Source: McIlwaine, ed., Minutes of the Council and General Court of Colonial Virginia, p. 466.

October 17, 1640

Punishment for a White Man and a Black Woman Who Commited Fornication

[The General Court handed out different punishments to a white man and to a black woman who bore a mulatto child.]

Whereas Robert Sweat hath begotten with child a negro woman servant belonging unto Lieutenant Sheppard, the court hath therefore ordered that the said negro woman shall be whipt at the whipping post and the said Sweat shall tomorrow in the forenoon do public penance for his offence at James city church in the time of devine service according to the laws of England in that case pvided.