is Expired And further that the Master have like Remedy against the Servant in Case of his Trespassing against him VI. An Act concerning Bounding of Counties and Parishes VVHereas there is a Law that binds us to the Bounding of our Lands Counties and Parishes to be Bounded Be it Enacted by this present Grand Assembly and the Authority thereof That the same Law be in force to the Bounding of our Counties and Parishes VII An Act repealing the Act of 10 s. per Hogshead WHereas the imposition of Ten Shillings per Hogshead on Vessels trading from New-England and the adjacent Plantations hath probably hindred their trading in this Countrey The Act for Payment of 10 s. per Hogshead repealed and drawn much trading to Mary-Land which the Burgesses taking into their serious Consideration and requesting the Right Honourable Sir William Berkley Knight and Governour who most heartily and willingly granted the taking off the said imposition of 10 s. per Hogshead Be it therefore Enacted by this present Grand Assembly That all Vessels trading here out of new-New-England or any other the adjacient Plantations in America shall from henceforth be free from the imposition of 10 s. per Hogshead and pay no other Dues Duties or Customs then any other Ships or Vessels trading here out of England or any other his Majesties Dominions VIII An Act concerning the Indians The Act concerning Murders committed by Indians made General WHereas at a Grand Assembly held at James City September the 10th 1663 it was provided That where any Murder was committed by the Indians upon the English the next Town of Indians was to use their uttermost Endeavour for the bringing in and discovering the Actors and Doers thereof and in regard the said Act was only limited upon the Northern-Indians This Grand Assembly have thought fit to Enact and be it Enacted That the said Law be made a General Law against all Indians whatsoever and where any Murders shall be committed upon the English the next Town is to use all their care and diligence in finding the Doers and Actors of the said Murders And be it further Enacted That if any English-man be murdered the next Town shall be answerable for it with their Lives and Liberties to the use of the publick and that the Honourable Governour be humbly requested forthwith to impower such persons as his Honour shall think fit in each County on such occasions for putting the said Law into immediate execution And that it be made known to all Indians whatsoever by those persons so commissioned within Two Months after the said Law is in force And be it further Enacted by this Grand Assembly That the said Indians shall not have power within themselves The Weromance or chief Commander of the Indians shall be chosen by the Governour of Virginia to elect or constitute their own Weromance or Chief Commander but the present Honourable Governour and his Successors from time to time shall constitute and authorize such Persons in whose Fidelity they may find greatest cause to repose a confidence to be Commander of the respective Towns and in case the Indians shall refuse their Obedience to or Murder such person then that Nation of Indians so refusing or offending to be accounted Enemies and Rebels and be proceeded against accordingly And whereas the careless manner of the English in going un-armed to Churches Courts and other Publick Meetings may probably in time incite the Indians to make some desperate attempt upon them It is further Enacted That the Honourable Governour be requested to issue his Commands to the Officers of the Militia to take care to prevent the same And it is further Enacted No person shall harbour or imploy any Indian without having first given Security and obtained Licence of the Governour That any person or persons that shall harbour entertain or imploy any Indian shall be fined Five thousand pounds of Tobacco or suffer one years Imprisonment without Bail or Mainprize unless such as shall give sufficient Security to the County Court and upon such security obtain a Certificate from the said Court and upon that Certificate a Licence from the Governour And whereas by the former Articles of Agreement it was provided that no Indians which were seated on the South-side of James River should come over the Black-Water or the Southern Branches thereof It is hereby Enacted That the said Southern Branches of Black-Water be from the head of those Branches to the present Appomattuck Indian Town and thence cross the River by a continued Line to the present Monakin Town be the bounds of the Indians on the South-side of James River IX An Act concerning the Building of a Fort. A Fort ordered to be Built IN Obedience to his Majesties Royal Commands and for the better defence of the Countrey this Assembly have thought fit to Enact and be it Enacted That a Fort be Built with all convenient Expedition where the Right Honourable the Governour shall think most convenient and that Fourscore thousand Pounds of Tobacco be levied to that purpose The Governour to direct where besides the sale of the King of Potomacks-Land Be it further Enacted That his Honour give power to press Carpenters Labourers and other Work-men and that the Carpenters finding themselves Diet and Lodging be allowed Forty five Pounds of Tobacco per day And for the better expediting and finishing the said Fort Provisions for Building the same It is hereby Enacted That it shall be lawful for the Surveyor of the Workmen to cause Pines to be fallen in any mans Land for that use paying to the Proprietor of the Land Six pence for each Tree And it is further Enacted That each person of the Trained-Bands in James City and Surrey Counties contribute Six days Work towards the perfecting the said Fort and to bring their own Provisions with them And be it further Enacted That Capt. William Bassett be Authorized Surveyor of the whole Work and have Command of the Work-men therein imployed the County gratifying him the said Capt. Bassett with Ten thousand pounds of Tobacco And the Assembly taking into Consideration what persons be fit to keep the Fort and be Captain of the same Have Enacted and it is hereby Enacted That the said Soldiers that attend the Governour at General Courts be ordered to keep the Fort those Courts excepted where a single Centinel will be sufficient and that the Capt. of the Guard have the Command of the Fort and receive a fitting Annual Satisfaction for the same and that the Souldiers likewise may have a competent Addition to the former pay And it is further Enacted That no Tobaccoes for these occasions be levied this year X. An Act Preparatory to a Stint or Cessation Vide Act 1. October 23d 1666. At a Grand Assembly held at JAMES CITY June 5th 1666. I. An Act for a Cessation Vide Act 1. Octob. 23. Anno 1666. II. An Act concerning Tenders of Tobacco WHereas it hath
also to the Kings most Excellent Majesty his Heirs and Successors for ever for the better support of the Government of this his Majesties Colony of Virginia in such manner as is herein before expressed and to and for no other use intent or purpose whatsoever And for the better discovery and preventing of Frauds Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid Sixpence per Poll payable for all Persons imported Marriners excepted that the Master of every Ship or Vessel shall deliver his Boatswains Book to the perusal of the Respective Collectors and make Oath of the truth thereof to the best of his knowledg and that the Mate Boatswain Seamen or other persons be also sworn if there be cause for the discovery of the truth of the freight and if any Master shall wittingly or willingly conceal any part of his Freight or make false entry of the burthen of his Ship or Vessel or number of persons imported as aforesaid that then the said Master shall forfeit for every such Offence the sum of One Hundred Pounds Sterling as also the treble duties for every Hogshead or five hundred pounds of Tobacco and for every Tun concealed one Moitie to the Informer and the other Moitie to the Kings most Excellent Majesty his Heirs and Successors to and for the uses above mentioned and to be recovered by action of Debt Bill or Plaint by virtue of this Act against which no essoing wager of Law or protection to be allowed to any person so offending And it is hereby further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the Respective master of every Ship and Vessel shall enter into a Bond of Twenty Pounds Sterling to the Kings most Excellent Majesty his Heirs and Successors for the payment of the Duties of so many Hogsheads or five hundred pounds of Tobacco as shall upon due Certificate appear to be entred in the Custom-house in England more than shall be entered and paid to the Respective Collectors and other Officers in Virginia unless the said Collectors and Officers be fully satisfied of the true number of Hogsheads and Freight of the said Ships and Vessels the said Bond to be made without any Fee and to be void to all intents as if never made if not put in suit upon due Certificate to be procured by the Respective Collectors from the Custom-house in England within one year from the making thereof which said Collectors and other Officers are hereby required to use their utmost diligence in the due execution of this Act and shall be allowed their usual salleries or such other as by the Governour or Commander in Chief for the time being with the advice of the Council shall be adjudged necessary for Collecting the said imposition which said Governour or Commander in Chief for the time being is also hereby further Authorized and impowered from time to time with the advice of the Council as is before specified to give such reasonable allowances and encouragement as shall be adjudged fitting not exceeding ten per Centum to such Masters of Ships or other persons as shall give in true accounts and advance and pay down the above mentioned dutys either in money or good and sufficient Bills of Exchange to the satisfaction of the Respective Collectors Provided always and it is hereby Enacted and declared by the Authority aforesaid that the Act of Assembly in the Printed Book Intituled Imposition of two shillings per Hogshead made at a Grand Assembly held at James City the 23d of March 1661. also one other Act Intituled An Act for the imposition of two shillings per Hogshead made at James City the second of December 1662. also one Act in the Printed Book Intituled Castle-duties to be paid made at a Grand Assembly holden at James City the 23d of March 1661. and all other former Acts for the raising or levying of two shillings per Hogshead Impost upon Tobaccoes exported out of this his Majesties Colony of Virginia or for raising or levying Castle Duties Tunnage or head-money be and are hereby by vertue of this Act fully Repealed and made void to all intents and purposes any thing in this Act or any other Law Statute Custom Usuage or instructions whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding Provided also and it is hereby Enacted and declared by the Authority aforesaid that the Priviledges of Virginia-Owners of Ships expressed and set down in the CXXXIIII Act in the Printed Book Intituled Priviledge of Virginia-Owners made at James City the 23d of March 1661. and one Act made at James-City the 20th of October 1669. Intituled An Act for freeing Virginia-Owners from Castle-Duties shall be and are hereby meant and intended to be in full force power and virtue to the benefit use and priviledge of all and every such Owner or Owners any thing in this Act or any other Act Law Statute Custom usuage or Instructions whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding IV. An Act for continuation of the several Fortifications and Garrisons at the heads of the four great Rivers WHereas the number of Soldiers at the several Garrisons apointed by Act of Assembly made at James-City the 25th day of April 1679. is found too chargeable for the great poverty of the Inhabitants of this Countrey and longer to lye under and nevertheless the holding up any maintaining the said Garrisons and Fortifications against the incursions of the Indian-Enemy is deemed of absolute necessity Be it therefore Enacted and it is hereby Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the consent of the General Assembly that the clause in the said Law appointing Forty Tithables to set forth one Souldier be from henceforth wholly repealed and made void and that the said Garrisons and Fortifications be continued and that from henceforward the number of Soldiers at each Garrison Each Garrison to have twenty Souldiers besides the chief Commander over and besides the Commander in chief thereof be twenty in number out of which number two Corporals to be chosen by each Respective Commander in chief and that such twenty Souldiers for each Garrison as aforesaid be appointed and chosen as also their Horses Arms and Furniture out of those who are now there or ought to be there by each Respective Commander proportionally out of the several Counties to which they appertain and that for a supply of the said twenty Souldiers Horses Arms or Furniture so made choice of as aforesaid and happening to dye or any ways become disabled by sickness or otherwaies that then such dificiency upon notice given by the Commander in chief to the Justices or first in Commission of such County-Court to which County such Souldier or Souldiers c. shall belong shall forthwith be supplied according as the aforesaid Act of Assembly made the 25th of April 1679. directs and it is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that each Officer and Souldiers pay shall be and continue as is set down in the said recited Act of Assembly which charge shall
signed by the Secretary which shall remain upon File in the Office for the full justification of the Clerk who is to enter them in the Book of Records XXII The Plaintiff to File his Declaration Three days before the day of Hearing Declarations to be filed three days at least before Pleading ANd whereas the Clerk is enjoyned to enter Twenty Actions for each day and the Court to sit at certain hours so also it is hereby Enacted That the Plantiff File his Declaration in the Office at least three days before the day of Hearing in which time the Defendant may take a Copy thereof the Original still remaining in the Office and provide his Answer in writing ready to present to the Governour and Council at the day of Hearing And further That if the Plantiff fail either in not appearing to prosecute or in neglecting to File his Declaration as is hereby