LAWS OF MARYLAND—1722. 59
CHAPTER 8.
An ACT for preventing the destroying of Boundaries, or Bounded Trees,
and the Bounding of Trees, or setting up of Boundaries, without lawful
authority. |
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WHEREAS, it appears to this present general assembly, that
many abuses and prejudices have happened to many of the
inhabitants within this province, occasioned by private persons
taking upon themselves in a private manner, the bounding or
re-bounding of trees, whereon the bounds either of their own
lands, or any other adjacent lands, may have any dependence,
and also by the bounding of trees at random in the woods, the
multiplicity of which renders the true boundaries of lands very
precarious and uncertain, and likewise by the cutting down or
destroying of bounded trees, either of or upon their own lands,
or any others; for the remedy of which evils for the future, |
Preamble. |
SEC. 2. Be it enacted, by the right honourable the Lord Pro-
prietor, by and with the advice and consent of his lordship's
Governor, and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly of this
province, and the authority of the same. That from and after the
end of this present session of assembly, it shall not be lawful for
any person or persons whatsoever within this province, under
any pretence whatsoever, to cut down, or otherwise destroy, any
boundary or bounded trees, cither of his own lands, or of the
lands of any other person whatsoever, even although such
boundary or bounded trees should stand within the person's
own land so cutting down and destroying the same, under the
penalty of five thousand pounds of tobacco for every offence,
the one-half to the informer, or to him or them that shall sue
for the same, the other half to the use of free schools in the
county where the offence is committed. |
Penalty for
cutting
down boun-
daries, &c. |
SEC. 3. And be it also further enacted, That if any person or
persons whatsoever shall, without lawful authority, either at
random, or for their own pleasure, presume to bound any tree
or trees in the woods, or upon their own lands, or that shall
bound any tree or trees, or set up other boundaries for their
own or others land, in lieu and place of any original boundary
or bounded tree that is any way decayed or destroyed, without
first giving notice to all persons concerned in such boundaries
of the time and place proposed for setting up or making such
new boundary, or that upon the failure of the persons con-
cerned in such lands (upon notice, or when notice cannot be
given,) being present at the time and place appointed, shall not
take with him four substantial freeholders of his neighbour-
hood at the least, that may be present at the bounding such
tree or trees, or setting up such other boundary, shall forfeit for
every time he, she or they shall be convicted thereof, the sum of
five thousand pounds of tobacco, the one-half to the informer, |
On bound-
ing of trees,
&c. |
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