Nicholas Crisp of Chowan Precinct Gent. Complains agst. Paul Palmer of Pequimans Precinct in Custody of the Marshall &ca: of a plea that the sd: Deft: renderd unto him the sd: Plt: the Sum of fifty Pounds Sterling which he the sd: Deft: owes & unjustly Detains fromhim  the sd: Plt: for that (to witt) That whereas by one Act of a Generall Biennial Assbly held at the house of Captn: Rd: Sanderson at Little River begun the 17th. day of Novr: 1715 & Continued by Several Adjournmts: untill the 19th: day of Janry: 1715 Instituted an Act Concerning Servants & Slaves amongst many other things it is therein & thereby Enacted That if any Person or Persons shall Entertain or Harbour any Runaway Servant or Slave above one Night he or they so Offending shall forfeit & pay every four & twenty hours afterwards forfeit & pay the Sum of Ten shillings to the Master or Mistress of such Servt: or Slave together with all Costs Losses and Damages which the Master or Mistress shall sustain by the means of such Entertaining or Concealment to be Recover'd in any Court of Record within this Governmt: wherein no Essigne Protection Injunction or wager of Law shall be Allowed or Admitted of. Nevertheless the sd: Deft: not minding or regarding the sd: Act but in Contempt thereof & Contrary to the sd: Act the 20th: day of June 1720 at the Precinct of Pequimans did Entertain & harbour a Negro man Slave Run away Nam'd Sambo als Tawnihil the proper Slave of the said Plts: as a Runaway Slave & hath ever since the sd: 20th day of June at Pequimans afsd: in the year afsd: Entertain'd and Harboured the sd: Slave & as yett doth Continue so to Do by reasone of which Entertaining & Harbouring of the sd: Slave being the proper Slave of the sd Plts: & by Vertue & force of the sd: Act & Action hath Occured to him the sd: Plt: to have & Receive agst: him the sd: Deft: the like Sum of Tenn shillings for every four & twenty hours since the sd: 20th: day of June afsd untill the Comencement of this Suit And also all Costs Losses & Damages which he the sd: Plts: hath Sustain'd by means of the said Entertaining & Harbouring the sd: Slave by the Deft: To the Plts: Damage fifty Pounds Sterling and therefore he brings this suit &ca: