HENINGS STATUTES VOL. 13: 1789-1792
POTOWMACK RIVER
October 1790-15th Commonwealth, Chap. LVII, pp. 187-88.
An act to amend an act, intitled "An act for opening and extending the navigation of Patowmack river."
[Note: The act does not mention Maryland.]
Sect. 1. Whereas the time allowed by law for making and improving the navigation of Patowmack river, between the Great Falls and Cumberland, is found not sufficient
Sect. 2. Further time of three years allowed the Patowmack co. for making and improving the navigation of the river above the Great Falls.
Sect. 3. Terms on which shares not yet subscribed for may be taken up.
Sect. 4. Places at which the tolls are to be paid changed.
Sect. 5. President and directors of the co. are empowered to apply part of the capital and tolls as they judge necessary towards opening, improving and extending navigation on the branches of Patowmack river above Seneca.
Sect. 6. Persons not citizens of Va. may purchase non-subscribed shares in the co. but do not become citizens by doing so.
October 1791-16th Commonwealth, Chap. XXXIII, p. 274.
An act concerning the slopes in the mill dams on the south branch of Patowmack river.
[Note: The act does not mention Maryland, but the South Branch was not the Potomac itself, but a tributary.]
The courts of Hampshire, Hardy and Pendleton counties are from time to time appoint commissioners to examine the slopes made in the mill dams on the south branch of Patowmac river, and report to the said courts if they are constructed in such a manner to answer the purposes intended by the act intituled "An act for improving the navigation of the south branch of Patowmac river."
October 1791-16th Commonwealth, Chap. XXXIV, p. 275
An act to amend the act, intituled, "An act to amend the act, intituled, An act for opening and extending the navigation of Patowmac river."
[Note: The act does not mention Maryland.]
Sect. 1. Whereas last session the Assembly granted the Potomac Co. the right to open, extend and improve the navigation of the branches of the Patowmac river above Seneca, with the expectation that the company would proceed forthwith in improving the navigation of the said branches, the said grant shall be forfeited unless the company proceeds within twelve months in the opening and improving the navigation of the said branches.
Sect. 2. Persons not citizens of Va. can purchase the subscribed as well an non-subscribed shares of the Patowmac, but do not thereby become citizens.
APPAMATOX RIVER
October 1790-15th Commonwealth, Chap. XXXIV, p. 153
An act to amend the act intitled "An act for opening and extending the navigation of Appamatox river."
October 1792-17th Commonwealth, Chap. LIX, p.568.
An act to amend the act, intituled "An act for improving the Navigation of Appamattox river, from Broadway to Pocahuntas bridge."
October 1792-17th Commonwealth, Chap. LX, pp. 568-70.
An act to explain and amend an act for opening and extending the navigation of Appamattox river.
BANISTER RIVER
October 1791-16th Commonwealth, Chap. XXXIX, pp. 278-79.
An act for clearing Banister river.
BLACKWATER RIVER
October 1790-15th Commonwealth, Chap. LXVII, pp. 203-4.
An act for opening the navigation of Blackwater river, from Little Town on the said river, to Broadwater bridge.
(Amended Oct. 1791, Chap. XLIV, p. 285).
BRIDGES
Tolls bridges over various bridges authorized; none relevant to Potomac.
FERRIES
Several acts regarding. I have noted only those relative to the Potomac. None of the acts has a general clause establishing opposite ferries; the act of 1790 establishes some specific opposite ferries.
October 1789-14th Commonwealth, Chap. XXXVII, pp. 48-49.
An act for establishing several new ferries, and for erecting a Toll-Bridge.
Establishes and sets rates for several ferries, including "from the land of Luther Martin, in the county of Hampshire, across Patowmack river, at the confluence of the north and south branches thereof, to the opposite shore in the state of Maryland." Does not establish opposite ferries.
October 1790-15th Commonwealth, Chap. XXXIII, 151-52.
An act for establishing several new Ferries, and discontinuing one formerly established.
[Note: This is unusual; it is the first act where specific opposite ferries are established, and in only a few cases in this act itself are opposite ferries established. But the "south branch" does not refer to the Potomac itself, but to a tributary.]
Act establishes and sets rates for several new ferries, including "from the lands of Conrod Glaze in the county of Hampshire, across the south branch of Patowmack, to the land of George Glaze on the opposite shore, and from the land of the said George Glaze across the south branch to the land of Conrod Glaze.
October 1791-16th Commonwealth, Chap. XLIII, pp. 283-85.
An act to establish several new Ferries, and discontinue a former one.
Establishes and sets rates for several new ferries, including "from the land of Gustavus Scott, whereon Hawkins Stone liveth, in the county of Stafford, across Patowmac river, to the lands of Clement Kennedy, in the state of Maryland," and "from the land of Benjamin Edwards, at the mouth of Goose creek, in the county of Loudon, across Patowmac river, to the lands in the occupation of John Baptist Pierce, on the opposite shore, in the state of Maryland." This act does not establish any opposite ferries.
