New York Slave Laws: Colonial Period

New York Market About 1730

LAW	YEAR	LAWS/CODES	DESCRIPTION
Protection for Slaves	1652	Statute	While New Amsterdam, as New York was first called, is under Dutch rule,  laws were passed to prevent the mistreatment of slaves. Whipping was forbidden unless the owner received permission from authorities.  Manumission of slaves was allowed.
Legal Protection for Slavery	1664	Statute	When the British take control of New York, slavery is legalized.
"A Proclamation Prohibiteing ye Intertainement of Negers"	1680	Municipal	The New York Common Council passes a law, "A Proclamation Prohibiteing ye Intertainement of Negers."  The law prohibited the sale of "White Rumm and other Strong Liquors" to blacks.
"An Act for the Regulateing of Slaves"	1702	Statute	Prohibited trade with a slave without his master's consent; the recipient of the goods was fined five pounds plus three times the value of the item.
"An Act for the suppressing and punishing the conspiracy and insurrection of Negroes and  other Slaves."	1712	Provincial Assembly	The New York Assembly, following a slave revolt, passed "An Act for the suppressing and punishing the conspiracy and insurrection of Negroes and other Slaves."  The law authorized slave owners "to punish their slaves for their Crimes and Offences at Discretion, not extending to Life or Member."  Slaves found guilty of murder, rape, arson, or assault were to "suffer the pains of Death in such manner and with such circumstances as the aggravation or enormity of their Crimes...shall merit and require."  The law also prohibited free blacks ("an Idle slothfull people") from owning real property.  Finally, the law effectively ended the practice of freeing slaves by requiring any owner manumitting a slave to pay £200 to the government and a £20 annuity to the freed slave.
"An Act for the more effectual preventing and punishing the conspiracy and insurrection of negro and other slaves and for better regulating them" ["Montgomerie's Act"]	1730	Provincial Assembly	The New York Assembly consolidated slave codes passed in the past three decades ("An Act for the more effectual preventing and punishing the conspiracy and insurrection of negro and other slaves and for better regulating them").  The law made it a crime for any slave to possess or use "any gun Pistoll sword Club or any other Kind of Weapon."  The law also made it illegal for three or more slaves to meet at any time unless "in some servile imployment for their Master or Mistress."  Slaves were also prohibited from being on the streets after dark except with their master, and prohibited from using the streets in a disorderly manner.
"A Law for Regulating Negro's & Slaves in the Night Time"	1737	Municipal	The New York Common Council enacted an ordinance providing "that no Negro, Mullato or Indian Slave, shall appear in the Streets of this City, above an hour after Sun-set without a candle and Lanthorn, on penalty of being Whipt at the Publick Whipping Post."
"A Law to Prohibit Negroes and Other Slaves Vending Indian Corn Peaches or any other Fruit with this City"	1740	Municipal	The New York Common Council, in response to fears that blacks spread disease in their fruits and vegetables, prohibited blacks from selling their own produce in city streets or public markets. Violators were subject to whipping unless their owner paid a fine of six shillings.