320 J A M A 1 C A. 



SECT III. 

 Freed Blacks ami Mulattos. 



THFRE were three chiTes of freed perfons here. The lowelt 

 y comprehended thofe who were releafed from flavery by then- owner's 

 nianu minion, either by will or an inftrument fealed and deli- 

 vered, and regiftered either in the toll-book or the fecretary's office.' 

 They were allowed no other mode of trial, than the common flaves, 

 (i.e.') " by twojuftices and three freeholders ;" for they were not 

 fuppofed to have acquired any fenfe of morality by the mere aft 

 of manumidion ; fo likewife they were not admitted evidences 

 againft white or other free-born perfons, in the courts of juftice, 

 nor to vote at parochial nor general elections. 



The fecond clafs confifled of fuch as were free-born. Thefe were 

 allowed a trial by jury, and might give evidence in controverfies at 

 law wich one another, and in criminal cafes; but only in civil 

 cafes againft white perfons, or againft freed-perfons, particularly 

 endowed with fuperior privileges. 



The third contained fuch as, by private aSis of aflembly, became 

 entitled to the iame riglifs and privileges with other Englifh fubje(51;s 

 born of white parents, except that they might not be of the coun- 

 cil noralfembly ; nor judges in any of the courts, nor in the pub- 

 lic offices, nor jurymen. Some of them are likewife precluded from 

 voting at elections of aflembly-members. There are not any con- 

 fiderable numbers who have enjoyed the privileges annexed to this 

 latter cUafs ; they have chiefly been granted to fuch, who were in- 

 heritors of large eftates in the ifland, bequeathed to them by their 

 white anceftor. 



The freedom of the two former claffes was much enlarged in 

 1748, when a law pafled, allowing the manumitted, as well as 

 free-born, to give evidence againft any freed-perfons enjoying the 

 liberty of white fubjefts, provided, in refpedl to the manumitted, 

 they have received their freedom fix months at leaft antecedent to 

 the time of their offering fuch evidence ; and if they Ihould be 

 7 convidcd 