enjoyned he shall pay to the Defendant if he lived within Fifty miles of James City The Penalty of a Default One hundred and Fifty pounds of Tobacco for a Non-suit and if he dwell further off then Three hundred and Fifty pounds of Tobacco besides his Amercement to the Publick And if the Defendant make default the Judgment to pass against the Bail for the thing sued for or if no Bail be returned then against the Sheriff besides his Amercement of One thousand pounds of Tobacco laid upon him by Act for not making Returns Provided that the Bail and Sheriff have respite of Execution until the next Court when if they bring in the person of the Party the Judgment of the first Court granted to be reversed but the Amercement awarded against the Sheriff to continue and not be remitted XXIII Adjournment to the two last days for Determination of References by Avisare Volumus or Actions entred in Court time ANd whereas this Act enjoyns the proportioning so many Actions to a day but gives liberty to Arrest in Court time to the last days of the Court and whereas some Cases of Difficulty may be presented Adjournment to the two last days for determination oâ— References by Avisare Volumus upon which the Court may desire to advise Be it therefore Enacted That as soon as the Court hath sat so many days as are filled with Actions it shall be Adjourned to the two last days of that Court and whatever the Court hath referred by their Avisare Volumus and all Actions entred in Court time as aforesaid shall be then tried and determined XXIV Criminal Causes to be tried at the General Court Crimminal causes to be Tried only at General Courts and on the Fourth day WHereas men of the greatest Abilities both of Judgement and Integrity do usually meet at the General Courts whither their Ocasions do frequently call them and because any thing that concerneth Life or Limb requires the ablest Juries to enquire of it Be it Enacted That all Criminal Causes that concern either Life or Member shall be tried at the General Courts only the Fourth day of the said Courts Juries to be Chosen out of the Neighbour-hood And because the Laws of England do enjoyn Juries to be chosen out of the Neighbour-hood where the Fact was committed according to which the remoteness of our Habitations doth not admit us so fully to practice as we desire yet that we may come to them as near as possible we may and because it is very requisite that part of the Jury at least should come from thence who by reason of their nearer acquaintance with the business may give information of divers Circumstances to the rest of the Jury Be it therefore Enacted That immediately after the commitment of any person found Criminal by the Grand Inquest The manner of proceeding by Juries in Cases Criminal the Sheriff of the County to whose Custody he is committed shall give notice thereof to the Secretaries Office at James City and the Clerk of that Office shall presently send a Venire Facias to the said Sheriff to impannel Six men of the ablest and nearest of the Inhabitants of his County Sheriffs to Impanel Juries to that place where the Fact was committed to be of the Jury for Trial of that Cause returnable the said Fourth day of the next General Court where the said Jury-men are bound to appear What Allowance Jury-men shall have for their Charges and for their Charges the Countrey shall allow to each Man Twenty pounds of Tobacco per day for each day they may be reasonably coming to and returning from James City and Fifty pounds of Tobacco per day during their Attendance there about it Viz. from the day they are by the Writ to appear until they be discharged and that the rest of the Jury be made up of the By-standers XXV The Governour and Two of the Council to go the Circuit VVHereas the Honourable Governour out of his singular care of his due Administration of Justice in all Courts and that he might be the better enabled to render his Majesty an exact account of the Government hath been pleased to take upon him and the Council the pains of Visiting all the County Courts of the Countrey Be it therefore Enacted That the Honourable Governour and one of the Council or upon the urgent Affairs of the Countrey hindering the Governour The Governour or Two of the Council wh m he shall Commissionate to go the Circuit yearly that the Governour commissionate too of the Council for every River yearly in August to set Judges in all the County Courts and there hear and determine all Causes then depending in them by Action or Reference from any other preceeding Court in that County Provided no Councellor be appointed to go the Circuit in the River wherein he doth inhabit XXVI Appeals how to be made VVHereas many appeals are made from County Courts to General Courts and from General Courts to Assemblies whereby the speedy Execution of Justice is often retarded and many