rvice in manner by this act directed,
shall give, jointly or severally, as the case shall require, security to
the protector of negroes that a competent minister of some Christian
church or congregation shall be provided for the due instruction of the
negroes, and for their performing divine service according to the
description of the religion of the master or masters, in some church or
house thereto allotted, in the manner and with the regulations in this
act prescribed with regard to the exercise of religion according to the
Church of England: provided always, that the marriages of the said
negroes belonging to Dissenters shall be celebrated only in the church
of the said district, and that a register of the births shall be
transmitted to the minister of the said district.

[Sidenote: Regulations concerning marriage.]

21. And whereas a state of matrimony, and the government of a family, is
a principal means of forming men to a fitness for freedom, and to become
good citizens: Be it enacted, that all negro men and women, above
eighteen years of age for the man and sixteen for the woman, who have
cohabited together for twelve months or upwards, or shall cohabit for
the same time, and have a child or children, shall be deemed to all
intents and purposes to be married, and either of the parties is
authorized to require of the ministers of the district to be married in
the face of the church.

[Sidenote: Concerning the same.]

22. And be it enacted, that, from and after the ---- of ----, all negro
men in an healthy condition, and so reported to be, in case the same is
denied, by a surgeon and by an inspector of negroes, and being
twenty-one years old, or upwards, until fifty, and not being before
married, shall, on requisition of the inspectors, be provided by their
masters or overseers with a woman not having children living, and not
exceeding the age of the man, nor, in any case, exceeding the age of
twenty-five years; and such persons shall be married publicly in the
face of the church.

[Sidenote: Concerning the same.]

23. And be it enacted, that, if any negro shall refuse a competent
marriage tendered to him, and shall not demand another specifically,
such as it may be in his master's power to provide, the master or
overseer shall be authorized to constrain him by an increase of work or
a lessening of allowance.

[Sidenote: Adultery, &c., how to be punished.]

24. And be it enacted, that the minister in ea