defect and to cause them to be collected accompted for and paid as aforesaid Province of the Massachusetts-Bay An Act For the Granting to Their Majesties an Assessment upon Polls and Estates WE Their Majesties Loyal and Dutiful Subjects the Representatives of Their Majesties Province of the Massachusets-Bay in New-England Convened in General Assembly being sensible of the Necessity of Raising Moneys for the Defence of Their Majesties Subject and Interests and Prosecution of the War against their French and Indian Enemies and for the Defraying of other the Publick Charges of the Province Do Unammously and Chearfully grant unto Their Most Excellent Majesties their Heirs and Successors to the End and Intents aforesaid a Rate or fax to be Assessed upon the Free-holders Inhabitants and other Their Majesties Subjects Resident within the said Province in manner as is hereafter after 〈◊〉 be paid in Mony or to the Satisfaction of the Treasurer And Pray that it may be Enacted And be it accordingly Enacted By the Governour Council and Representatives Convened in General Assembly And it is Enacted and Ordained by the Authority of the same That the Treasurer do forthwith send forth his Warrants to the 〈◊〉 Men of each Town within this Province requiring the said Select Men to Cause the Inhabitants of such Town to meet together some time in the Month of July next who being so Assembled are Required to Choose one of their Free-holders to be a Commissioner for said Town which Commissioner together with the Select-Men within the Month of August following shall make a true List of all the Male Persons in the said Town from sixteen Years Old and Upwards and a true Estimation of the Just Yearly Vaine and Income so near as they can by all lawful means which they may use of all Estates Real and Personal being or reputed to be the Estate of all and every the Persons in the same Town or under their Custody or Management All which Persons and Estates are by the said Commissioner and Select-Men to be Taxed and Assessed as followeth viz. Every Person aforesaid at Ten Shillings by the Poll except the Members of the Council Settled Ministers and Grammar School-Masters and others Devoted to the Ministry and Students or the Colledge and all Houses Lands Stock Goods and Merchandizes and Estates whatever Real and Personal at a quarter part of one years Value or Income thereof All persons who through Age or Infirmity are unable to manage their Affairs are to be free of the Poll-Tax at the discretion of the Select-Men And it is further Enacted That the Commissioner of each Town upon the First Wednesday of September next shall carry the Lists of said Town unto the Shire Town within the same County where the Commissioners of the several Towns shall meet together to Peruse Examine Correct and Perfect the said Lists which Lists so Examined Perfected and Signed by the major part of the said Commissioners so met shall by one of the said Commissioners whom the rest shall appoint thereto be forthwith Transmitted unto the Treasurer with upon the Receipe thereof shall Issue forth his Warrants to the Constables of the Respective Towns to Collect the Sum Total of each List upon the Inhabitant of such Towns according to their respective proportion And in case any person or persons shall neglect or refuse to make payment of the Sum or Sums so Assessed upon them then to Levy the same by 〈◊〉 and Sale of Goods of such person or persons so neglecting of refusing returning the Over-plus if any be And the Constables are to pay in unto the Treasurer the one half of the said Tax at or before the Twenty Fifth of December next and the other Half at or before the First Day of May following and make up their Accompts with the said Preasurer by the first of June next on pain of Forfeiting Ten Pounds in Mony unto Their Majesties for the Support of the Government As also to pay all Arrears of Said Assessments The Said TEN POUND Forfeiture And Arrears to be Sued for and Recovered by the Treasurer in the Inferiour Court of Pleas in the County where such Constable lives by Bill Plaint Action or Information Provided also that where Persons who are not Settled Inhabitants and their Estates being Rated yet are removed and gone before the same can be Collected it shall be abated to the Constable that was to Collect the same Certificate thereof being given by the Select-Men And it is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That this Act for the granting to Their Majesties an Assessment upon Polls and Estates shall continue in Force only for this present Levy and no longer Any thing to the contrary notwithstanding Province of the MASSACHVSETS-BAY An Act For Impost Excise and Tonnage of Shipping WE Their Majesties most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects the Representatives of this their Majesties Province Convened in General Assembly being duely sensible of the great Charges and Expences which have already arisen and must necessarily be Daily Growing and Increasing in Defending and Securing of Their Majesties Subjects and Interests and in the Prosecuting of the War against their French and Indian Enemies have Chearfully and Vnanimously Given and Granted and do hereby Give and Grant unto their most Excellent Majesties Their Heirs and Successours to the End and