Pages 496-519 | Pages 544-570 |
ANNO REGNI GEORGI II, Regis Magnæ Britanniæ, Franciæ, et Hiberniæ, vicesimo nono. | ||||
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Robert Dinwiddie, esq. governor. | |||
CHAP. I. | ||||
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I. WHEREAS it is necessary that the further sum of forty thousand pounds should be raised for the defence of the country in this present time of danger, | Preamble. |
II. Be it therefore enacted, by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council, and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted, by the authority of the same, That the sum of one shilling shall be paid for every tithable person in this colony, to the sheriff of the county where such tithable shall be inlisted, by the person inlisting such tithables, on or before the tenth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven; and that the further sum of one shilling, for every such tithable person, shall be paid in like manner, on or before the tenth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight; and that the further sum of one shilling, for every such tithable person, shall be paid in like manner, on or before the tenth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine; and that the further sum of one shilling, for every such tithable person, shall be paid in like manner, on or before the tenth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and sixty; which duties shall be collected by the sheiffs according to the list of tithables taken, and subsisting at the time of payment in each year. And where the sheriff shall discover any tithables not enlisted, such sheriff is impowered and required, to collect and levy the said duties respectively, upon the person so discovered, and account for and pay the same, in like manner as if such tithable had been enlisted. And that the sum of one shilling and three pence, for every hundred acres of land, and after that rate for a greater or lesser quantity, shall be paid by the owner or proprietor thereof, on the said tenth day of April, in each of the said years, one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven, and the three next following, to the sheriff of the county, wherein such lands lie, and to be collected by, and according to the rent rolls delivered to the sheriffs respectively, for the collection of his majesty's quit-rents, in each of the said years. And for enabling the sheriffs to collect the said land tax, from the proprietors of lands, within the territory of the right honourable Thomas Lord Fairfax. | The several taxes. Poll-tax. Land-tax. |
III. Be it further enacted, That every such proprietor shall, on or before the first day of January, immediately preceeding the time of payment, in each of the said years, deliver to the sheriff of the county, where he or she shall reside, or the lands lie, a just and true account of the quantity of land, by him or | How to be collected within the territory of Lord Fairfax. |
her held, within the said territory, according to the quantity, for which they have usually held the same; and every person failing so to do, shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten pounds, for every such failure; and the sheriff of the several counties within the said territory, are hereby required to collect the said land tax from the said proprietors, according to the accounts so to be delivered to them, respectively; and in case of failure in payment of the said land tax or poll tax, at the times herein before limited, for the payment thereof, respectively; it shall be lawful for the sheriff of each county, to levy the same by distress and sale of the slaves, goods or chattels of the person so failing, in like manner as is provided incase of other distresses, and where there are no effects to be found upon the lands, hereby chargeable with the said land tax, it shall be lawful for the sheriff of the county where such lands lie, or the sheriff of the county where the proprietor of the land lives, to levy the said tax upon the estate of such proprietor, wherever the same can be found. | |
IV. And be it further enacted, That the several sums of money to be collected in pursuance of this act, for the said land tax and poll tax, shall be by the sheriffs respectively, accounted for upon oath, and paid to John Robinson, esquire, treasurer of this colony, or the treasurer for the time being, appointed by or pursuant to an act of Assembly, on or befor ethe tenth day of Juen next following, the time herein before litted, for payment of the said duties in each year, after deducting five per centum, for each sheriffs salary, in collecting the ame, and be accounted for by the said treasurer, to the General Assembly, after deducting two percentum, for his salary in receiving and paying the same, and the salary herein after allowed, for emitting treasury notes. | The money to be collected by this act, to be paid to the treasurer. |
V. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That the sheriff of every county shall, on or before the first day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty six, give bond and security before the court of the county whereof he is sheriff, for the due collection and payment of the said duties, so to be collected by him the year ensuing, and every sheriff shall in like manner, on or before the first day of December, in each of the three following years give bond and security, for the collection and payment of | Sheriff to give bond and security. |
the several duties by this act required, to be collected and paid in the year next following, the time of giving such bond, respectively. And if any sheriff shall die, or be removed from his office, after having given such bond, and before the collection is made, for which such bond is given, the succeeding sheriff shall in like manner give bond and security, at the time he shall be sworn into his office, and shall collect; levy and account for, so much of the said duties, as shall remain unpaid to the sheriff so dying or being removed, and if any sheriff shall refuse or fail to give security, according to the directions of this act, the county court is hereby empowered and required to appoint some other person to collect the duties imposed by this act, and directed to be collected by such sheriff; and the person appointed, shall give bond and security, in like manner, and shall have power and authority and is hereby required to collect, levy, and account, for the said duties in the same manner, as is directed in the case of the sheriff. And if any sheriff or collector shall neglect or refuse to account for, and pay the said duties according to the directions of this act, after deducting the several sums chargeable to persons who have no visible estate in his county, it shall and may be lawful for the general court, or the court of the county whereof he is sheriff or collector, upon a motion to them made by the treasurer, to give judgment against such sheriff or collector, and his secerity, for all the money wherewith he shall be chargeable by virtue of this act, and thereon to award execution: Provided, That such sheriff or collector have ten days previous notice of such motion. | Remedy against sheriff failing to account. |
VI. And be it further enacted, That all the penalties and forfeitnres inflicted by this act, and not otherwise directed, shall be to our sovereign lord the king, to, and for the same uses, as the taxes imposed by this act are herein after appropriated, and shall and may be recovered with costs, by action of debt, or information, in any court of record, in this dominion. | Penalties to the king, and how recoverable. |
VII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That John Robinson, Peyton Randolph, Charles Carter, esquires, Carter Burwell, Benjamin Waller, John Chiswell, Richard Bland, James Power, William Digges, Dudley Digges, John Page, John Norton, William Harwood, George Wythe, Landon Carter, and Edmund Pendleton, gentlemen, or any seven | Directors appointed, and their duty. |
of them, shall from time to time with the consent and approbation of the governor, or commander in chief for the time being, direct and appoint how the said money shall be applied towards the raising, maintaining, arming and providing for so many men, to be employed for the protection of his majesty's subjects, in the frontiers of this colony, as they shall think necessary, so as that the whole number, so to be raised and employed, (including the soldiers now in the pay of this colony, the fifty men appointed to garrison Fort Cumberland, and the three companies of rangers formerly directed to be raised) Do not exceed twelve hundred men: And that the said directors, shall, as often as there shall be occasion of money, for the uses aforesaid, apply themselves to the governor, or commander in chief, to issue his warrant to the treasurer, for paying so much money, as shall be wanting for the purposes aforesaid, not exceeding the sum of thirty thousand pounds, who is hereby required to pay the same accordingly. And the said directors, shall keep an account of their proceedings, and of the several particular services, for which they shall appoint the said money to be laid out, in pursuance of this act, and lay the same before the General Assembly, when thereto required. | |
VIII. And for the better encouragement of persons to inlist in the service aforesaid, Be it enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That every soldier inlisting in the said service, according to the intention of this act, in his person shall be protected from all process, other than for some criminal matter, and his estate privileged from all executions, attachments, and distresses, where the sum due and owing from such person so inlisting shall not exceed the sum of ten pounds current money, or two thousand pounds of tobacco, clear of the penalty of any bond, and the costs on the judgment of any court, due and owing to one person: And moreover shall be exempted from the payment of all public, county, and parish levies, and all taxes imposed by this, or any other act during the time he shall continue a soldier, and be in actual service. | Encouragement to those who will inlist. |
IX. And to prevent as far as may be, any unjust or fraudulent arrests, executions, or distresses, that may be made upon soldiers, whereby his majesty and the public may be deprived of their service, It is hereby further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That no | Remedy against fraudulent arrests, on those inlisted. |
person who shall inlist, and enter himself as a volunteer, in his majesty's service as a soldier, according to the directions and intent of this act, shall be liable to be taken out of his majesty's service, by any process or execution whatsoever, other than for some criminal matter, neither shall any attachment, execution, or distress be made on their estates, unless for a real debt or other just cause of action, and unless before the taking out of such process, execution, attachment, or distress made, the plaintiff or plaintiffs therein, or landlord, or some other person or persons, on his or their behalf, shall make affidavit before the clerk of the court, out of which such process or execution shall issue, or before some justice of the peace of the county (who are hereby authorized to administer such oath) that to his or their knowledge, the sum justly due and owing to the plaintiff or plaintiffs, landlord or landlords, from the defendant or defendants, tenant or tenants, in the action or cause of action, on which such process shall issue, or the debt for which such execution or attachment shall be issued out, or distress made, amounts to the value of ten pounds, or two thousand pounds of tobacco at least, over and above the penalty, and all costs of suit in the same action, or in any other action on which the same shall be grounded, or that such defendant or defendants, is about to remove his or their estate or estates, out of this colony, a memorandum of which oath shall be marked on the back of such process, execution, or attachment, by the clerk or justice, without fee or reward; and also the landlord before any distress shall be made, shall deliver such affidavit to the officer, who is to make the same. And if any person shall be, nevertheless, arrested, or his goods or effects, taken in execution, attached or distrained, contrary to the intent of this act, it shall and may be lawful, for two or more justices of the county where such process shall issue, or distress be made, on complaint made thereof by the party himself, or by any his superior officers, or any of his friends to examine into the same by the oath of the parties, or otherwise, and by warrant under their hands and seals, to discharge such soldier so arrested, or his goods and effects, taken in execution, attached or distrained, contrary to the intent of this act, without paying any fee or fees upon due proof made before them, that such soldier so arrested, |
was legally inlisted as a soldier, and arrested, or his goods or effects taken in execution, attached or distrained, contrary to this act: | |
X. Provided also, and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That no person inlisted as a soldier, his executors or administrators, shall take any advantage of the limitation of time, in delivering any article, or commencing any action against them for the recovering any debt by him or them due or owing to any person whatsoever, in respect of the time such debtor shall be privileged under this act: And in case the said number of men cannot be raised, by such as will voluntarily inlist in the said service within three months, after the passing this act, it shall and may be lawful, for the field officers and captains of the militia, of each of the counties in this colony, or the major part of them, by direction from the governor, to draft out of the militia of their counties, respectively, such and so many of their militia, who have not wives or children, as will make up the said number, to be employed in the said service, who shall be entituled to the same privileges, exemptions, and pay, as if they had voluntarily inlisted themselves: And if any person so drafted, shall refuse to serve accordingly, or find and provide some other able person to serve in his room, every person so refusing shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten pounds to our sovereign lord the king, to the same uses as the several taxes hereby laid are appropriated, and in case of failure in paying down the same, to such officer (to be by hm accounted for, and paid to the treasurer, as aforesaid) or giving sufficient security for the payment of the same on the tenth of April next, that then such person shall by warrant from any justice of the peace of the county, be committed to goal, there to remain until he shall agree to enter into the said service, or provide another as aforesaid, or pay or give security for the penalty, as aforesaid. | No advantage shall be taken of the act of limitation by those
exempted from arrests. Militia to be drafted. |
XI. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That if any person or persons inlisted or drafted by virtue of this act, shall be so maimed or wounded, as to be rendered incapable of maintaining themsalves, they shall upon their return, be supported at the public expence. And whereas the officers and private soldiers of the forces levied in this colony, have in the late engagement on the Monongahela, behaved gallantly, and sustained great losses thereby; | Persons maimed in the service to be supported by the public. |
XII. Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the treasurer be impowered and required, out of the money raised or to be raised, for the protection of his majesty's subjects in the frontiers of this colony, to pay to colonel George Washington, the sum of three hundred pounds, to Adam Stephen, Thomas Waggoner, and Robert Stewart, captains, seventy five pounds each; to William Bronaugh, Walter Stewart, Hector MacNeal, and Henry Woodward, lieutenants, and to James Craig, surgeon, thirty pounds each; and to each of the private men, who were in the said engagement and survived, and continue in the service, five pounds over and above their wages, as a reward and compensation, for their gallant behaviour and losses. And whereas the public magazine stands exposed to the designs of evil minded persons, | Reward to the officers and private men, who behaved gallantly in the late engagement. |
XIII. Be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That Peyton Randolph, esquire, Carter Burwell, John Chiswell, Benjamin Waller, and James Power, gentlemen, or any three of them, be, and are hereby appointed directors, to treat an agree with workmen, to erect a high and strong brick wall, to inclose the said magazine, and to build a guard house convenient thereto. And that the said directors apply to the governor, to issue his warrant to the treasurer of this colony, for the payment of such sums of money, as they shall from time to time have occasion for, for the purposes aforesaid, and account for the same to the General Assembly, when the said work shall be finished. And whereas by reason of the long time allowed, for collecting the duties imposed by this act, (which from the distressed circumstances of the people, and the great scarcity of gold and silver coin in this colony, could not be sooner done) the said duties will not be collected in time to answer the purposes hereby intended: | Directors appointed to treat and agree with workmen to build a wall round the magazine. |
XIV. Be it therefore enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the said John Robinson, treasurer, or the treasurer for his colony, for the time being, appointed as aforesaid to issue or emit at any time or times, before the first day of August next ensuing, and not after, in such proportions, as he shall find necessary, to answer the demands that shall be made upon him, for the purposes aforesaid, or for the reward allowed by law for Indian enemies, killed or taken prisoners, any number of treasury notes, so as | Treasury notes to be emitted. |
the whole sum of such notes so to be issued, shall not exceed the sum of forty thousand pounds current money, which notes shall be prepared, printed or engraved, and numbered in such form, and after such method, as he the said treasurer, for the time being, shall judge most convenient for their circulating in payments, and being safe from counterfeits or forgeries, and shall be signed by John Robinson, esquire, or the treasurer for the time being, and Peyton Randolph, esquire, and John Chiswell, gentleman; who shall be allowed fifty pounds each, for their trouble in doing the same, to be deducted out of the allowance to the treasurer, for emiting the said notes, and the said treasurer shall be allowed two per cent, upon the amount of the notes so to be issued, for his trouble therein. | |
XV. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That all such notes so to be issued, shall be redeemable on the last day of June, one thousand seven hundred and sixty, and shall then be paid by the treasurer, for the time being, with interest after the rate of five per centum per annum, from the date thereof. And further, that all such notes so to be issued, shall be received and pass as a lawful tender in payment of any debt, duty, or demand, whatsoever, (except for the payment of his majesty's quit rents, and the duties imposed by two acts of Assembly, the one intituled, An act for raising the sum of twenty thousand pounds, for the protection of his majesty's subjects, against the insults and encroachments of the French, and the other intituled, An act to explain an act, intituled, An act for raising the sum of twenty thousand pounds, for the protection of his majesty's subjects, against the insults and encroachments of the French, and for other purposes therein mentioned, from the time of issuing such notes, until the time before specified for the redemption thereof, at the treasury as aforesaid. | Their currency and redemption. |
XVI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any person or persons shall forge or counterfeit, alter or erase any such treasury note, or shall tender in payment by way of barter, or otherwise, to any person whatsoever, or shall demand a redemption of any such note at the treasury, knowing redemption of any such note at the treasury, knowing the same to be forged or counterfeited, altered or erased, every such person or persons, so offending, if | Penalty on forging such notes. |
lawfully convicted, shall be adjudged a felon, and shall suffer as in cases of felony, without benefit of clergy. | |
XVII. And be it further enacted, That the money to be raised by the duties imposed by this act, shall stand, be, and remain, as a security for the redemption of the said treasury notes so to be issued. And the said John Robinson, treasurer, or the treasurer for the time being, appointed as aforesaid, is hereby required to apply all such money as shall come to his hands, by virtue of this act, for, and towards the redemption of such treasury notes, and to no other use or purpose whatsoever. | The security for their redemption. |
XVIII. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That John Robinson, esquire, treasurer of this colony, shall give such further security, as shall be approved by the governor, or commander in chief of this colony, in the sum of forty thousand pounds, for the due answering and paying all the money, by him received from time to time, and for the due and faithful performance of his said office, and in case of his death, resignation, or disability, the treasurer to be appointed in his stead, shall in like manner give such further security, before he enters into his said office. | Treasurer to give further security. |
CHAP. II. An Act for the better regulating and training the Militia. | |
I. WHEREAS the act of Assembly made in the twelfth year of his majesty's reign, intituled, An act for the better regulation of the militia, hath proved very ineffectual, whereby the colony is deprived of its proper defence in time of danger: | Preamble. |
II. Be it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant Governor, Council, and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from, and after the passing of this act, all county lieutenants, colonels, lieutenant colonels, and other inferior officers, bearing any commission in the | All the officers of the militia to be resident in their counties. |
militia of this colony, shall be an inhabitant of, and resident in the county of which he is, or shall be commissioned to be an officer of the militia. | |
III. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That the lieutenant, or in his absence, the chief officer of the militia in every county shall list all male persons, above the age of eighteen years, and under the age of sixty years, within this colony, (imported servants excepted) under the command of such captain, as he shall think fit, within two months after the passing of this act. | Who to be listed in the militia. |
IV. Provided always, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to compel any persons hereafter mentioned, to muster, that is to say, such as are members of the council, speaker of the house of Burgesses, receiver general, auditor, secretary, attorney general, clerk of the council, clerk of the secretary's office, ministers of the church of England, the president, masters or professors, and students of William and Mary college, the mayor, recorder, and Aldermen of the city of Williamsburg, and borough of Norfolk, the keeper of the public goal, any person being bona fide, an overseer over four servants or slaves, and actually residing on the plantation where they work, and receiving a share of the crop or wages, for his care and pains, in looking after such servants or slaves: Any miller having the charge and keeping of any mill, and founders, keepers, or other persons employed in or about any copper, iron or lead mine, who are all hereby exempted, from being inlisted, or any way concerned in the militia, during the time they shall continue in any such station or capacity. | Who to be exempted. |
V. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That every person so as aforesaid inlisted, (except the people commonly called Quakers, free Mulattoes, negroes and Indians) and placed or ranked in the horse or foot, shall be armed and accoutred in the manner following, that is to say; every horseman shall be furnished with a serviceable horse, a good saddle, with a breast-plate, crupper and curb bridle, carbine and bucket, holsters, a case of pistols, cutting sword, double cartouch box, and six charges of powder, and constantly appear with the same, at the time and place appointed for muster and exercise, and shall keep at his place of abode, one pound of powder and four pounds of ball, and bring the same into the field with | How to be accoutred. |
him when thereunto required: And every footman shall be furnished with a firelock well fixed, a bayonet fitted to the same, a cutting sword, a double cartouch box, and three charges of powder, and constantly appear with the same, at the time and place appointed for muster and exercise as aforesaid, and shall also keep at his place of abode, one pound of powder and four pounds of ball, and bring the same with him into the field when he shall be required. And if it shall be made to appear to the court of any county, by the lieutenant or chief commanding officer in the county, and captain of any company, that any soldier inlisted in the foot, is so poor, as not to be able to purchase the arms aforesaid; then such court shall, and they are hereby required immediately, to depute some person to send for the same to England, by the first opportunity, and to levy the charge thereof in the next county levy, which arms so to be sent for, shall be marked with the name of the county; and if any person shall presume to buy or sell any such arms, so provided as aforesaid, then and in such case, every person so buying or selling, shall forfeit and pay the sum of six pounds, to be recovered with costs by information before the court of the county to which the arms shall belong, or in the court of the county wherein the offender or offenders shall reside, one moiety where of shall be to, and for the use of the county, to which the arms shall belong, for the purchasing other arms, and the other moiety to the informer; and all arms purchased by any county, and delivered to any poor soldier, as aforesaid, shall on his death or removol out of the county, be delivered to the chief officer of the militia in the county, or to the captain of the company to which such poor soldier did belong, to be by such officer delivered to any other poor soldier, that the commanding officer of the said county shall adjudge unable to provide himself with arms as aforesaid. | |
VI. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That the several persons herein after exempted from mustering, (except ministers of the church of England, the president, masters or professors, and students of William and Mary college, the keeper of the public goal, overseers and millers, and all workers in any mine whatsoever) shall provide arms for the use of the county, city or borough, wherein they shall respectively reside in the following manner; that | Persons exempted to find a certain number of arms. |
is to say, each councillor not being an officer of the militia, four complete sets of arms, as is herein before directed for a foot soldier: The speaker of the house of Burgesses not being an officer of the militia, four compleat sets of arms as before: The receiver general, auditor, and secretary, not being a councillor or officer of the militia, each four compleat setts as before: The attorney general, not being an officer of the militia, two compleat sets as before: The clerk of the council, and clerk of the secretary's office, not being officers of the militia, each two compleat sets as before: The mayor, recorder, and aldermen of the city of Williamsburg, and borough of Norfolk, (not before by this act obliged, and not being officers of the militia) each two compleat sets, as before. And if they shall fail or refuse so to do, within twelve months after the passing this act, then it shall and may be lawful, for the several courts of the counties, wherein the persons before mentioned shall reside, and they are hereby impowered and required to levy the value of the same on each of them respectively. | |
VII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all such free mulattoes, negroes and Indians, as are or shall be listed, as aforesaid, shall appear without arms, and may be employed as drummers, trumpeters or pioneers, or in such other servile labor, as they shall be directed to perform. And for the better training and exercising the militia, and rendering them more serviceable. | How mulattoes, negroes, and Indians, may be employed. |
VIII. Be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That every captain shall once in three months, and oftner if thereto required, by the lieutenant or chief commanding officer in the county, muster, train and exercise his troop or company, and the lieutenant or other chief commanding officer in the county, shall cause a general muster and exercise of all the troops and companies within his county, to be made in the months of March and September yearly: And if any soldier, shall at any general or private muster, refuse to perform the commands of his officer, or behave himself refractorily or mutinously, or misbehave himself at the courts martial, to be held in pursuance of this act, as is herein after directed, it shall and may be lawful to, and for the chief commanding officer, then present, to fine every such soldier, if an horseman, any sum not exceeding ten shillings, and if a footman, | When general musters shall be called. Where persons misbehave themselves at any private or generrl muster, how to be punished: |
not exceeding seven shillings and six pence, which fine shall be immediately paid down to such officer; but in case any such offender shall not be able to pay down such fine immediately, then he shall give good security to such officer, for the payment of the same in three months. And in case any soldier so fined, as aforesaid, shall refuse or fail to pay down his fine, or to give such security for paying the same as aforesaid, then it shall and may be lawful, for such officer, and he is hereby impowered by warrant under his hands, to commit every such soldier to the county goal, there to remain without bail or mainprize, for anytime not exceeding three days, and the offender or offenders so committed, shall not be thence discharged, until the lawful fees for commitment, imprisonment, and discharge, shall be fully paid and satisfied. And every captain, or in his absence the lieutenant, shall duly make a list of all the persons upon his muster-roll, who shall be summoned, and do not appear at any of the said musters armed and accoutred, as by this act is directed, and return the same with the names of all officers, who shall be absent to the next court martial: And every captain shall have power to appoint a clerk to his troop or company, who shall keep the muster-rolls, and attend all musters with the same, and such clerk shall be exempted from mustering but shall appear with arms at all such musters. And further, it shall and may be lawful, for the lieutenant, or other chief officer of the militia in the county, to order all soldiers listed therein, to go armed to their respective parish churches. | |
IX. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful for the field officers and captains of every county, or the major part of them, whereof the county lieutenant, colonel, lieutenant colonel, or major, shall be one, and they are hereby required to meet at the court-house of their counties, respectively, the day next following the general muster in September, every year, if fair, if not, the next fair day, then and there to hold a court martial, which court shall have power to adjourn from day to day, and to enquire of the age and abilities of all persons listed, and to exempt such as they shall adjudge incapable of service, and of all delinquents returned by the captains, for absence from musters, or appearing without arms and accoutrements. And where any | The court martial. |
person is returned a delinquent to a court martial, and shall not be able by reason of sickness, or other real disability to attend such court, to give in his reasonable excuse for such delinquency; it shall and may be lawful, for the succeeding court martial, to be held for such county, city or borough, wherein such person shall be returned a delinquent, upon such reasonable excuse then offered, to remit such fine or fines, levied by the preceeding court martial on such person: And such court shall and may, and they are hereby impowered to administer an oath or oaths, to any person or persons, for their better information in the premisses, and to order the fines inflicted by this act, not otherwise directed, to be levied upon all delinquents who shall not make out some just excuse, for not performing their duty, and to order and dispose of all such fines, for buying drums, trumpets and trophies for the use of the militia of the county, and for supplying the militia of the said county with arms. And the said courts shall have full power, and are hereby required to keep a register of all their proceedings, and for that purpose to appoint a clerk, and to allow hi such salary for his service, out of the said fines, as they in their discretion shall think reasonable: And after the holding of every such court, the clerk shall make out copies of all their orders, and deliver the same within one month next following the said court to the sheriff of the county, who is hereby required to demand and receive the money or tobacco therein charged, of the persons made chargeable therewith, and in case of nonpayment, on or before the tenth day of April, then next following, to levy the same by distress and sale of the goods of the person refusing according to the directions of the laws now in force, enabling the sale of goods distrained for rent; and where any delinquent shall remove out of the county, before he hath paid and satisfied all fines laid on him, in pursuance of this act, and shall not leave sufficient effects in the county, to satisfy the same, then the said clerk shall send copies of the said court's orders against such delinquents to the sheriff of the county, into which he or they shall be removed, and such sheriff is hereby impowered and required to collect, levy and account for the same, in the manner herein before directed. | |
X. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That the several persons hereafter mentioned, | Penalties. |
failing to do their duty, in the manner by this act directed, shall forfeit and pay the several sums following, respectively; that is to say, the lieutenant of any county or the chief commanding officer there, failing to appoint a general muster, in the month of March, and another in the month of September, in every year, not having a reasonable excuse, shall for every such failure, forfeit and pay the sum of twenty pounds; every county lientenant, colonel, lieutenant colonel and major failing to appear at every such general muster, or at the court martial, shall forfeit and pay ten pounds for every such failure; every captain who shall fail to muster and exercise his troop or company, four times a year, or oftner if thereto required, shall forfeit and pay forty shillings, for every time he shall so fail to muster and exercise; and every captain failing to appear at every general muster and court martial, shall forfeit and pay five pounds, for every such failure; every lieutenant who shall fail to appear at any muster, shall forfeit and pay twenty shillings, for every such failure; and every coronet and ensign ten shillings, for every such failure; and every captain, or in his absence the lieutenant, failing to return a list of the persons who shall not appear at musters, or shall appear without arms and accoutrements, shall forfeit and pay ten pounds, for every such failure; every clerk failing to appear with arms shall pay ten shillings, for every such failure; every soldier refusing to serve as a serjeant, corporal, drummer or trumpeter, being thereunto required by his captain, shall pay five shillings, for every muster that he shall so refuse; every person inlisted to serve in the horse, appearing at muster without a serviceable horse, with a good saddle, breast-plate, crupper and curb-bridle, carbine and bucket, shall pay five shillings, for every such failure; and such persons appearing at muster aforesaid, without holsters, a case of pistols, cutting-sword, double cartouch-boxes, and six charges of powder and ball shall pay five shillings, for every such failure; and every person listed to serve in the foot, appearing at such muster without a firelock well fixed, and a bayonet fitted to the same, shall pay three shillings, for every such failure; and every such person appearing at such muster, as aforesaid, without a cutting-sword, a double cartouch-box, and three charges of powder and ball shall pay three shillings, for every such failure; |
and every soldier, either of the horse or foot, failing to appear at such muster, shall forfeit and pay ten shillings, for every such failure. Provided, That no person be fined above six times in the year for any particular default; every soldier ordered to go armed to church, neglecting so to do, shall pay five shillings, for every such failure; and every clerk of a court martial failing to deliver the orders of the court martial to the sheriff or sheriffs, within the time before limited, shall forfeit and pay fifty pounds. | |
XI. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That every officer of the militia within this colony, shall at all times that he acts on duty, at any private or general muster appear well armed in the following manner, that is to say, every county lieutenant, colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, and lieutenant of the horse, with a cutting sword and one horse equipt, with holsters and pistols well fixed; every colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, and lieutenant of the foot, with a half pike or partisan, and a cutting-sword; every cornet of horse with a cutting-sword and holsters, and pistols well fixed; every ensign with a cutting sword; every corporal and serjeant with a cutting sword and halbert, under the penalty of ten shillings, for every time that every such officer shall appear without such arms. All which fines shall be levied by the court martial, directed to be held by this act, in such county, city or borough, wherein such officers shall act as an officer, and be appropriated to the same uses, as is before directed, for the appropriation of the fines levied on the soldiers of the militia appearing unarmed: | Officers how to be armed at musters. |
XII. Provided nevertheless, That every such officer shall have twelve months allowed him after his promotion to such office, for the furnishing the arms, as aforesaid, but in the mean time shall appear with such of the said arms, as he already hath. And the same fines and penalties shall be paid by the officers and soldiers of the militia, in the city of Williamsburg, and borough of Norfolk, in case of their failing or refusing to do, and perform the several services, and to appear armed and accoutred in the same manner, as is by this act required, of the officers and soldiers of the militia, of the several counties: | The time allowed to provide such arms. |
XIII. Provided also, and it is hereby enacted, That twelve months time be given and allowed to each soldier, | The time allowed soldiers |
to furnish and provide himself with arms and amunition, according to the directions of this act, and that no soldier be fined for appearing without, or not having the same at his place of abode, until he hath been inlisted twelve months, as aforesaid, so as such soldier do appear at all musters, during the said twelve months, with such arms as he hath, and is already furnished with: And if any soldier shall appear at any muster not armed and accoutred, according to the directions of this act, it shall and may be lawful, for the captain of the troop or company to which such soldier shall belong, to examine such soldier upon oath, whether he hath any, and what arms and ammunition he really hath of his own property, and if on such examination it shall appear, that such soldier hath any arms or ammunition of his own property, and hath not brought the same, or so much thereof, as this act requires, to such muster, he shall be liable to the penalties inflicted by this act, although he hath not been inlisted twelve months; and where any person inlisted pursuant to this act in any county, shall remove to another county, the time for furnishing himself with arms and ammunition shall commence from the time of his being first inlisted in the county, from whence he removed. And for an encouragement to every soldier to provide and furnish himself according to the directions of this act and his security to keep his arms and ammunition when provided: | to furnish themselves with arms. |
XIV. Be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That the furniture, arms and ammunition, provided and kept in pursuance of this act, be free and exempted at all times from being impressed upon any account whatsoever; and likewise, from being seised or taken by any manner of distress, attachment or writ of execution, and that every distress, seisure or execution, made or served, upon any of the premises, be unlawful and void, and that the officer or person who presumes to make or serve the same, be liable to the suit of the party grieved, wherein double damages shall be given upon a recovery, and every person going to, attending at, or returning from muster, shall be privileged and exempted from arrests, and from being served with any other process, in any civil action or suit. | Arms exempted from executions, &c. |
