Colonial America
1765 Custom Bound Volume "Laws of Maryland At Large, With Proper Indexes" with 50 Maryland Laws Re: "Negroes"
(1637 to 1763) 1765-Dated Large Bound Volume titled, "Laws of Maryland At Large, With Proper Indexes" by Thomas Bacon, with 50 Laws alone relating to "Negroes," plus Striking Coins, and much more, Annapolis (MD), by Jonas Green, Printer to the Province, Choice Very Fine.
This large historic Printed Volume contains approximately 500 pages, these hundreds of sequential dated pages range from the beginning of the Charter and Legal Acts in the founding of Maryland forwards. It is beautifully bound in a later, fine museum-quality binding with impressive gilt decorated ornately embossed brown leather covers. This early edition is printed in 1765 at Annapolis (MD) by Jonas Green, Printer to the Province. This bound book measures about 16" x 10.5" and contains a complete record of abstracts of the laws of Colonial Maryland from 1637 to 1763. The frontis page has several period notations and several well sealed edge tears and chips, bearing a light blue circular 1879 dated Library Stamp, still whole and complete, not affecting any text. There is some slight scattered tone and humidity otherwise very well printed with sharp crisp black printed text on high quality laid period paper. The front portion of this Volume contains a printing of the Maryland Charter, which, by itself, is its own prize. An important 1661 Act refers to the setting up of a Mint in the Province for the Striking of Coins. The index of this book, relates where a lengthy synopsis covers 50 Laws relating to "Negroes" dating from 1715 to 1763 is located. The plight of Negroes in Colonial Maryland, as it was anywhere Slavery existed, was horrible. Examples include a 1717 Maryland law that prevented any Negro or Mullatto from presenting evidence against a White Person. Here's another example dating from 1723:



"Any Negro, or other Slave, convicted before a single Magistrate of striking any White Person, such Magistrate may cause one of the offending Ears to be Cropt [cut off]."



In 1729, Maryland enacted the following:



"Any Negro, or other Slave, convict of Petit-Treason, Murder, or willfully burning of Dwelling-Houses, shall have Judgment to have the Right Hand cut off, to be hanged, quartered, and the Head and Quarters set up in the most public Places of the County." Much more is located within this Volume, along with all other Laws and official Acts passed. A highly important, rarely encountered original major work of Colonial Maryland's history.