Oct. 25,1751, 3 Bush 180-181
[§1] BE IT ENACTED by the Governor, Council and General Assembly, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the Publication of this Act, if any Person or Persons have Reason to suspect that any Tavern-keeper or other Person or Persons whatsoever, (by themselves or any Person for them) have sold any strong Liquors to his, her or their Servant, Negro or Molatto Slave, without leave from their Master or Mistress in Writing, that it is and shall be lawful for him, her or them to apply to any Justice of the Peace, who is hereby required and directed, to issue his Warrant for apprehending the Person or Persons so suspected, to be brought before him, or any other of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace within the Town or Precinct where the suspected Personor Persons Inhabit, who is hereby required to tender the following Oath or Affirmation to the Person or Persons suspected, viz.
I A.B. do in the presence of God, Declare and Swear, that I have not, nor any Person for me, by or with my Consent or Knowledge, sold any strong Liquors of any Kind whatsoever, to the Complainants Servant, Negro, or Molatto Slave, at any Time without his, her or their Consent in Writing for the same.
AND if the Person or Persons so suspected, shall refuse to take the above Oath or Affirmation, their Refusal shall be and is hereby made sufficient Evidence to convict him, her, or them thereof; and Subject him, her, or them, to the Pains and Penalties prescribed by an Act entitled, An Act for Regulating Taverns, Ordinaries, Inn Keepers and Retailers of strong Liquors.
[§2] AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, by the Authority aforesaid, that if any Negro or Molatto Slaves shall at any Time hereafter Meet and Assemble together, more than to the Number of Five, unless being on his, her or their Masters or Mistresses Business and Employment; the Constable or Constables on Information or Knowledge thereof, shall, and are hereby required to apprehend the Negro and Molatto Slaves that shall so meet, and carry them before the next Justice of the Peace, who is hereby required and directed to order him, her or them to be whipped on their bare Backs at his Discretion, not exceeding Twenty Lashes; and the Constable, or Whipper, to be paid by the Master or Mistress of such Negro or Molatto Slaves, the Sum of Three Shillings, for apprehending and Whipping each and every Negro or Molatto Slave, that shall offend as above.
[§3] AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Negro or Molatto Slave or Slaves, shall be seen or found from his or their Masters House, after the Hour of Nine at Night, except on their Masters or Mistresses particular Business, or shall be seen to hunt, or carrying a Gun on the Lord's Day; the Constable or Constables of such Town or Precinct, on Information or Knowledge thereof, shall and are hereby required and directed, to apprehend and carry such Negro and Molatto Slaves before the next Justice of the Peace, who shall order such Negro or Molatto Slave or Slaves, if found Guilty, to be whipped as by the preceding Clause of this Act is directed. PROVIDED ALWAYS, That nothing herein contained, shall be construed or taken, to prevent any Negro or Molatto Slave from going to Church or Meeting, and attending on Divine Service or from Burying their Dead, with their Master's or Mistresses Consent.