Nova Scotia Archives
Looking Back, Moving Forward: Documenting the Heritage of African Nova Scotians
An Act to prevent the Clandestine Landing of Liberated Slaves and other Persons mentioned, from Vessels arriving in this Province.
The Nova Scotia Legislature was apprehensive that a consequence of Emancipation might be the transportation of "Slaves, liberated slaves, felons, or convicts" or former felons and convicts, from the West Indies, Bermuda and the Bahamas to Nova Scotia. Once here, the fear was that they would "by reason of disease, bodily infirmity, aged, childhood, or poverty or shall become Paupers or Common Beggars" whose maintenance would fall upon local governments. The legislation made the operators of any ship responsible for the potential care and maintenance of those who arriving in Nova Scotia on their ships.
Colonial Legislation was subject to Imperial approval and this Act, although printed in the statutes, was disallowed later in 1834.
Date: 1834
Reference: Nova Scotia Archives Nova Scotia Statutes 1834 Library J104 H6 1832-34