Intent aforesaid and for the Defraying of other the neccessary and Contingent Charges in and about the Support of the Government of this their Majesties Province the several Duties Impost and Excise on the Wines Liquours and Goods hereafter mentioned And humbly beseech their Majesties to accept the same And that it may be Enacted and be it Enacted By the Governour Council and Representatives in General Court Assembled And it is hereby Enacted and Ordained By the Authority of the Same That from and after the twenty ninth Day of this Instant June In the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety and Two there shall be paid by the Importer for all Wines or Liquours and Goods hereafter specifyed that shall be Imported into this Province the Rates hereafter mentioned That is to say for every Pipe of common Fyall Wine th summe of one Pound Every Pipe of Passada wine one Pound Fifteen Shillings Every Pipe of Madera Wine one Pound Ten Shillings Every Pipe of Canary Mallage Sherry Wines Two Pounds Every Pipe of Port Wine one Pound Five Shillings and so Proportionably for greater or lesser quantities and for every Gallen of Rum or other Spirits Imported as aforesaid Six pence All which Imposts as aforesaid shall be paid in Currant Money of this Province the one half at or before the Landing thereof the other half to be allowed three Month's for payment Provided there be Bond and Security given to the Commissioners appointed by this Act or such as they shall appoint for the payment thereof at time as aforesaid And it is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every Merchant or other Person
Several ACTS AND LAWS Passed by the Great and General Court or Assembly of Their Majesties Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in NEW ENGLAND Convened and Held at Boston the Eighth Day of June 1692 Anno Regni Gulielmi et Mariae Regis et Reginae Angliae Scotiae Franciae et Hiberniae Quarto BOSTON Printed by Benjamin Harris Printer to His Excellency the Governour and Council 1692. Province of the MASSACHVSETS-BAY An Act For Continuing the Local Laws to Stand in Force till November the 10th 1692. BE it Ordered and Enacted By the Governour Council and Representatives Convened in General Assembly and it is hereby Ordered and Enacted By the Authority of the Same That all the Local Laws Respectively Ordered and Made by the Late Governour and Company of the Massachusets-Bay and the Late Government of New Plymouth being not Repugnant to the Laws of England nor Inconsistent with the Present Constitution and Settlemtent by Their Majesties Royal Charter Do Remain and Continue in Full Force in the Respective Places for which they were Made and Used until the Tenth Day of November Next Except in Cases where other Provision is or shall be made by this Court or Assembly And all Persons are Required to conform themselves accordingly And the several Justices are hereby Impowred to the Execution of Said Laws as the Magistrates formerly were Province of the Massachusetts-Bay An Act For Enforcing the Collecting and Paying in the Arrears of Publick Assessments c. WHereas by the Late Governments within the Colonies of the Massachusets and New-Plimouth now by Their Majesties ROYAL CHARTER United and Incorporated Several Publick Taxes and Assessments have respectively been granted for the Security and Defence of Their Majesties Subjects and Interests and the Defraying of the Publick Charges arising by the War with Their Majesties Enemies French and Indians since the First Day of October ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY NINE And have been committed unto the Constables or other Persons appointed Collectors within the Respective Towns and Villages to Collect and Gather in the Time prefixed for paying in of the same unto the Treasurers or Receivers respectively appointed in the said Colonies being some time since past and a considerable part of every of the said Assessments being behind Uncollected of at least not paid in unto the said Treasurers or Receivers and the Country being Indebted unto several particular Persons for Service done And others who have advanced Moneys for carrying on and defraying of the Charges arising by the War upon the Credit of said Assessments BE if therefore Ordered and Enacted By the Governour Council and Representatives Convened in General Assembly And it is hereby Ordered and Enacted By the Authority of the same That all and every Constable and Constables or other Collectors within the Respective Towns and Villages within this Province who at any time since the said first day of October One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Nine have had any of the Publick Assessments granted as aforesaid committed unto them or any of them to Collect and Pay in as aforesaid who have not perfected their said Collections and adjusted and issued their Accounts thereof with the Respective Treasurers as by Order of Court or Warrant they are Directed Be and are hereby fully Authorized and Impowred to Collect and Gather in the Arrearges of all such Publick Taxes and Assessments And to do and Execute therein all and whatsoever shall or may be needful for the Effectual Pursuing of the Same as by Order or Warrant they might at any time heretofore have Lawfully done by such Rules Methods and Directions of Law as have lately been used and in Force The Dismissing of any such Person or Persons from his or their Office of Constable or any alteration of the Goverment since made notwithstanding And all and every such Constables or Collectors are likewise Enjoyned and Required to Make up Settle and Adjust their Accompts Payments of all Publick Assessments committed unto them as aforesaid with the Respective Treasurers or Receivers as Per Order or Warrant they are Directed on or before the first Day of November next after the Date hereof And in case any Constable or Collector shall Neglect and Fail of performing his Duty in this behalf That then the Sheriff of the County by Warrant from the Treasurer shall Levy all such Arrears by Distress Sale of Goods of such defective Constable or Collector Returning the Overplus if any be And if no Goods can be found then to take the Body of such Constable or Collector and Commit him to Prison And all such Constables or Collectors where the Defect doth not happen through their own Default shall be Relieved by the Town and the Select men are to make due provision for the same Province of the MASSACHVSETS-BAY An Act For Collecting the Arrears of Town and Country Rates WHereas several Taxes or Assessments necessary for the Support of the Ministy and other Publick Charges arising in the several Counties and Towns within this Province have been laid upon the Inhabitants and Orderly committed to the Constables or Collectors by the Select men or Assessors in the several Towns since the first Day of May in the Year One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty and Nine and in many places remains uncollected and unpaid in whole or in part Be it therefore Ordered and Enacted By His Excellency the Governour Council and Representatives in General Assembly and by the Authority of the same it is Enacted That all such Constables and Collectors be Authorized and Required and are hereby Authorized and Required to Collect all such Rates or Assessments so committed to him or them that remain yet Uncollected and to pay the same unto the County Treasurer in each County Respectively or Select Men in being in each Town Respectively where they were made and to be improved to the use or uses for the which they were granted and to finish their Accompts with them at or before the Tenth Day of December next ensuing on Penalty of Forty Shillings Per Month for every Month's default after the said Tenth Day of December to be recovered by the County Treasurer or Select Men Respectively of any such Defective Constables or Collectors at any Court of Pleas in the same county And where any Constables or Collectors are Dead or Removed and the Assessments committed to them remain Uncollected or any part thereof the Select Men are Impowred Required to depute meet persons to Collect the same and the persons so deputed are required to Collect what so remains and to pay the same accordingly And it is further ORDERED that in any County Town or Towns where such Tax or Taxes have been agreed on since the said first Day of May and not Assessed upon the Inhabitants the Select Men of the several Towns are hereby Required forthwith to make such Rates or Assessments and commit them with Warrant to their Constables on the like Penalty of Forty Shillings Money for every Month's
and Vessels Trading to this place from Abroad excepting Connecticut Rhode-Island Narraganset and New-Hampshire viz. Two Shillings Entring and Two Shilling Clearing 00 4 00 Examining and Recording Certificates that Bonds are given acording to the Act of Navigation Two Shillings 00 2 00 A Bond given according to the Act of Navigation and for the Copying of the same to be Transmitted for England Three Shillings 00 3 00 A Certificate of the Lading Two Shillings 00 2 00 For Entring and Clearing all Vessels Trading to and from Connecticut Rhode-Island Narraganset and New-Hampshioe Five Shillings per Year or Twelve-pence each Voy age at the Masters Choice 00 1 00 A Certificate for Vessels Lading of Goods carried in them from Port to Port within the Province One Shilling 00 1 00 A Certificate for Goods of the Growth of Europe carried out of the Province to other Plantations Two Shillings 00 2 00 For every Oath Administred Six-pence 00 00 6 And the said Naval Officer is hereby Impowred to Administer the Oaths required by said Act of Parliament Province of the Massachusets-Bay An Act For Making the Former Bills of Credit to Pass Currant in Future Payments WHereas Their Majesties Affairs within this Province do require a speedy advance for the Defence of the Province and the Prosecution of the War against Their French and Indian Enemies and there being no Stock at present in the Treasury to supply the same or to defray other the Necessary Charges for Support of the Government Be it therefore Ordained and Enacted By the Governour Council and Representatives Convened in General Assembly And it is Enacted by the Authority of the same That all Bills of Public Credit issued forth by Order of the General Court of the late Colony of the Massachusets-Bay shall pass Currant within this Province in all Payments Equivalent to Money for the sum in each Bill respectively mentioned excepting all Specialties and Contracts made before Publication hereof and in all Publick