The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-10


sINIA. The sundayA1
at the hands of their There is iii the records OF
lower Norfolk county account Of incident in which
boy had frequently away from his mistress and sought
refuge with good woman in the ncghborlood q Cons
plant made il his behalf and the magistrate directed
that lie should remain chousc unto which he had fled
until his looked into; and their final verdict was
that he SHOULD there until his mistress should her
consent to provide him with food clothing and other
sites which the evidence showed she had denied him
committee appointed to that this verdict Of the court
was carried out and when it asccrained that she
tnued in her harsh Of the boy he taken away
entirely from her possession.
he usual penalty for running away to double the
time OF service agreed upon the ndenture and
also to the expended the capture and return
ct the runaway In addition this was sometimes all
lowed that the runaway be whipped There
laws made by the Assembly with reference runaway
warts Considering the character many Of the ndcnturcd
IS that there were outbreaks
among them. ssSs 5F
Another source Of serious trouble with the ndentured
servants was the matter Of marriage especially secret mar
rage became pass act that before any
legal ceremony might be performed parties to the mar
rage contract should present the written consent Of ter
respective masters This law made necessary on ac-
count OF the confusion that inevitably followed the marrying
where there were different involved The penalty
attached to the violation Of this was the extension of the
term 81 the husbands service br twelve months while the
term OF extension OF the wife service was to be twice the
tune set forth in the original contract The cereymen were
strictly prohibited from announcing the bans Of this class Of
people or from joining them in marriage without first having
received the signed certificates indicating the consent Of their
masters.
the evidence indicate that usually the kind
estreaons existed between the and servant At the
close OF the seventeenth century the sentiment in the COLONY
was always kindly disposed toward servants in every
matter OF difference and discomfort No master was per-
United TO whip white the naked back until spe
c1alpermlsson adbeen granted BY the court and if he in
sisted upon doing without the magistrates authority he
was fined twenty shings The justices Of the peace were
law compelled receive all complaints Of servants touch
ing the matters OF food clothing and lodging and medical
services OF sickness If there any suspicion that
the justices themselves disposed be partial to the
land owners rather than to the servant was permitted the
servant file petonin the County Court Immediately not
waiting for the delay Of formal process of action.
There also careful provision made for tile improve
ment OF the religious and moral lives of the servants By
provision III the laws Of the colony the
sbe for their instruction the catcchisn and were com
service to be taught by the minister OF the parish the Ten
. Commandments, the Lords Prayer and the Creed.
As arue White woman did not labor in the fields but
her services confined to doing domestic functions. Only
when she thoroughly dsrcpuable she required
perform labor in the fields
The hours Of service for ndentured were from
sunrise toYsunsct but with intemssons at the hour