I've just returned from a trip. My latest VA-HIST digest is dated
12/17-18. So I don't know whether there have been more recent replies to
Mr. Weiss.
Re the Virginia statute of 1814 on "desertion of slaves": I'm glad
someone else sent John Weiss a transcript of the January 1814 act. There
was also an explanatory act passed Jan. 6, 1815: Acts, 1814-1815, 53,
chapter 10, January 6, 1815, "An Act, To explain the Act, entitled, `An
Act, to perpetuate the evidence of the desertion of slaves to the enemy
and for other purposes.'" The law confirms officers' powers and requires
that watches be maintained over boats that slaves might use to "desert"
to the enemy. I do not have a transcript, but I can send Mr. Weiss one
next week if still needed.
For context I shamelessly mention my Slave Laws of Virginia, chapter 5,
and my Migrants against Slavery: Virginians and the Nation, chapters 1
and 2. Paul Finkelman has written extensively on the legal questions.
Philip Schwarz
Automatic digest processor wrote:
>There are 4 messages totalling 103 lines in this issue.
>
>Topics of the day:
>
> 1. Virginia statute of 1814 on desertion of slaves (4)
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>Date: Sat, 18 Dec 2004 10:20:33 -0500
>From: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Virginia statute of 1814 on desertion of slaves
>
>I would recommend going to the nearest law school library and looking at
>the Acts of Assembly for that year. It should contain the full text of
>all acts issued during that General Assembly. It is also possible, not
>certain or probable though, that a copy of the acts of assembly going
>back that far may be available at your county/city courthouse.
>
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>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sat, 18 Dec 2004 10:29:06 -0500
>From: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Virginia statute of 1814 on desertion of slaves
>
>Whoops, sorry did not see till too late that you are in London not
>Virginia. If you can't find a more local source for the info than I
>mentioned drop me an e-mail and I will photocopy it and slow mail it to
>you. I live approximately 5 minutes from the library of a Virginia Law
>School.
>
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>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sat, 18 Dec 2004 10:50:56 -0500
>From: Stuart Butler <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Virginia statute of 1814 on desertion of slaves
>
>I have already sent Mr Weiss a transcription of the law which he
>referred to in his email. He received it via email this morning.
>
>Thanks to all who replied,
>
>Stuart Butler
>
>John Weiss wrote:
>
>
>>I need urgent help in finding the text of the Virginia statute cited in the
>>preambles of several affidavits regarding the flight of slaves from
>>Virginia farms during the War of 1812:
>>
>>'An Act of Assembly passed on the tenth day of January in the year of our
>>Lord 1814 entitled "An act to perpetuate evidence of the desertion of slaves
>>to the enemy and for other purposes" '
>>
>>My searches have revealed only more ancient and more modern statutes -- can
>>someone give me pointers to sources online, or else suggest publications or
>>depositories?
>>
>>[cross-posted to H-SLAVERY; H-AFRO-AM; H-AMSTDY; VA-HIST]
>>
>>John Weiss
>>Independent scholar, London
>>www.mcnish-weiss.co.uk
>>
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>>at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
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>>
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>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sat, 18 Dec 2004 15:37:14 -0000
>From: John Weiss <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Virginia statute of 1814 on desertion of slaves
>
>I wrote yesterday asking for help in finding the text of an 1814 statute,
>and I'm writing now to say that someone has generously e-mailed me the whole
>text, while I have also had other similar offers of copies. It may be that
>as a result I might have further questions about the legislation itself or
>its context or effect, in which case I'll post again. Meanwhile, my thanks
>to the specific sender (from the VA-HIST list) and to the email list
>community.
>
>John Weiss
>Independent scholar, London
>Black freedom fighters of the War of 1812:
>www.mcnish-weiss.co.uk/colonialmarines.html
>
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>------------------------------
>
>End of VA-HIST Digest - 17 Dec 2004 to 18 Dec 2004 (#2004-156)
>**************************************************************
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