XV. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That if any exempted overseer or miller, shall presume to appear at any muster, or in any muster-field | No exempt overseer or miller to |
whatsoever, on the day on which such muster shall be appointed, the party so offending, shall for every such offence forfeit and pay ten shillings, to be assessed upon him by the next court martial, upon a certificate of the offence to them made, by the captain or chief officer present at such muster, and levied, accounted for, and appropriated in the same manner, as the other fines ordered by the court martial: And that the fines and penalties incurred by infants and servants for the breach or neglect of their duty in any particular service by this act required, of them, shall be paid by the parent, guardian or master, respectively; and if the breach or neglect of such servants is not occasioned by their master's influence or direction, then the fines incurred by them, and so paid by the master, shall be repaid to the master by the further service of such servant, after the time they are bound to serve is expired; which shall be determined by the county court or court of Hustings, in the city of Williamsburg or borough of Norfolk, wherein either of the parties reside, upon complaint made to them thereof, by such master. | appear at muster. Fines incurred by infants and servants, how to be paid. |
XXI. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That if any sheriff shall refuse to receive the orders of any court martial offered to him, by virtue of this act, or to collect and levy the fines herein mentioned, such sheriff upon a motion and complaint thereof made to the county court or general court, shall be fined for every such refusal, one hundred pounds, to be appropriated in the same manner, as the other fines last mentioned: And if any sheriff taking upon himself such collection, or receiving the said orders, shall fail to account for, and pay what he shall have received, by virtue thereof to the receiver, to be appointed for that purpose by the court martial, deducting six per cent. only, for his commission, in collecting and receiving; upon a motion or complaint made against him by the said receiver, or the commanding officer of the militia, to the county court or general court, such court shall give judgment, and award execution against him, his executors or administrators for the same: Provided, That such sheriff, his executors, administrators, have ten days previous notice of such motion. And if any receiver heretofore appointed, or hereafter to be appointed, hath failed or shall fail to account with the court martial when required, or to apply the money by him received | Sheriff to collect the fines assessed by court martial. |
or to be received, as he hath been or shall be directed by the court martial, that then upon a motion or complaint made to the county court or court of Hustings, in the City of Williamsburg, or borough of Norfolk, respectively, by any officer of the militia against such receiver, such court shall give judgment and award execution against him, his executors, or administrators for the same, and cause the money to be appropriated to the uses directed by the court martial: Provided, That such receiver, his executors or administrators, have ten days previous notice of such motion. And if any sheriff hath heretofore failed to account for, and pay all militia fines collected by him, upon a motion or complaint made by the receiver or commanding officer of the militia of the county whereof he is or hath been sheriff, to the general or county court, such court shall give judgment and award execution against him, his executors or administrators, for the same: Provided, notice be given to such sheriff, his executors, or administrators, as aforesaid. | |
XVII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,
That every commission officer in the militia, shall before he acts under or executes any such
commission in the court of his county, take the oaths appointed by law, to be taken instead of
the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, the abjuration oath, and subscribe the same with the test;
and that every county lieutenant, colonel, lieutenant colonel, major and captain, at the time of
holding every court martial, before they hold the same shall take the following oath, which shall
be first taken by the presiding officer then present, and them be by him administred to the rest
of the officers, to wit: I A. B. do swear that I will do equal right and justice to all men, according to the act of Assembly, for the better regulation and training of the militia. And every person accepting a commission in the militia, who shall neglect or refuse to qualify himself to act under the same, by taking and subscribing the oaths and test before mentioned, within three months after receiving his commission, every such person shall forfeit and pay the sum of five pounds. |
Every commission officer to take certain oaths. |
XVIII. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That the present commission officers of the militia in this colony, shall have full power and authority to hold and execute their respective commissions, | The present commission officers to act until otherwise |
until the governor, or commander in chief of this dominion, shall issue new commissions, or direct or order otherwise, any thing in this act to the contrary, notwithstanding. | directed by the governor. |
XIX. And be it further enacted, That the fine by this act imposed on the lieutenant or chief commanding officer of the militia, for neglecting to order general musters, shall be one moiety to the informer, and the other to and for the use of the county, for providing arms, and shall and may be recovered with costs by action of debt or information, in any court of record. | Appropriation of the fine on the lieutenant, &c. neglecting to order general musters. |
XX. And be it further enacted, That if there be no court martial held, the penalties herein before inflicted on officers, not attending such court martial, or the general muster, shall be recovered against the officers failing to attend or appear, and collected in the same manner, as is herein before directed, for recovering and collecting the fines and penalties laid on officers failing to appoint general musters. | How the penalties to be recovered in officers failing to attend courts martial. |
XXI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the adjutant general, for the time being, with one servant and their horses, shall be exempted from the payment of ferriages at all public and other ferries, within this colony; and that the respective ferry keepers shall give him, and his servant and horses immediate passage at all such ferries, as in the case of public expresses, any law or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. | The adjutant general. |
XXII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all and every other act and acts, and every clause and article therein contained, for the settlement and regulation of the militia, or any other matter or thing, within the purview of this act, shall be, and is hereby repealed and made void to all intents and purposes whatsoever: | Repealing clause. |