payments at Five Per Cent advance And for Encouragement to such Person or Persons as are Possessors of said Bills to lend them for the Service of the Publick It is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That they and every of them who shall so do be secured by the Publick Taxes and other Revenues arising within this Province already Granted and shall be reimburst and paid in money within the space of Twelve Moneths out of the said Taxes and Revenues such sum and summs as he or they shall Respectively so lend and deliver unto the Treasurer of this Their Majesties Province in Bills as aforesaid to be made to appear by Receipt Provided that such of said Bills and no other as shall be Indorsed by Capt. Jeremiah Dummer and Mr. Francis Burroughs shall be accounted Currant Excepting for payment of those Rates that were Granted before the Arrival of His Excellency the Govenour And the said Capt. Jeremiah Dummer and Mr. Francis Burroughs are hereby appointed to Receive in all Bills which any Person or Persons shall lend as aforesaid and deliver the same to the Treasurer Provided also that all Persons who shall lend their Bills as aforesaid shall have Credit for all Summs which they shall have to pay in all publick payments whatsoever being Bona Fide for their own account to be allowed them by discount upon a Note from the Treasurer Province of the Massachusets-Bay An Act For Transporting of part of the Militia of the Province Or Obliging Them to March to the Relief of the Neighbouring Provinces or Colonies FOrasmuch as in this time of War there may be Occasion for the Raising of Souldiers and Transporting or Marching of them out of the Limits of this Province into the Neighbouring Provinces and Colonies of New Hampshire Rhode Island Connecticut Narragansett or New York for the prosecution of the French or Indian Enemy and the Defence of Their Majesties Subjects and Intrests Be it Enacted and Ordained by the Governour Council and Representatives Convened in General Court And it is Enacted By the Authority of the same That in the Vacancy of the General Assembly it shall be in the Liberty of His Excellency the present Governour by and with the advice and consent of the Council to Raise and Transport such part of the Militia of this Province as they shall find needful or Oblige them to March into any of the before-named Provinces or Colonies for the ends aforesaid at any Time or Times within the Space of Six months next and at no time afterward without their Free and Voluntary consent or the consent of the Great and General Court or Assembly any thing in this present Act contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding Province of the Massachusetts-Bay An Act For the Holding of Courts of Justice FOrasmuch as the orderly Regulation and Well-Establishment of Courts of Justice is of great Concernment And the Publick Occasions with reference to the War and otherwise being so Pressing at this Season that this Court cannot now conveniently Sit longer to Advise upon and fully Settle the same But to the Intent that Justice be not Obstructed or Delayed Be it Ordained and Enacted by the Governour Council and Representatives Convened in General Assembly and it is Ordained by the Authority of the same That on or before the last Tuesday of July next there be a General Sessions of the Peace Held and Kept in each Respective County within this Province by the Justices of the same County or three of them at the least the first Justice of the Quorum then present to Preside who are hereby Impowred to Hear and Determine all Matters Relating to the Conservation of the Peace and whatsoever is by them Cognizable according to Law And to Grant Licenses to such Persons within the same County being first approved of by the Select-Men of each Town where such Persons Dwell whom they shall think fit to be Employed as Inholders or Retailers of Wines or strong Liquors And that a Sessions of the Peace be successively Held and Kept as aforesaid within the several Counties at the same times and places as the County Courts or Inferior Courts of Common Pleas are herein after appointed to be Kept And it is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the County Courts or Inferior Courts of Common-Pleas be Held and Kept in each Respective County by the Justices of the same County or three of them at the least the first Justice of the Quorum then present to Preside at the same times and Places they have been formerly Kept according to Law for the Hearing and Determining of all Civil Actions arising or happening within the same Triable at the Common Law according to former Usage The Justices for Holding and Keeping of the said Court within the County of Suffolk to be particularly appointed and Commissioned by the Governour with the Advice and Consent of the Council And that all Writts or Attachments shall Issue out of the Clerks Office of the said several Courts Signed by the Clerk of such Court directed unto the Sheriff of the County his Under-Sheriff or Deputy The Jurors to Serve at said Courts to be Chosen according to former Custome by and of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants qualified as is directed in Their Majesties Royal Charter This Act to Continue untill other provision be made by the GENERAL COURT or ASSEMBLY FINIS