Pages 105-129
|  Pages 147-166
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| Pages 105-129
| Pages 147-166
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| CHAP. X. An act for dissolving the Vestry of the Parish of St. Anne, in the county of Essex. |
[Chap. CV in original.] |
| I. WHEREAS it hath been represented to this present general assembly, that the present vestry of the parish of Saint Anne in the county of Essex, have not been elected by the freeholders and house-keepers of the said parish, but as vacancies have happened therein they have been supplied by the vestrymen themselves: for remedy whereof, | |
| II. Be it enacted, That the vestry of the said parish of Saint Anne be, and the same is hereby dissolved. | Vestry of Saint Anne, in Essex county, dissolved. |
| III. And be it further enacted, That the freeholders and house-keepers of the said parish of Saint Anne, shall, before the first day of May next, meet at some convenient time and place, to be appointed and publicly advertised by the sheriff of the said county of Essex, at least one month before such meeting, and then and there elect twelve of the most able and discreet persons, being freeholders and residents in the said parish, for vestrymen, which vestrymen so elected, having in the court of the said county of Essex, taken the oaths prescribed by law, shall, to all intents and purposes, be deemed and taken to be the vestry of the said parish of Saint Anne. | |
| IV. And be it further enacted, That the vestry of the said parish of Saint Anne, to be elected by virtue of this act, shall levy and assess upon the tithable persons of the said parish, all such sums of money and quantities of tobacco as ought to have been levied and assessed by the said vestry. Provided nevertheless, That notwithstanding any thing in this act contained, any suit or suits brought by or against the vestry or churchwardens of the said parish, and now depending, may be prosecuted in the same manner as if this act had never been made. |
| CHAP. XI. | [Chap. CVI in original.] | |
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| I. BE it enacted by the General Assembly, That the justices of the county of Greenbrier, or a majority of them, shall have full power to appoint three or more proper persons, who being first sworn, to view and mark a way for a waggon road from the Warm Springs in Augusta, to the Savanna; a report whereof being returned to, and approved of, by the said court of Greenbrier, they, or a majority of them, are empowered to employ a person, or persons, to clear and open the same, agreeable to the said report, upon the best terms they can, and to levy the expense of clearing and opening the road upon the inhabitants of the said county at large, to be paid according to the value of their estates, agreeable to the assessment made in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, and be collected by the sheriff in the same manner as the public tax for the same year. Provided always, That the said inhabitants shall have the alternative of paying the said tax in money or clean merchantable hemp, to be delivered at the court-house of the said county, to such person as the sheriff or collector may appoint to receive it, according to the price of hemp at Richmond, allowing the deduction for carriage. And provided also, That no distress shall be made for the said tax before the first day of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty four. All acts of assembly contrary to the purview of this act are hereby repealed. | Court of Greenbrier county, authorised to clear a waggon road from the Warm Springs, in Augusta, to the Savanna. |
| CHAP. XII. An act for the recovery of arms and accoutrements belonging to the state. |
[Ch. CVII in original.] [Chan. Rev. p. 176.] |
| I. WHEREAS sundry arms and accoutrements belonging to the public are in the hands of individuals, who have neglected to return them to the proper officers; and it is necessary that such arms and accoutrements should be recovered as speedily as possible: | |
| II. Be it enacted, That the governor do, on the passing of this act, issue his proclamation, enjoining all persons having in their possession, any arms or accoutrements whatsoever, belonging to the state, to deliver them without delay to the lieutenant or commanding officer of the county for the time being; and the sheriff of each county within his commonwealth, shall cause copies of the said proclamation, which shall be transmitted to him by the executive, to be fixed up in the most public places in this [his] county, and if after one month from such public notice having been given, any person possessing any such public arms or accoutrements, shall be convicted of having failed to deliver them up as aforesaid, such person shall, upon every such conviction, be liable to the penalty of twenty pounds, to be recovered by action of debt, bill plaint, or information, in any court of record within this commonwealth, one half of which penalty shall go to the informer, on conviction of the offender, and the other half shall be applied in aid of the county levy where such offender shall reside. And the lieutenant, or commanding officer of each county, shall make returns from time to time, to the executive, of all arms and accoutrements so delivered to him, and also deliver them to the order of the executive, of all arms and accoutrements so delivered to him, and also deliver them to the order of the executive, under the penalty, if he fail in all or any part of this duty, of fifty pounds to be recovered as aforesaid, and applied in diminution of the county levy. Provided always, That where muskets and bayonets have been by order of government placed in any county on eastern or western frontier for defence against incursions of the enemy, it shall be lawful for the lieutenant or commanding officer to return such muskets and bayonets to the militia, taking a receipt from each person for what shall be so returned. | Arms, &c. belonging to the state, to
be delivered up to commandants of regiments. Proclamation for that purpose. Penalty on those who detain them. County lieutenants to return an account of arms received. Penalty. Saving as to arms placed on frontiers. |
| CHAP. XIII. An act to amend the act for calling in and funding the paper money of this State. |
[Ch. CVIII in original.] [Chan Rev. p. 177.] See Nov. 1781, c. 13. | |
| I. WHEREAS the time limited by an act for calling in and funding the paper money of this State hath been found too short, and many of the citizens have, from their remote situation, been precluded from an opportunity of sending their money to the public treasury: for remedy whereof, | ||
| II. Be it enacted, That the treasurer shall be, and he is hereby authorized and required to receive the paper money issued by this state, and grant certificates for the same in manner prescribed by the said recited act, until the first day of June next, and no longer; any law to the contrary thereof notwithstanding. | Further time allowed, for returning and funding paper money. | |
| III. And be it further enacted, That any person possessed of, or holding any money emitted by congress, or by this state, shall be at liberty to lay out the same in the purchase of warrants for unappropriated lands, at the price now established by law, at any time before the said first day of June. | State or continental paper money, to be received for land warrants. | |
 CHAP. XIV. |
[Chap. CIX in original.] | |
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| I. WHEREAS in these time s of public distress it behoves the legislature to be as œconomical as possible in the expenditure of public money: | ||
| II. Be it therefore enacted, That so much of the act of general assembly, passed in the May session one thousand seven hundred and eighty, intituled, "An act | Duties of commissioner of war office, to be performed by executive |
| to repeal an act establishing a board of war, and one other act establishing a board of trade, and authorising the governor and council to appoint a commissioner of the navy, a commissioner of the war office, and a commercial agent, as relates to the appointment of a commissioner of the war office and a commercial agent," shall be, and the same is hereby repealed. −− And also the acct of general assembly passed in the May session, one thousand seven hundred and eighty one, intituled, "An act to regulate the department of the war office," is hereby also declared to be repealed, and henceforward the duties appertaining to the said commissioner of the war office's department, shall be exercised and performed by the executive, or such other public officers into whose line they may in the opinion of the governor and council more properly fall; any former act or acts of assembly to the contrary notwithstanding. | |
| III. And be it further enacted, That the said commissioner of war and commercial agent, respectively, shall deliver to the governor and council, all books, papers, accounts, and vouchers in their possession, and which may respect their departments; and also account for, and deliver to the order of the governor and council, all public property and effects in their hands. | Books, &c. of commissioner of war and commercial agent, to be delivered to executive. |
| CHAP. XV. An act to indemnify certain persons in suppressing a conspiracy against this state. |
[Chapter CX in original.] |
| I. WHEREAS divers evil disposed persons in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty, formed a conspiracy and did actually attempt to levy war against the commonwealth; and it is represented to the present general assembly, that William Preston, Robert Adams, junior, James Callaway, and Charles Lynch, and other faithful citizens, aided by detachments of volunteers from different parts of the state, |
| did, by timely and effectual measures, suppress such conspiracy: And whereas the measures taken for that purpose may not be strictly warranted by law, although justifiable from the imminence of the danger; | |
| II. Be it therefore enacted, That the said William Preston, Robert Adams, junior, James Callaway and Charles Lynch, and all other persons whatsoever, concerned in suppressing the said conspiracy, or in advising, issuing, or executing any orders, or measures taken for that purpose, stand indemnified and exonorated of and from all pains, penalties, prosecutions, actions, suits, and damages, on account thereof. And that if any indictment, prosecution, action, or suit, shall be laid or brought against them, or any of them, for any act or thing done therein, the defendant, or defendants may plead in bar, or the general issue, and give this act in evidence. | Indemnity granted to Wm. Preston, Robert Adams, jr. James Callaway, and Chas. Lynch, for suppressing conspiracy against the state. |
| CHAP. XVI. An act concerning the two legions raised by this state. |
[Chap. CXI in original.] |
| I. BE it enacted by the General Assembly, That all soldiers who have enlisted in the two legions, raised for defence of this state, under the acts passed in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one, shall be, and they are hereby permitted to enlist in this states quota of continental troops; provided they give up all claims to any bounty, pay, or emolument accruing to them under the said acts. And the executive are directed to place such sums of money as may be judged expedient, in the hands of proper persons, for the purpose of recruiting such soldiers as may incline to reinlist in the continental army for three years, or during the war, taking sufficient security for the proper disposal of the same. And the commanding officers of the said legions are hereby empowered to discharge any soldiers of the said legions, who will give up the bounty and pay which they may claim under | Soldiers belonging to the two legions, authorised to enlist in the
continental army. May be discharged, on relinquishing the bounty and pay, promised. |
| the aforesaid act; and the executive are hereby authorised to disband, by proclamation, the said legions whenever they may find necessary or expedient. | ||
| CHAP. XVII. |
[Chapter CXII in original.] | |
| ||
| I. WHEREAS all private and indirect communication with the common enemy, not compatible with public negotiations under lawful authority, ought to be prevented, and the interests of the republic will be best preserved by a strict adherence to the policy of an act of congress of the 4th of October last, recommending it to these United States to restrict all intercourse between persons coming from the enemy and their citizens, and to prohibit the admission of any subject of his Britannic majesty, coming directly or indirectly from any part of the British dominions, into any of these states: | Preamble. | |
| II. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That whensoever any flag vessel from the enemy, shall arrive within this commonwealth, immediate notice thereof shall be given by the officer commanding at the port or place to the governor, who shall thereupon, with advice of council, appoint some discreet civil or military officer superintendant at the said port or place of such flag, without whose express permission in writing, expressing the nature of the business, and length of time granted for transacting the same, it shall not be lawful for any person to go on board of, or land on shore from, any such flag vessel, and no such permission shall be granted but for public business only. And if any person shall presume to offend herein, he or she, if a citizen, shall forfeit and pay two hundred pounds, to be recovered with costs, by information, in | Intercourse with flag vessels, how conducted. Penalty on citizens for breach. |
| any court of record, to the use of the informer, and shall moreover suffer three months imprisonment, without bail or mainprize; but if such person be a British subject, he or she is declared and deemed a prisoner of war, and shall, by warrant from any justice of the county or borough, be committed to jail, there to remain without bail or mainprize, until the governor and council shall take order for the exchange, or return of such person to some British port. Provided always, That pilots bona fide engaged in discharge of their office, and remaining on board only during the same, and also persons obtaining written passports from the governor and council, shall not be subject to the penalties of this act, while acting in conformity to the express letter of such passport. | British subjects declared prisoners of war. Proviso, in favour of pilots. |
| III. And be it further enacted, That it shall not be lawful for any British subject to come within this commonwealth, by land or water, directly or indirectly, from any of the British dominions or garrisons, except in cases of shipwreck, of flag vessels in the manner and under the restrictions herein before recited, and of flags by land coming from an enemy's post in this or any neighbouring state, deputed by due authority; any British subject offending herein is declared and deemed a prisoner of war, and shall, by a warrant from any justice of the county or borough, be committed to jail, there to remain without bail or mainprize, until the governor and council shall take order for the exchange or return of him or her to some British post; and in cases of shipwreck, application shall be made, and permission to land and remain on shore, at the port or place nearest to such wreck, be granted by the commissioners appointed by the governor and council, pursuant to an act "Concerning wrecks," which commissioners shall specially report every such case, without delay, to the governor and council for their order therein. Every permission granted by the said commissioners shall be in writing, and shall expressly prohibit the persons therein named from going into the country, or holding any intercourse with the inhabitants, except such as may be immediately necessary for the preservation of the persons and property of those belonging to such wreck. Any commissioner guilty of nonfeazance or malfeazance of office herein, shall forfeit | British subjects not to be admitted, except in cases of
ship-wreck. How apprehended. Restrictions as to intercourse, in case of ship-wreck. |
| and pay fifty pounds, to be recovered by information, in any court of record, with costs, to the use of the informer. | |
| IV. And be it further enacted, That if any person whatsoever shall presume to administer the oath of allegiance or fidelity to an alien enemy or British subject, or to grant a certificate thereof, or to gant any letter or passport to an alien enemy or British subject, or to entertain, harbour, protect, aid, or comfort any such alien enemy, or British subject, not being a prisoner, except in cases made lawful by this or any other act, he or she so offending is declared guilty of a high crime and misdemeanor, and shall be subject to the pains and penalties prescribed by an act, "For the punishment of offences injurious to the independence of America but less than treason." | Penalty for administering oath of allegiance to an alien enemy, or British subject. |
| V. And be it further enacted, That every person, being a British subject, who shall have come into this state by land or water, directly or indirectly from any of the British dominions or garrisons, since the first day of January, one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, and have not obtained the privileges of citizenship, are declared prisoners of war, and in case they do not within one month after the passing of this act, deliver themselves up to the governor and council, subject to their order and disposal, shall by warrant from any justice of the county or borough be committed to jail, there to remain without bail or mainprize, subject to the order of the executive, who may take order for their immediate exchange or return to some British post. | British subjects coming into this state, contrary to law, declared prisoners of war. |
| VI. And be it further enacted, That the governor and council shall cause copies of this act to be published and sent to the British posts or garrisons in America, and to each state in the fœderal union. Provided always, That nothing in this act contained shall be construed to extend to the case of spies, or of persons coming under that description, who shall be proceeded against agreeable to the law military, or of any person or persons deserting from the army or navy of the king of Great-Britain. | Copies of this act, how distributed. Spies to be proceeded against according to the law military. |
| CHAP. XVIII. An act to establish a town at the court-house in the county of Greenbrier. |
[Chapter CXIII in original.] |
| I. BE it enacted by the General Assembly, That forty acres of land, whereon the court-house of the county of Greenbrier now stands, be, and the same is hereby vested in Samuel Lewis, James Reid, Samuel Brown, Andrew Donneley, John Stewart, Archer Matthews, William Ward, and Thomas Edgar, gentlemen, trustees, to be by them, or any five of them, laid out into lots of half an acre each, with convenient streets, which shall be, and the same is hereby established a town by the name of Lewisburg. That so soon as the said forty acres of land shall be so laid off into lots and streets, the said trustees, or any five of them, shall proceed to sell the same at public auction, for the best price that can be had, the time and place of which sale shall be previously advertised for three months at the court-house of the said county; the purchasers to hold the said lots respectively, subject to the condition of building on each of the said lots a dwelling-house twenty feet by sixteen, with a stone or brick chimney, to be finished fit for habitation within four years from the day of sale; and the said trustees, or any five of them, shall, and they are hereby empowered, to convey the said lots to the purchasers thereof in fee simple, subject to the condition aforesaid, and pay the money arising from the sale thereof to the persons legally entitled to receive the same. The said trustees, or a major part of them, shall have power from time to time to settle and determine all disputes concerning the bounds of the said lots, and to settle such rules and orders for the regular building of houses as to them shall seem best and most convenient. And in case of the death, removal out of the county, or other legal disability, of any of the said trustees, it shall be lawful for the other trustees to elect and choose so many other persons in the room of those dead, removed, or disabled, as shall make up the number, and the trustees so chosen shall be to all intents and purposes vested with the same power and authority as those in this act particularly named. | Town of Lewisburg in Greenbrier
established. Lots, how disposed of. Conditions, as to building. Power of trustees. Vacancies, how supplied. |
| II. And be it further enacted, That the purchasers of the lots in the said town, so soon as they shall have built upon and saved the same, according to the conditions of their respective deeds, shall be entitled to, and have and enjoy, all the rights, privileges, and immunities, which the freeholders and inhabitants of other towns in this state, not incorporated by charter, have and enjoy. If the purchaser of any lot shall fail to build thereon within the time before limited, the said trustees, or the major part of them, may thereupon enter into such lot, and may sell the same again, and apply the money towards repairing the streets, or in any other manner, for the benefit of the said town. | Privileges of purchasers. |
| CHAP. XIX. An act for equalizing the land tax. |
[Chap. CXIV in original.] [Chan. Rev. p. 177.] |
| I. WHEREAS the land tax, as at present charged by the commissioners of the several counties, is found to be very unequal, and from the experience of the past, it is certain that future valuations or assessments (although attended with great expence and delay) will not produce that equality so essentially necessary to the happiness of all the good citizens of this commonwealth: And whereas, by arranging the several counties whose soil and situation are nearly similar, into districts, a standard value is produced, whereby the accounts of every person within the said district may be justly regulated for all charges on land hereafter to be imposed, and a rule established whereby in future the tax upon landed property may be laid with ease and certainty, and collected with all possible equality: Be it enacted, That the counties within this commonwealth shall be laid off into four districts in manner following, that is to say, the counties of Accomack, Northampton, Princess Anne, Norfolk, Nansemond, isle of Wight, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, Prince George, Dinwiddie, Greenesville, Brunswick, Chesterfield, Henrico, Charles City, James City, New Kent, York, Warwick, King | Preamble. Lands classed by counties, for equalizing the land tax. |
| and Queen, Elizabeth City, Hanover, Gloucester, Middlesex, Essex, King William, Caroline, Spotsylvania, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland, King George, Stafford, Prince William, Goochland, Powhatan, Cumberland, Amelia, and Fairfax, shall compose the first class. The counties of Loudoun, Fauquier, Culpeper, Orange, Louisa, Fluvanna, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Prince Edward, Charlotte, Albemarle, Buckingham, Berkeley, Amherst, Campbell, Halifax, Bedford, and Frederick, shall compose the second class. The counties of Pittsylvania, Henry, Botetourt, Shanandoah, Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbridge, and Hampshire, shall compose the third class. And the counties of Washington, Montgomery, Greenbrier, Monongalia, Ohio, Fayette, Jefferson, and Lincoln, the fourth class. And John Pendleton, junior, and Samuel Jones, gentlemen, are hereby appointed to examine the returns made to the valuations of the present year, and to ascertain the average price per acre of all the lands in each county within the districts aforesaid, and (carrying all fractions of a penny to the benefit of the revenue) by comparing the same with the standard or average value of each district herein after declared, shall, and they are hereby empowered, directed, and required, by a just per centage, to apply the difference to the account of every individual within the district, and add to or deduct from the same accordingly. And the said examiners shall, before they proceed on the business aforesaid, take the following oath, viz. "I A. B. do solemnly swear that I will to the best of my skill and judgment, ascertain the true average price per acre of the lands within the several counties of this commonwealth, agreeable to the returns made, and by comparing the same to the standard by law established, will make out a just account of the land tax of every person charged in the said returns agreeable to this act, and transmit the same as by law required. So help me God." And each of the said examiners, for their services herein, shall receive from the treasurer of this commonwealth, by warrant from the auditors (which upon receipt of the books herein after mentioned, they are and shall be empowered to grant) the sum of three hundred pounds. | Examiners appointed to regulate the tax by the
assessments. Their oath. Compensation. |
| II. And be it enacted, That the average or standard of the first district is and shall be ten shillings; the average | Standard tax of each class. |