persons disabled by the Charge of going to James City to prosecute are forced many times to desist from the Claim of their just Rights Be it therefore Enacted Appeals from County Courts how to be made and to whom That for the avoiding Delays and for the ease of the Inhabitants all Appeals made in any Court after the General Court in March be referred to the Hearing of the Governour or Itenerary Councils in their Circuit from whose Sentence there if any person will appeal if the Governour be present shall be made to the next Assembly if two of the Council then to the next General Court from which the said Councellors during the Trial of such Cause or Causes in which they had at the County Courts given their Opinions shall be suspended but because in the Winter time the General Courts are more frequent and all Causes there receive a speedier determination and because Tobacco being only then payable may be paid in kind
orders and to send the same to the several Vestries of the Parishes in their Counties they shall be fined Ten thousand pounds of Tobacco and the Vestries failing to order the Precincts and the Persons to go together shall be fined Twelve hundred pounds of Tobacco and the person failing go upon the day appointed or to renew his Mark accordingly shall for his neglect be fined Three hundred and fifty Pounds of Tobacco LXXIX Surveyors for High Ways VVHereas through the frequent Alterations of the High-ways by felling of Trees over them and many times taking them into fenced Plantations to the great hindrance of Travellers and Traders Be it therefore Enacted The Justices shall yearly appoint Surveyors of the High-Ways That the Justices do yearly in October Court appoint Surveyors of the High-ways who shall first lay out the most convenient ways to the Church to the Court to James Town and from County to County and make the said ways Forty foot broad and make Bridges where there is occasion and the Ways being thus laid out and Bridges made they shall cause the said Ways to be kept clear from Logs and the Bridges in good repair High-Ways shall be kept clear and Bridges in good repair that all his Majesties Subjects may have free and safe Passage about their occasions and to effect the same the Vestries of every Parish are upon the desire of the Surveyor hereby enjoyned and impowered to order the Parishioners every one according to the number of Tythables he hath in his Family to send Men upon the days by the Surveyors appointed to help them in clearing the Ways or making or repairing the Bridges according to the intent and purpose of this Act and if any Court shall omit the appointing Surveyors or they neglect the executing their Office or the Vestry to order the Work or any person to send help Vestries of each Parish shall take care thereof according to the said Vestries order the said Court Surveyors Vestry or Person shall be amerced Five hundred pound of Tobacco to the use of the County And if any person shall contrary to this Act fell Trees upon the High-ways The Penalty of Felling Trees on the High-Way or encroaching upon the same and not clear the same or inclose any part of the said High-ways within any fence the Grand Jury shall present the same as a common Nusance and the Inclosure shall be thrown open and the offender be fined One thousand pound of Tobacco to the use of the County and if any Counties have Creek or Swamp limiting the bounds between the said Counties it is Enacted That both Counties bounding upon such Passage shall contribute to the making the Bridge or making the way over it LXXX Tobacco when to be demanded WHereas many Creditors for several By-respects neglect the demanding the Tobacco due to them in due time by that means inforcing the Debtor to the inconveniency of not disposing of his Tobacco and yet not paying his Debts to the great damage and prejudice of the said Debtor Be it therefore Enacted That every person or persons not demanding his or their Debts between the Tenth of October and the last of January Tobacco due shall be demanded between the Tenth of October and the last of January shall not sue or implead any person or persons Indebted to him or them for present Payment but it shall be lawful for any persons owing Tobacco to dispose of the same for his own use after the said last of January if it have not been demanded according to the tenor of this Act and no Execution to issue for a Tobacco Debt but against the person who shall have liberty to free himself by putting in security to pay the Debt the following Crop Provided always That it shall be lawful for the Creditor to sue or implead his Debtor for security for his Debt against the next year any thing in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding LXXXI Judgments and Specialties how long Pleadable WHereas the nature of our Trade in Virginia enforceth us to Engage by