Negro children were reckoned an incumbrance in
families & when weaned were given away like puppies.
Sometimes they were publicly advertised "to be given away."
The condition of Slaves here compared with the W In- was far
from rigorous, No greater
dies & the southern Colonies was mild & far from
rigour- labour was exacted than of white pple & They had the free enjoyment
ous. of The [?]
the Sabbath. A house of Correction to which when
disorderly
persons of all colours were sent & where the Mosaic
No of stripes was not exceeded, formed
was the greatest
terror, which they had to encounter one object of terror; but
to be sold sent here to the
W Indies or& their
rule
to ye southern Colonies for sale was the highest, punishment
wh could there was the Mosaic No of
stripes; be threatned or
inflicted.
In the maritime towns the Negroes were either do- served
either in
mestic servants or apprentices mechanics families or at
mechanical employments; & in both either
Case they fared as well as no worse than other persons of
the
same class. In the Country, they lived as well as
their Masters & often sat down at the same table,
in the true style of republican equality
Persons of illiberal & tyrannical dispositions would
sometimes abuse them; but in general their treatment
was humane, especially if their own tempers were
mild & peaceable.
They were never enrolled in the militia; but [?] on
days
inventoried as rateable estate of military training & other
seasons of festivity they were indulged in such diversions as were
agreeable to ym
[Written in left margin:] They were inventoried & taxed as rateable Estate; but were never so attached to [?] an Estate as to be sold with it.
Such as were prudent & industrious purchased their
freedom. Some were liberated by their Masters, but
there was a Law which obl prohibited their ma-