Laws of New-York, From the Year 1691, to 1751, Inclusive

New York (Colony); William Livingston; William Smith

Printed by James Parker, printer to the government, at the new printing-office, in Beaver-Street, New-York, MDCCLII, 1752

[Early American Law: Ralph Hylton's copy] Folio ; 38 cm. Bound in contemporary calf.  Some foxing, minor dampstaining. Collated: [6], iii, [1], 488, [1] pages.  "Ralph Hylton, 1752" inscription on front pastedown. (Captain Ralph Hylton (1709 - 1753) was an English born officer.  He is buried in Trinity Churchyard, lower Manhattan, NYC.) Title vignette: state seal (Reilly 936).  "A list of subscribers to the laws of New-York, alphabetically digested."--Page [3-5] (including Benjamin Franklin). The "first digest of the colonial statutes in force at that time" -DAB. Includes Acts to prevent the Running-away of Slaves, out the City and County of Albany;  An Act to allow a premium to Privateers; An Act to Encourage Brewing of Beer and Malt; An Act to Reward the Killing of Wolves and Panthers; numerous acts on slaves (bastards to enslaved mothers aren't free, slaves can't be witnesses against freemen, owners of slaves may punish them at discretion, the penalty for harbouring slaves, baptism of slaves isn't manumission, penalty of slaves that carry arms, the punishment of slaves for striking a white man, not above three slaves to meet together, all slaves guilty of drunkeness, cursing, swearing, or talking impudently to Christians shall be publickly whipped., etc!)  Refs: Evans 6897; Sabin 53730.