Colonial Maryland Slave Laws 7 - 11: Bacon's Laws of Maryland

 7.  No Negro, or other Slave, shall be permitted to carry Gins [guns], or other offensive Weapons, from off their Master's Land, without Leave:  And any Slave, presuming so to do, may be carried before a Magistrate, and whipped; and the Gun or other Weapon shall be forfeited to the Person seizing the same.  Ibid.  §. 33.


 8.  Persons importing Negroes into this Province, by Land or Water, (except such as are imported in Country Bottoms, for which see Country Bottoms) shall pay to the Naval Officer of the District, at the Time of Entry, Twenty Shillings Sterling for each Negro so imported, towards defraying the public Charges of the Province; on Penalty of 5 l. Sterling per Poll for every Negro kept back or unaccounted for:  One Half to the Use aforesaid, the other Half to the Informer. 1715, ch. 36, §. 8.

    9.  An Additional Duty of Twenty Shillings Current Money, per Poll, shall be paid as aforesaid, for
every Negro imported into this Province, by Land or Water; and applied to the Encouragement of One
Public School in each County, to be divided in equal Shares.  And the Imported shall forfeit 5 l. Current Money for every Negro kept back or unaccounted for:One Half towards defraying the Public Charge, the other Half to the Informer.  1717, ch. 10, §. 3 and 4. Which Additional Duty is declared to be payable for all Negroes imported in Country Bottoms.  1728, ch. 8, §. 4 and 5.

    10. No Inhabitant of this Province, nor Persons who shall import themselves and Families to settle here, shall be liable to pay the above Impositions for their own proper and domestic Slaves, which they may have Occasion to bring into, or import with them, into this Province.  Provided the Owners of such Negroes repair tot he Naval Officer within Two Days after such Importation, and make Entry of them by their proper Names, as their domestic Slaves; and give Bond, with one good Surety, in the Sum of 500 l. Currency, that they shall not dispose of such Negroes for Three Years. Of which Entry and Bond the Naval Officer shall give a Certificate, on paying the usual Fees for the same. And such Certificate shall exempt the Owner from paying the aforementioned Imposition on Negroes.  1721, ch. 9, §. 2.

    11.  When Negroes, so Entered and Exempted from the Duties aforesaid, shall, by Death of the Owners,  fall into the Hands of Executors, &c. within the Time herein limited, who may be under a Necessity of disposing of the same, such Executor shall first pay the Naval Officer the Imposition Money aforesaid, and then may sell or dispose of such Negroes.  Ibid.  §. 3. 


Bacon's Laws of Maryland . Vol 75 page 689 Maryland Archiveshttp://www.msa.md.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000075/pdf/am75--689.pdf