Page images
PDF
EPUB

Vestry of

authorised to

For

of Norfolk, for their

CHAP. III.

An act to empower the vestry of the parish of Elizabeth River, in the county of Norfolk, to purchase and improve lots in the borough of Norfolk for the use of the minister, instead of a glebe, and to pay their minister's salary in money instead of tobacco.

I. WHEREAS by a certain act of Assembly, made Elizabeth- in the first year of his present majesty's reign, entitled, River parish An Act for dividing the parish of Elizabeth-River, in purchase & the county of Norfolk, into three distinct parishes, for improve lots dissolving the vestry of the said parish, and for other in borough purposes therein mentioned, the said parish was accordingly divided into three distinct parishes, all that part whereof lying to the northward and eastward of Elizabeth-River, and the eastern branch thereof, was erectglebe; and to ed into one distinct parish, and retains the name of ry in money, Elizabeth-River, within the bounds whereof the boinstead of rough of Norfolk is included, which is become so populous that it contains at least three fourths of the inhabitants of the said parish.

minister, in

stead of a

pay his sala

tobacco.

II. And whereas it is represented to this present General Assembly, as well by the minister, church-wardens, and vestry, as by divers other inhabitants of the said parish of Elizabeth-River, that although by the said above mentioned act the glebe of the said parish, as it formerly stood entire and undivided, was directed to be sold, and the money arising from the sale thereof to be divided between the three new parishes, in proportion to their respective number of tithables, to be applied towards purchasing glebes for the said parishes; yet, nevertheless, that the share of that money due to the said parish of Elizabeth-River is not near sufficient for that purpose, and that the lands in the said parish are in general extremely poor and barren, though held at a high price, whereby they are prevented from purchasing a convenient glebe for their minister; and that it would be more convenient to the minister, and, considering the small extent of the parish, not inconvenient

to the inhabitants of the said parish, if the residence of their said minister was fixed in the said borough of Norfolk.

III. And whereas it is further represented that as the lands in the said parish are not fit for the cultivation of tobacco, a very inconsiderable quantity of that commodity has been raised for many years past, by which means the parishioners are often subject to most exorbitant exactions from the collectors of the parish levies, hitherto payable in tobacco, and that it would be a great ease to the inhabitants of the said parish if they were permitted to pay their minister's salary in money instead of tobacco, who is willing to accept of an annual salary of two hundred pounds current money in lieu of the salary established by law, and of any other benefits and advantages that he might receive and acquire by being provided with a glebe in the manner by law appointed, and they have made their humble petition to this General Assembly that an act may pass to enable them to purchase lots in the said borough of Norfolk, and to build convenient houses thereon for the reception and residence of their minister, and to levy the expense thereof on the inhabitants of the said parish, and also to pay their said minister's salary in money instead of tobacco.

IV. Be it therefore enacted, by the Lieutenant-Governour, Council and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, at the humble suit of the Minister, Vestry and Inhabitants, of the said parish, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the present vestry of the said parish of Elizabeth-River, and the vestry of the said parish for the time being, and they are hereby empowered and required, as soon as conveniently they can after the passing of this act, to purchase any number of convenient lots within the said borough of Norfolk, not exceeding four, and to cause the same to be conveyed to them, and their successours, by good and sufficient deeds of conveyance, In trust, to and for the use of the minister of the said parish for the time being, for ever; which lots when so purchased and conveyed shall be, and are hereby declared, to be vested in the present minister of the said parish, and his successours, in lieu of a glebe directed to be provided by the act passed in the twenty-second year of the reign of his late majesty king George the second, entitled, An Act for the sup

port of the Clergy, and for the regular collecting and paying the parish levies: And the said vestry are hereby also empowered and required to cause to be erected and built, on such of the said lots as they shall think proper, one convenient mansion house, and such other houses and improvements as are by the said last mentioned act directed to be built on the several glebes in this colony, and to levy the charge, as well of the said lots as of the buildings to be erected thereon, on the tithable persons of their said parish.

V. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That the vestry of the said parish for the time being shall, and they are hereby empowered and required, annually, at the laying of their parish levies, to levy and assess upon the tithable persons of their said parish a salary of two hundred pounds current money, which shall be paid to the minister of the said parish for the time being, in lieu of the salary of sixteen thousand pounds of tobacco and cask, now by law allowed, and also in lieu of all other advantages and benefits which the said minister might acquire from a glebe; which said salary of two hundred pounds shall be collected, levied and paid, at the same times, and in the same manner, as is by the said above mentioned act of Assembly directed and appointed for the collection and payment of the ministers salaries in this colony.

VI. Provided always, That the execution of this act shall be, and the same is hereby suspended, until his majesty's approbation thereof shall be obtained.

Road

through Rockfish, gap, over the moun

tains, to be opened.

CHAP. IV.

An act for opening and clearing a road through Rockfish Gap, over the Mountains.

I. WHEREAS it hath been represented to this present General Assembly that the opening and clearing a road over the mountains in the county of Augusta, at a place called the Rockfish gap, would be a great advantage to the inhabitants of that and the neighbouring counties, as it would be the most convenient passage for

extending their commerce to a considerable distance beyond those mountains; but that it cannot be effected in the manner prescribed by the laws of this colony for clearing of roads, and must be attended with more than ordinary expense:

II. Be it therefore enacted, by the Lieutenant-Gover→ nour, Council and Burgesses, of this present General· Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the court of the said county of Augusta, and they are hereby authorized and empowered, from time to time, as they shall think it necessary, to appoint proper persons to open and clear a road over the said mountains through the said gap, and to levy the expense thereof on the tithable inhabitants of the said county, at the time of their laying the county levy; so that such expenses shall not exceed the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds, which shall be levied and collected in the same manner as the other county levies, and paid to the persons entitled to the same.

CHAP. V.

An act for discontinuing the Warehouses on the south side of Nomony River, and establishing others at a more convenient Landing.

of Nomony,

rected on

I. WHEREAS it is represented to this present Ge- Warehouse, neral Assembly, by sundry inhabitants of the county of on south side Westmoreland, that the publick warehouse for the in- river disconspection of tobacco, as it is now established on the south tinued, and side of Nomony river, in the said county, is very incon- new one eveniently situated, as well with regard to the planters as land of Wilto the merchants trading with them for their tobacco; liam Flood. and that, as the said warehouse is at this time in a ruinous condition, a new one must of necessity be built in a short time, which may be placed on a much more commodious spot, lower down the river, on the land of William Flood, gentleman, the present proprietor of the said warehouse, who is also willing and desirous that such a removal may be made:

C-VOL. 8.

II. Be it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant Governour, Council and Burgesses, of this present General Ass sembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the first day of September next the warehouse at Nomony aforesaid shall be discontinued, and a new warehouse erected lower down the said river, near to the lower ferry, on the land of the said William Flood, and that it shall and may be lawful to and for the court of the said county of Westmoreland to order and direct the said William Flood, or the proprietor of the said land for the time being, to erect, build, and completely finish, by or before the said first day of September next, such and so many strong, close, and substantial houses, as shall be sufficient, in their opinion, conveniently to contain one half of the quantity of tobacco mentioned in the account of the inspectors of the present warehouse the last year, and to secure the said houses in the manner directed by an act of Assembly made in the first year of his present majesty, entitled, An Act for amending and further continuing the several acts of Assembly of this colony for amending the staple of tobacco, and preventing frauds in his majesty's customs; and the said court shall also take bond, with sufficient security, in a reasonable penalty, payable to his majesty, his heirs and successours, with condition for the due performance of such buildings.

swamp com

CHAP. VI.

An act to enable certain adventurers to drain a large tract of marshy grounds in the counties of Nansemond and Norfolk.

I. WHEREAS a number of gentlemen have lately Dismal formed themselves into a company of adventurers for pany author- the purpose of draining, and rendering fit for cultivaised to drain tion, a large tract of marshy ground, known by the name of the Great Dismal Swamp, lying in the counties of Nansemond and Norfolk, which if effected will be attended with publick utility; but as it may happen that in the prosecution of their undertaking they may

it.

« PreviousContinue »