[Sidenote: Of the manumission of negroes.]
38. And in order to a gradual manumission of slaves, as they shall seem
fitted to fill the offices of freemen, be it enacted, that every negro
slave, being thirty years of ago and upwards, and who has had three
children born to him in lawful matrimony, and who hath received a
certificate from the minister of his district, or any other Christian
teacher, of his regularity in the duties of religion, and of his orderly
and good behavior, may purchase, at rates to be fixed by two justices of
peace, the freedom of himself, or his wife or children, or of any of
them separately, valuing the wife and children, if purchased into
liberty by the father of the family, at half only of their marketable
values: provided that the said father shall bind himself in a penalty of
---- for the good behavior of his children.
[Sidenote: Of the same.]
39. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the protector of
negroes to purchase the freedom of any negro who shall appear to him to
excel in any mechanical art, or other knowledge or practice deemed
liberal, and the value shall be settled by a jury.
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