Bills Bonds and other Writings for discharge of which in part or in whole the Debtor is often constrained to accept of the Receipts the said Bills Bonds Judgments and other Writings remaining still in the hands of the said Creditor and the Receipt being often times lost the Debtor and especially the Executors and Administrators of a person deceased not being able to prove payment those Debts are frequently demanded and unjustly recovered which before had been justly paid and discharged for remedy whereof Be it Enacted That no Bills or Bonds be of force or recoverable Five years after the date of the said Bills or Bonds or any Bills or Bonds heretofore made Bills and Bonds of persons Deceased in what time recoverable five years after the date of this Act as also that no Judgment shall be of force seven years after the Grant thereof or after the date of this Act as aforesaid but if the Debtor shall depart the Country and leave no Attorney to answer for him or any other way conceal or privily remove himself into any part of the Country and by that means render the renewing of the Bill impossible such time of his Absence or Concealment shall not be accounted any part of the Five or Seven years limited LXXXII Attorneys for Business out of England WHereas many persons in this Country entertain as Attorneys many troublesome businesses out of England and other places when justly there is no occasion for such Molestation and yet the Parties molested are left destitute of Relief by reason the said Disturbers have no Estate in this Country to satisfie Damages they are condemned in Be it therefore Enacted Attorneys out of England shall give security to pay Costs and Damages if cast in Law Suits That no Attorney by any power out of England or elsewhere shall sue or implead any person of this Collony without giving first good Security that he the said Attorney shall pay all such Costs and Damages as the Court shall award against him where the Law shall find that he the said Attorney hath by that power unjustly molested the Defendant LXXXIII Burgesses VVHereas no Provision hath been made for the certain Conveyance of publick Writs for the Election of Burgesses whereby the delivering the said Writs being retarded the Sheriff hath no time to give notice to the people according to Law nor make a timely return of the Writs nor can the Burgesses appear at the day for remedy whereof Be it Enacted by this present Grand Assembly Allowance to the Secretary for conveying Writs of Election to the Sheriffs of each County That the Secretary provide for the timely conveyance of the Writs into every County to be delivered to the Sheriff thereof and for his pains be paid One Hogshead of Tobacco weighing Three hundred and Fifty pounds for every County and in Case any Neglect be proved against him
prosecuted at the Charge of the County but most by those Counties where the Offenders dwelt or the Fact was committed for avoidance of which Charge it is probable that many Lewd Livers by a too favourable Censure escape their deserved Punishments Be it therefore Enacted by the Grand Assembly and the Authority thereof That where the person committed hath Estate sufficient to defray the Charge of his Prosecution the Publick or County shall not be charged but the whole paid out of the Delinquents Estate and the Publick and County only then liable to satisfie where no Estate or not sufficient can be found and discovered XIV A Dispensation for Lower Norfolk to ship their Tobacco a private Act. XV. An Act repealing the Acts of Encouragement WHereas the Prudence and Care of the Publick Good in former Assemblies thought fit for the Advance and Promotion of Trade Manufactures and Staple Commodities in the Countrey to grant out of the Publick certain Encouragements for Building of Vessels making of Silk Cloth c. By which means divers people being induced to put the same in practice have by their success made evident demonstrations how beneficial the same will be This Assembly in hopes that all People now convinced of the Profits accruing thereby will of their own accord vigorously prosecute those apparent profitable designs Have therefore for the ease of the Publick Taxes thought fit to Enact and by this Grand Assembly and the Authority thereof All Acts of Encouragement repealed except the Act releasing the Imposition of 2 s. per Hogshead to the Inhabitants rf this Collony it is Enacted That all Acts of Encouragment of Silk Building of Vessels or any other things else henceforth be generally and totally Repealed and Void except the Act for release of the Impost of two Shillings per Hogshead to Inhabitants of this Countrey adventuring in Vessels belonging properly and solely to Virginia-Owners according to the 134th Act of Assembly And moreover That the Act for not planting Mulberry-Trees which every one intending to make Silk