Feb.17,1794, Acts 18th G.A. 1st & 2nd sittings, ch. CCCCLXIII, p. 894-895.
Sect. 1. BE IT ENACTED, by the Council and General Assembly of this State, and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same, That the following Negro Slaves, alte the Property of the said William Burnet, to wit, Adam, Cuffe, Cloe the elder, Jenny, Glasgow, Ambo, James, Charles, Cloe the younger, and William, shall by Virtue of this Act be and by Virtue of the same are all and each of them manumitted and set free.
2. Provided always, That whereas the said Cloe the younger, James, Charles and William, are each of them now under the Age of twenty-one Years; Be it therefore further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That Alexander Montgomery, of the Township of Upper-Freehold, in the County of Monmouth, and William Montgomery, of the Township of Freehold, in the said County of Monmouth, and John Thompson, of the City of Amboy, in the County of Middlesex, be Guardians and each of them Guardian of the said Cloe the younger, James, Charles and William, and of each of them, until the said Cloe the younger, James, Charles and William, shall attain their respective Age of twenty-one Years; and that the said Guardians have the Care of them and each othem, until they shall attain their said respective Age; and that the said Guardians, or any two of them, do put out and place them and each of them to suitable Persons and suitable Places, and on such Terms, beneficial to them and each of them, as the said Guardians or any two of them can make for them and each of them, until the said Cloe the younger, James, Charles and William, shall attain their respective Age of twenty-one Years.
3. Provided also, That whereas the said Negroes may be unable to maintain themselves, and may need Relief for their Support and Maintenance; Be it therefore further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if the said Negroes or either of them be unable to maintain themselves or should need any Relief for their or either of their Support and Maintenance, they and each of them shall be maintained and supported out of the Estate, Real and Personal, late of the said William Burnet, and shall be chargeable and Charges to and upon the said Estate, and shall not be Paupers ora Pauper, either chargeable or charged to or upon any Township, Precinct or Ward in this State; and that the said Alexander Montgomery and William Montgomery be Guardians, and each of them Guardian of them and each of them; for and during the Life-Time of the said Negroes and of each of them; and that the said Guardians last mentioned and each of them, in their Names or in the Name of one of them, to the Benefit and Use of the said Negroes and of each of them, do have and maintain their or his Action, in any Court of competent Jurisdiction of this State, in a Plea of Trespass on the Case, against any Person whomsoever holding or possessing either the Real or Personal Estate, late of the said William Burnet, or any Part thereof, for any Sum or Sums of Money requisite, necessary and suitable for the Relief, Support and Maintenance of the said Negroes, during the Life-Time of them and each of them. Provided always, That Nothing in this Act shall be construed or taken to prevent the said Alexander Montgomery or William Montgomery from exonerating te aforesaid Estate, by acting and doing in all Things as prescribed in the Act to prevent the Importation of Slaves into the State of New-Jersey, and to authorize the Manumission of them under certain Restrictions, and to prevent the Abuse of Slaves.
A. Passed at Trenton, February 17, 1794.