Mar.11, 1713/14, 2 Bush 163-164.
[§1] Be it Enacted by the Governour, Council and General Assembly and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same, That every Person or Persons that shall hereafter Import or bring in, or cause to be imported or brought into this Province, any Negro, Indian or Mullatto Slave or Slaves, every such Person or Persons so importing or bringing in, or causing to be imported or brought in, such Slave or Slaves shall enter with one of the Collectors of her Majesties Customs of this Province every such Slave or Slaves within Twenty Four Hours after such Slave or Slaves is so Imported, and pay the Sum of Ten Pounds, Money as appointed by her Majestys Proclamation, for each Slave so Imported, or give sufficient Security that the said Sum of Ten Pounds, Money aforesaid, shall be well and truly paid within three Months after such Slave or Slaves are so Imported to the Collector or his Deputy of the District into which such Slave or Slaves shall be Imported, for the use of her Majesty, her Heirs and Successors, towards the Support of the Government of this Province.
[§2] And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any person or persons shall neglect or refuse to enter with the Collector within twenty four hours, as aforesaid, and pay or secure to be paid for each Slave so imported the Sum of Ten Pounds, Money as aforesaid, within the space of three Months, as aforesaid, after the Importation of such Slave or Slaves, it shall and may be lawful for the Collector or his Deputy, or any other Person or Persons whatsoever, to take and apprehend the same Slave or Slaves so brought or Imported, and not entered according to the true intent and meaning of this Act, and deliver him, her or them to the Custody of the Sheriff of the County where they are apprehended, who shall bring him, her or them to the first Court of Record within the said County, which Court shall order the same to be sold by Publick Vendue to the highest Bidder, one Third part of which shall go to the Informer who shall prosecute the same to effect, the other two Thirds to her Majesty, her Heirs and Successors towards the Support of the Government of this Province, after paying the Charges of apprehending, keeping and Sale, such Sum of Money as shall be directed by the said Court.
[§3] Provided always, and be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That this Act, nor any thing therein contained, shall [not] be construed to debar any Master or Mistress of a Family, who shall come into and settle in this Province, to import along with them what number of Negro, Indian or Mullatto Slaves they shall think fit, for his or their own use and Service, and not for Sale, nor to debar any Traveller or Travellers to bring what number of such Slaves as they think fit, to attend his, her or their Persons, during their stay in this Province, or to carry through the same from any of the neighbouring Plantations.
[§4] And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That this Act shall be in full Force from and after the first Day of June, which shall be in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixteen, and no sooner, and from thence until the Full Term and Time of Seven years next ensuing, and no longer.
Provided always, That any person or Persons that shall bring into this Province, or cause to be brought in, any Negro or other Slave or Slaves, from and after the first Day of June next ensuing the publication hereof, and before the first Day of June, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixteen, and not directly from Africa, shall pay for each Slave so brought into this Province, the Sum of Ten Pounds, as aforesaid, excepting such as are excepted in this Act.
[§5] Provided always, and be it further Enacted, That this Act nor any thing therein contained, shall [not] be construed to debar any person or persons possessing a Tract or Tracts of Land or Plantation within this Province, and having Negro, Indian or Mullatto Slaves in any of the neighbouring Provinces, to import and remove into this Province all or any the said Negro, Indian or Mullato Slaves, for his or their own Use and Service, to Cultivate and Improve the said Tract or Tracts of Land and Plantation, and not for Sale, any thing to the Contrary notwithstanding.