| or standard of the second district is and shall be seven shillings and six pence; the average or standard of the third district five shillings and six pence; and the average or standard of the fourth district three shillings. And that the tax upon land thus equalized may be duly collected, the examiners aforesaid are hereby required to make out a book of the accounts of each county, and on or before the first day of May next transmit the same to the commissioners of the tax for each county hereafter to be appointed, who shall grant receipts for the same, and the said county commissioners shall cause a copy of the said book to be delivered to the sheriff, on or before the fifteenth day of the said month, by which the sheriff shall proceed to collect from every person named therein, the sum charged in the said book and no more. And the said examiners are hereby required to make up a separate book, or books, for each class of counties, in which each county shall be separate and distinct, arranging in alphabetical order the charges against every individual in each county, which said books shall be kept in the auditors office. | Books for collection, how made out, and disposed of. |
| III. And to prevent loss and confusion in consequence of alienations of property, as well as that all lands within the several counties which now are vacant and may hereafter be taken up, or which may not have been valued by the county commissioners for the present year, may be charged with a just and proper tax; Be it enacted, That the court of each county within this commonwealth shall, at their sessions in the months of March or April, nominate and appoint two fit persons to execute the office of commissioners of the tax within the same, who shall remain in office three years from the time of their appointment, which said commissioners, before they enter upon the duties of their office, shall before the court of the said county, take the following oath, to wit: "I A. B. do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will diligent enquiry make of all lands within the county, which have not heretofore been valued, and a just valuation thereof make, agreeable to that of other lands of equal quality and situation within the said county; also to all alienations or partitions which may be made, and in all other matters and things discharge the duties of my office agreeable to law, with diligence and impartiality, | Commissioners of the tax to be chosen for 3 years. Their oath. |
| to the best of my skill and judgment. So help me God." And in case of the death, refusal, or disability to act, of the said commissioners, or either of them, the county court as aforesaid shall, at any time, appoint others in their place. That it shall be the duty of the said commissioners, in all cases of alienations or partition within their said county, from the time of delivery to the sheriff of the book for collection in any one year, to the same time in the next succeeding year, to go upon the land so alienated or divided, and valuing the same at a price equal to other lands in the said county similar in soil and situation, shall give a credit to the person disposing of the same, and charge the purchaser or receiver with the tax payable thereon, and in like manner in cases where lands have not been heretofore valued, or where lands which now are vacant and may hereafter be taken up, the said county commissioners shall, and they hereby are required to value the same, and charge the owner thereof with the tax in manner aforesaid. And the said county commissioners shall annually, within two months after delivery to the sheriff of the book or list for collection, make return to the auditors office of all alterations in the county book by addition, alienation, or partition as aforesaid, that corresponding entries may be made in the book for each county kept at the said office, and shall make such additions or alterations in the list or book by them to be delivered for the collection of the current year. The said commissioners shall also, and they are hereby required upon application and full proof to them made, to correct all errors which may have been made by the former commissioners, either with respect to the quantity of land or to the ownership thereof, and charge or give credit for the same; and for every entry of alteration or alienation, the said commissioners may demand and receive the sum of five shillings. | Their duty in case of alienations or partitions. Also, in cases of lands not before valued, or newly patented. To correct former errors. |
| IV. And to enable the county commissioners to make full and just valuations and returns as aforesaid, Be it enacted, That the clerk of the general court shall, on or before the first day of May in every year, transmit, and the clerk of the county court deliver, to the said commissioners, a list of all conveyances or partitions within the preceding year in the respective courts admitted to record, certifying the quantity and situation | Lists of conveyances & partitions to be furnished to county commissioners; |
