MixrrF.s of Coikr oi- \()ii()(;.\ma ('orM\. 73 



of entering or registering their slaves agreeable to the Act of Assembly 

 of this State for the gradual Abolition of slavery ; and that a number 

 of the records and papers containing the proceedings of the late 

 counties of Yohogania, Monongalia and Ohio are now in the hands of 

 the late Clerks, who are not authorized to give exemplied copies 

 thereof: " 



Then followed enacting sections providing that all the inhabitants 

 of ^^'est^lorcland and Washington counties, whose names should be 

 found in the records thereinafter mentioned, having and producing to 

 the clerks of the General Quarter Sessions of the said counties respec- 

 tively " certified copies or certificates of their having taken the Oath of 

 Allegiance and Fidelity to the State of Virginia before the said Bound- 

 ary was agreed to, shall be and they are hereby declared to be to all in- 

 tents and purposes free citizens of this state ; " and further providing 

 that all such inhabitants " who were on the 23rd day of Sept., 1780,' 

 possessed of Negro or Mulatto slaves or servants until the age of thirty 

 one years," might register such slaves or servants under said act for 

 the gradual abolition of slavery, " on or before the ist day of January 

 next ; and the said master or masters, owner or owners of such slaves 

 or servants shall be entitled to his or their services as by the said act 

 is directed, and the said slaves and servants shall be entitled to all 

 benefits and immunities in the said act contained and expressed." 

 Then followed the final section : 



"And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the 

 Clerks of the Orphans' Courts, the Registers of the probates of Wills 

 and granting letters of administration, and the Recorders of Deeds, 

 for the respective counties of Westmoreland and Washington aforesaid, 

 shall be authorized and empowered to call on the late clerks of the 

 said counties of Yohogania, Monongalia and Ohio, for all such papers 

 and records in their custody or possession, which relate to or affect 

 the taking of the oath or affirmation of Allegiance, the ])robates of 

 wills, granting letters of administration, and the Recording of Deeds 

 or other indentures of Bargain and Sale, of any of the inhabitants of 

 the said counties of Westmoreland and Washington, and when they 

 shall receive all or any ])art of the said papers and records as aforesaid 

 they shall be lodged within their respective offices and become part of 

 the records of said counties ; and the said Clerks are hereby recjuired 



' The day of the final ratification Ijy Pennsylvania of the final agreement for the 

 boundary lines ; VHI. Penna. Archives, 570. 