October 1792-17th Commonwealth, Chap. LVI, pp. 564-65.
An act for establishing several new ferries.
Establishes and sets rates for several new ferries, including "from the land of Edward M'Shan, in the county of Berkeley, across Patowmac river, to the iron works in the state of Maryland." Does not establish any opposite ferries.
JAMES RIVER
October 1790-15th Commonwealth, Chap. XXVI, p. 146.
An act to amend the act, intitled "An act for clearing and improving the Navigation of James river.["]
October 1790-15th Commonwealth, Chap. XLII, pp. 163-65.
An act to amend the act, intitled "An act for clearing and improving the navigation of James river."
October 1791-16th Commonwealth, Chap. XXVII, pp. 269-70.
An act for regulating the navigation of James River, above the falls of the said river.
Every person who shall be proprietor of any boat or other vessel, which shall be employed in navigating the water of James river and its branches above the great falls at Richmond, in the transportation of any produce or merchandise either grown or produced in Va., shall in the clerk's office of the county in which they live, enter the number of each boat or vessel so to be employed, which number, together with the names of the county and the proprietor, shall be written or painted on each side of the said vessel.
MATTAPONY RIVER
October 1791-16th Commonwealth, Chap. XLVI, pp. 286-88.
An act to amend the act for opening and improving the navigation of Mattapony river.
MILLS
No entry in Index.
PAMUNKEY
October 1789-14th Commonwealth, Chap. LV, pp. 73-76.
An act for opening and extending the Navigation of Pamunkey river.
PILOTS
October 1791-16th Commonwealth, Chap. XXV, pp. 267-68.
An act to amend the act concerning pilots.
Appoints additional examiners of pilots and divides pilots into three classes. Does not specify naval districts or on what rivers licensed pilots are to operate.
ROANOKE
October 1790-15th Commonwealth, Chap. LXI, pp. 193-94.
An act to amend the act, intitled "An act for clearing Roanoke river."
Sect. 1. Whereas extending the navigation of the river Roanoke from the Falls, upwards to the fork of Dan and Staunton rivers, and up the said rivers Staunton and Dan to the heads thereof, will be of great benefit and advantage . . .
Sect. 2. Appoints trustees "for clearing so much of the said rivers as shall be within this state . . ."
Sect. 3. Trustees empowered to contract and agree with persons "for clearing so much of the said rivers as shall be within this state. . ."
UNITED STATES
October 1789-14th Commonwealth, Chap. XXXII, pp. 43-44
An act for the cession of ten miles square, or any lesser quantity of territory within this state, to the United States, in Congress assembled, for the permanent seat of the general government.
Sect. 1. Whereas the equal and common benefits resulting from the administration of the general government will be best diffused, and it operations become more prompt and certain, by establishing such a situation for the seat of the said government, as will be most central and convenient to the citizens of the US . . . and whereas it appears to this Assembly, that a situation combining all the consideration and advantages before recited, may be had on the banks of the river Patowmack, above tide water . .
Be it therefore enacted, that a tract not exceeding ten miles square, or any lesser quantity, to be located within the limits of this state, and in any part thereof as Congress may by law direct, shall be, and the same is hereby for ever ceded and relinquished to the Congress and government of the United States, in full and absolute right, and exclusive jurisdiction as well of soil, as of persons, residing or to reside thereon, pursuant to the tenor and effect of art. 1, sec. 8 of the constitution.
Sect. 2. Reserved the rights of individuals to the soil.
Sect. 3. Jurisdiction of Va. over the territory does not cease until Congress has accepted the cession and provided a govt.
[This law makes no mention of the Potomac River.]
WAREHOUSES
There are several laws relating to; only those regarding the Potomac are noted.
October 1790-15th Commonwealth, Chap. XXXVI, pp. 155-56.
An act for establishing several inspections of tobacco, and finishing Trent's warehouses.
Inspections of tobacco shall be and are hereby established a the following places: . . . at the Great Falls of Patowmack in the county of Loudoun, to be called and known by the name of Great Falls warehouse.
October 1790-15th Commonwealth, Chap. XLIV, pp. 167-70.
An act to regulate the inspection of Hemp.
Establishes warehouses at Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Manchester and Petersburg . . . and "at the Great Falls in the county of Loudoun."
October 11792-17th Commonwealth, Chap. XVIII, pp. 479-517
An act for reducing into one, the several acts of Assembly, for the inspection of Tobacco.
Public warehouses are to be kept at several places, including "in the county of Fairfax, at Colchester, Alexandria, and the Falls of Patowmac," in Prince William Co. at Quantico, and in the county of Hampshire "at the confluence of the north and south branches of the river Patowmac."
October 1792-17th Commonwealth, Chap. XIX, pp. 517-524.
An act reducing into one, the several acts for regulating the inspection of Flour and Bread.
Inspectors to be appointed in several places, including Alexandria; does not actually mention warehouses.