| of the land so conveyed, & if the purchaser or seller shall not before the said first day of May, have satisfied the said commissioners as to the just value of the land, the same shall be charged as land of the best quality in the said county; and in cases of land which may now be vacant, the register of the land office shall, and he is hereby required to transmit, on or before the first day of April, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, to the commissioners of each county, a list of all grants issued from his office, or made out for vacancies within the said county, since the first day of January last, and in like manner before the first day of April in each succeeding year, of all grants issued or made out within the year preceding, to be by them valued and charged as aforesaid, for which valuation they shall be paid by the public, at the rate of two shillings and six pence for every hundred acres contained in the said grant; and in cases of partition, by will or inheritance, the same fee may be demanded from the person entitled to such partitions where the same is done by conveyance. | And lists of all patents. |
| V. And whereas alienations or partitions may have been made since the valuations of the present year, or may be made before the first day of May next; Be it enacted, That the said county commissioners shall, and they are hereby authorised and required, to value all such alienations or partitions, and charge the owner with the tax arising from the same, together with the fees, in manner as heretofore is directed; and the said commissioners shall be entitled to receive from the public, the sum of twelve pounds, for copying the book or list annually, to be delivered to the sheriff, and for delivering the same; and the sum of eight pounds for the return to the auditors office, of such alterations or additions as may annually take place within the county; the fees chargeable to the public shall be paid by the treasurer on the auditors warrants at the time of making the annual return to the auditors-office as aforesaid. The said examiners failing to perform the services by this act required, shall forfeit and pay the sum of two thousand pounds each; the register of the land-office shall forfeit and pay, for every offence, the sum of fifty pounds; the county commissioners for every offence, the sum of two hundred pounds each; the clerk to the general court, or | Certain alienations and partitions to be valued. Allowances to county commissioners. Penalties on various officers, for neglect of duty. |
| of the county courts, the sum of fifty pounds each; and the justices of the several counties failing to make the appointments by this act required, shall forfeit and pay the sum of fifty pounds each: All which forfeitures shall be one half to the informer, the other half to the use of the county where the offences shall be committed, to be recovered by information, in any court of record, giving ten days previous notice. | ||
| VI. And be it enacted, That the valuation of lots in the cities, boroughs or towns, shall (except where manifest inequality may have taken place) stand and remain as they now are; and in cases where lots may be added to any city, borough or town, or where new towns may be established, or where alienations or partitions may take place, or where mistakes may have been made in former valuations, the county commissioners aforesaid shall be governed by the same rules and regulations as by this act are established with regard to land in like cases. | Rule as to lots in town. | |
| VII. And be it further enacted, That in case of the death, disability or refusal to act of the examiners appointed by this act, or either of them, it shall be lawful for the governor, with advice of council, to fill up the vacancy occasioned thereby. | Vacancies. in examiners how supplied. | |
| CHAP. XX. |
[Chapter CXV in original.] | |
| ||
| I. Be it enacted by this present General Assembly, That the whole estate, both real and personal, of Maurice Wheeler, who was convicted of murder at the session of the general court in October last, and executed accordingly, be, and the same is hereby vested in, Lettice Wheeler his widow, and four children, to be divided | Estate of Maurice Wheeler, convicted of murder, and executed, vested in his widow and children, |
| amongst them agreeable to the act of assembly for the distribution of intestates; subject, nevertheless, to the debts of the deceased. | |
| CHAP. XXI. An act concerning Pensioners. |
[Chap. CXVI in original.] |
| I. BE it enacted by the General Assembly, That the courts of the several counties are hereby empowered and required, in the months of April and May next, to enquire into the condition and state of the bodily ability of all pensioners, and persons receiving an annual allowance from the commonwealth in consideration of wounds, and to report their proceedings to the next session of assembly. The county lieutenant, or commanding officer of every county, shall cause this act to be read to the militia at the general musters next after the passing of this act. All pensioners, or others, receiving such annual allowances, failing to attend, or in case of inability to represent by good proof to the said courts, a true state of their bodily ability as aforesaid, shall forfeit such pensions or allowances. The commanding officer, and the justices of every county, failing to perform their duty herein, shall each forfeit and pay the sum of fifty pounds, to be recovered with costs, by information, in any court of record, to the use of the informer. | Pensioners to be examined by county courts, & a state of their condition transmitted to the general assembly. |
| Pages 105-129
| Pages 147-166
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