Thanks to your advocacy efforts on our behalf, we're happy to report that the recently passed Omnibus Spending Bill includes a very small increase in funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities! While our work is not over with regards to the upcoming 2018 budget to be passed in the fall, the Omnibus Spending Bill represents an endorsement of the important work that the humanities do for our communities. These funds will continue to support our work of providing free access to authoritative content about Virginia's history and culture.
In this act, passed by the General Assembly in the session of March 2,
1642/43 (Old Style), Virginia's colonial government responds to the problem of runaway indentured servants. Some spelling has been modernized and contractions expanded.
WHEREAS there are divers loytering runnaways in the collony who very often absent
themselves from their masters service, And sometimes in two or three monthes cannot
be found, whereby their said masters are at great charge in finding them, And many
times even to the losse of their year's labour before they be had, Be it therefore enacted and confirmed that all runaways that shall absent
themselves from their said masters service shall be lyable to make satisfaction by
service at the end of their tymes by indenture (vizt.) double the tyme of service soe
neglected, And in some cases more if the comissioners for the place appointed shall
find it requisite and convenient. And if such runnaways shall be found to transgresse
the second time or oftener (if it shall be duely proved against them) that then they
shall be branded in the cheek with the
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letter R. and passe under the statute of
incorrigible rogues, Provided notwithstanding that where any servants shall have just
cause of complaint against their masters or mistrises by harsh or unchristianlike
usage or otherways for want of diet, or convenient necessaryes that then it shall be
lawfull for any such servant or servants to repaire to the next comissioner to make
his or their complaint, And if the said commissioner shall find by good and
sufficient proofes, that the said servant's cause of complaint is just, The said
comissioner is hereby required to give order for the warning of any such master or
mistris before the comissioners in their severall county courts, where the matter in
difference shall be decided as they in their discretions shall think fitt, And that
care be had that no such servant or servants be misused by their masters or
mistrises, where they shall find the cause of complaint to be just. Be it further
also enacted that if any servant running away as aforesaid shall carrie either peice,
powder and shott, And leave either all or any of them with the Indians, And being
thereof lawfully convicted shall suffer death as in case of ffelony.
