Caroline County Court proclamation of outlawry against enslaved man Jack, 1743 August 20

Proclamation of outlawry by the Caroline County, Virginia Court against Jack, an enslaved man, belonging to Robert Powell. The proclamation authorizes the sheriff to raise men to apprehend Jack. It further absolves all persons from punishment for killing Jack. The proclamation is signed by Robert Farish and George Hoomes, justices of the peace for Caroline County, and is dated August 20, 1743.

[Recto]

Caroline County Ss^t

By George Hoomes and Robert Farish, Two of his Majesties
Justices of the Peace for the said County; One of them being of the Quorum.

A Proclamation

Whereas we have been credibly Informed that one Negro Man Slave,
named Jack, belonging to Rob^t. Powell of the said County, Planter, is Runaway
now being hid, Lurking and doing Mischief within this County.

Therefore in his Majesties name we hereby require the s^d. Slave
forthwith to surrender himself, or to return home to his Master, And we also
require the Sheriff of the County aforesaid, to make diligent serch and to
apprehend the said Slave, and him to deliver to his Master, or to commit to
the Goal of this County, there to remain until he shall be claimed by his -
owner , or otherwise discharged as the Law directs. And the said Sheriff
is hereby impowered to raise and take with him such power of his County
as he shall think fit and necessary for the effectual apprehending the
said out Lying Slave. And we farther declare, if the said Slave shall not
surrender himself nor return home Immediately after due publication of
these presents, that then any person whatsoever may Lawfully Kill
and Destroy him, without being Lyable to any penalty for so doing.
And hereof all persons are required to take due notice,
given under our Hands and Seals, this 20 Day of August 1743
and in the Seventeenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord
King George the Second.

Robert Farish
George Hoomes.

[Verso]

This is to Certifie this proclamation
as been published as y^e Law Directs
pr me [illegible]
August y^e 20, 1743

Ink on paper