XXIII. Provided always, That nothing in this act contained, shall extend, or be construed to extend to the inhabitants of the city of Williamsburg, or borough of Norfolk, so as to oblige them to muster or serve in the militia, out of the said city or borough, but that such inhabitants, shall be listed and trained in manner as is directed by the acts of Assembly, made in the ninth and twelfth years of the reign of his late majesty king George the first, intituled, An act for enlarging the jurisdiction of the court of Hustings, in | The inhabitants of Williamsburg & Norfolk, not obliged to muster out of the city or borough. |
the city of Williamsburg, within the limits thereof: And an act to prevent the inhabitants of the borough of Norfolk, from being compelled to serve in the militia of the county of Norfelk, and to exempt sailors or seamen in actual pay on board any ship or vessel from serving in the militia, any thing in this act to the contrary notwithstanding. And whereas the method by the said recited acts prescribed for fineing delinquents in the militia of the said city or borough, hath been found inconvenient; for remedy thereof, | The act concerning Norfolk militia is in 12 George II. |
XXIV. Be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the passing this act, the colonel, major, and captains of the militia of the said city of Williamsburg, and borough of Norfolk, or the major part of them, whereof the colonel or major shall be one, shall, and they are hereby impowered and required to hold a court martial at the court houses of the said city and borough, respectively, in the same manner, and for the same purposes as the courts martial are by this act directed and appointed to be held in the counties, any thing in the said recited acts to the contrary notwithstanding. | Courts martial to be held in Williamsburg & Norfolk. |
XXV. And be it further enacted, That the colonel, or chief commanding officer of the said city or borough, shall not by virtue of the two last recited acts be suffered to inlist in the militia, of the said city or borough, any persons that are officers of the militia in the counties wherein such city or borough shall lie. And for establishing a better method of appointing patrollers, and for declaring their duty therein; | Officers exempted from serving in the militia of the city or borough. |
XXVI. Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful, for the chief officer of the militia in every county, and he is hereby required, some time before the tenth day of June yearly, to appoint an officer, and so many men of the militia, as to him shall appear to be necessary, not exceeding four, once in every month or oftener if thereunto required by such chief officer, to patrol and visit all negroe quarters, and other places suspected of entertaining unlawful assemblies of slaves, servants, or other disorderly persons, as aforesaid unlawfully assembled, or any other strolling about from one plantation to another, without a pass from his or her master, mistress or overseer, and to carry them before the next justice of the peace, who if he shall see cause, is to order every such slave, servant, stroller, or other disorderly | Method of appointing patrollers. Duty of patrollers. |
person, as aforesaid, to receive any number of lashes, not exceeding twenty, on his or her bare back, well laid on. And in case one company of patrollers shall not be sufficient, to order more companies, for the same service. And after every patrol, the officer of each party shall return to the captain of the company whereunto he belongs, a report in writing upon oath, (which oath such captain is hereby impowered to administer) of the names of those of his party, who were uponduty, and of the proceedings in such patrol: And each captain shall once in every month deliver such patrol returns to the ocunty lieutenant, or chief commanding officer in his county, by whom they shall be certified and delivered to the next court martial; and if they shall adjudge the patrollers to have performed their duty according to law, the chief officer shall certify the same to the county court, who upon such certificate, are hereby impowered and required at the laying of their county levy, to allow to, and levy for every one of the patrollers, ten pounds of tobacco for every twenty four hours they shall so patrol, and moreover, such patrollers shall be exempt from the payment of public, county, and parish levies, for their own persons, for those years in which they shall be employed in that service. | Their reward. |
XXVII. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That if the chief officer of the militia in any county shall fail to appoint patrollers, according to the directions of this act, such officer shall forfeit and pay the sum of five pounds, and every person appoint- to patrol, in pursuance of this act, failing to do his duty therein, shall pay the sum of five shillings for every failure; which fines shall be laid by the court martial of the county, and shall be collected, levied, accounted for, and appropriated, as is herein before directed, for the collecting, levying, accounting for, and appropriating, the several fines and penalties herein before laid: And in like manner the chief officer of the militia, in the aforesaid city of Williamsburg, or borough of Norfolk, shall appoint all the persons of their militia, to patrol within the said city and borough, or within half a mile of the limits thereof by turns, in such numbers, and at such times, as they shall think necessary; which officers and patrollers, shall be subject to the same fines and penalties, and | Penalty on chief officers failing to appoint patrollers. Penalty on patrollers failing to do their duty. Patrol in Williamsburg and Norfolk. |
to be recovered and appropriated in the same manner, as is herein before directed, in the case of patrollers in the counties. | |
XXVIII. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That if any action shall hereafter be brought in any court of this colony, against any person or persons appointed to patrol, pursuant to this act, for any matter or thing done by him or them in the execution of their duty as patrollers, it shall and may be lawful to, and for every person and persons against whom such action or suit shall be brought, to plead the general issue, and give the special matter in evidence on the trial, and if any judgment shall be given for the defendant, or if the plaintiff shall become non-suit, or discontinue his suit, then the defendant shall recover treble costs. | General issue may be plead and the special matter given in
evidence. Costs. |
XXIX. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That this act shall commence, and be in force, from and after the second day of October next, for, and during the term of two years, and no longer. | Commencement. |
Pages 496-519 | Pages 544-570 |