now voluntarily propagate be also repealed and made void XVI An Act for Millers to Grind according to Tourne WHereas divers Owners and Keepers of Publick Mills in this Country do refuse to Grind Corn according to Tourne for the Reward and Toll already set and appointed by Act Be it enacted by this Present Grand Assembly and the authority thereof that what person soever Master Owner or Lessee of any Mill shall refuse to grind as aforesaid shall be fined and amerced One Thousand Pounds of Tobacco for every such offence And if the Miller so refusing be a servant he shall be punished at the discretion of the County-Court where the offence shall be committed and complained of unless the said servant can prove that what he did was done by order of the Master which Fine shall be recovered by any person injured by Action of Debt in the Court of that County where the offence was committed XVII An Act Including Sheep in the 77th Act. WHereas the seventy seventh Act concerning the Insufficiency of Fences prohibits any injury to be done to several sorts of Beasts and Cattle amongst which Sheep are not Included It is hereby enacted Sheep Comprehended in the Act concerning insufficiency of Fences that from henceforth Sheep shall be comprehended in the said Act and dammages recovered for any injuries done to them by vertue of the Act aforesaid as for other Cattle is there provided XVIII An Act Ascertaining Dammages upon Protested Bills of Exchange WHereas it appears that many Bills of Exchange drawn upon persons in England by people resident in this Country in confidence that the Goods by them sent might produce effects sufficient to satisfy them which expectation being frustated sometimes by the miscarrying of the Ship sometimes by not sail of the Goods or pretence thereof by the Parties on whom they were drawn causes the said Bills to be protested and by the great dammage of thirty per Cent. Dammages upon protested Bills of Exchange shall not exceed 15. per Cent. given by Act against the Party that charged them is found to tend too much to the detriment and prejudice of the Inhabitants of this Country It is therefore enacted by this Present Grand Assembly and the authority thereof that from henceforth the dammage upon Bills of Exchange protested shall not exceed fifteen per Cent. and that the former Act giving thirty per Cent. be hereby repealed and made void XIX An Act declaring that no Justice shall take Fee VVHereas there is an Act intended for the Relief of poor people that Causes not exceeding the value of twenty shillings sterl or two hundred pounds of Tobacco might be determined by a Justice of the Peace without further suit and whereas Complaint hath been made that some of the Justices have contrary to the good intent of the said Act exacted Fees from the Parties coming before them for Justice to a greater value then the thing sued for amounted to It is enacted by this Grand Assembly the Authority thereof that it shall not be lawful for any Justice of the Peace to receive of any person any Fees for any Cause or Matters brought before him or determined by him XX. An Act declaring what is meant by Seating of Land VVHereas there is in all Pattents a provisional Clause for Planting or Seating the Land therein granted within three years but never yet by any Law declared what was meant by that Clause Building a house and keeping a stock one whole year upon Land shall be accounted sufficient seating thereof nor what should be accounted sufficient Seating or Planting This Grand Assembly for the better explanation thereof have declared and enacted and by the authority thereof do enact and declare That building a house and keeping a stock one whole year upon the Land shall be accounted Seating and that clearing Planting and Tending an Acre of ground for one year shall be accounted Planting and that either of these shall be adjudged as a sufficient performance of the condition required by the Patent and that after such Planting or Seating the Land as aforesaid and continuance of paying the Quit-Rents no Land shall be adjudged to be deserted XXI An Act concerning Imperfect Pattents VVHereas the Honourable Thomas Ludwell Esquire hath Informed the Assembly that he finds in the Records many Patents for great parcels of Land for which there appears not any Rights upon Record of them extant upon which the Assembly taking the Premises into serious consideration and also the great trouble and prejudice that may ensue to divers honest Inhabitants of this Country in asserting their Titles though in truth never so good yet by these neglects of the Clerk rendered in strictness of Law altogether invalid for Remedy whereof the Governour Council and Burgesses of this Present Grand Assembly have enacted and it is by the authority thereof Enacted and Ordained that for preservation of all Present Tytles and