importation of Slaves. - Several

Acts regulating the Conduct of Servants. - The Indifferent Treatment of Slaves. - The

Importation of Indian Servants forbidden. - An Act checking the Severe Treatment of

Servants and Slaves. Slaves in the Colony until the Commencement of Hostilities

Organization of the Government of Pennsylvania. - The Swedes and Dutch plant Settle-

ments on the Western Bank of the Delaware River. The Governor of New York seeks

to exercise Jurisdiction over the Territory of Pennsylvania. - The First Laws agreed

upon in England. - Provisions of the Law. - Memorial against Slavery draughted and

adopted by the Germantown Friends.- William Penn presents a Bill for the Better

Regulation of Servants.-
. — An Act preventing the Importation of Negroes and Indians.

- Rights of Negroes. - A Duty laid upon Negroes and Mulatto Slaves. The Quaker

the Friend of the Negro. England begins to threaten her Dependencies in North

America. The People of Pennsylvania reflect upon the Probable Outrages their

Negroes might commit