An Act to enable the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Councilmen, of the free Borough and Town of Elizabeth, to build a Poor House, Work-House, and House of Correction within the said Borough, and to make Rules, Orders and Ordinances for the Governing the same, and to repair the Gaols for the same Borough

June 21, 1754, 3 Bush 288, 291

[§9] AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED by the Authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful for the said Mayor, Recorder and Alderman, or any one of them, to commit to the said Work-House, to hard Labour, all or any white Servant or Servants, Slave or Slaves, which may or shall be brought before him or them, by their Masters or Mistresses, or other Inhabitants of the said Borough, for any Misdemeanor or rude or disorderly Behaviour committed within the said Borough, and to order such rude and disorderly Servant, or Slave, to receive the Correction of the House, as shall be thought reasonable by the said Magistrates, not exceeding thirty Lashes for any one Offence.