HENINGS STATUTES VOL. 9: 1775-1778

VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION May 1776

Art. XXI (p. 118)

"The territories contained within the charters erecting the colonies Maryland, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina, are hereby ceded, released, and for ever confirmed to the people of those colonies respectively, with all the rights of property, jurisdiction, and government, and all other rights whatsoever which might at any time heretofore have been claimed by Virginia, except the free navigation and use of the rivers Potowmack and Pohomoke, with the property of the Virginia shores or strands bordering on either of the said rivers, and all improvements which have been or shall be made thereon."

POTOWMACK

This is the only thing under Potomac.

Oct. 1776-1st Commonwealth, Chap. XXXIII, pp. 235-36

An act to establish publick storehouses, at the had of Potowmack creek, for the reception of naval stores.

At Cave's warehouse, in Stafford Co.

BRIDGES

An act authorizing toll bridges over Nottoway River; nothing else.

FERRIES

Several acts regarding; the general clause regarding the establishment of opposite ferries is dropped from the legislation after 1776.

Oct. 1776-1st Commonwealth, Chap. XXXII, pp. 233-35.

An act for establishing several new ferries, and for discontinuing a former ferry.

Establishes and sets rates for ferries on the Dan, Fluvannah, Monongehela and Rappahannock rivers. Authorizes county courts to appoint opposite ferries with same rates.

May 1777-1st Commonwealth, Chap. XXX, pp. 334-35.

An act to establish several new ferries and for discontinuing others.

Establishes and sets rates for ferries over the Rockfish, Fluvannah, and Banister rivers; discontinues ones on the Fluvanna and Dan. Does not mention establishment of opposite ferries.

Oct. 1778-3d Commonwealth, Chap. XIX, pp. 546-47.

An act for establishing several new ferries, and other purposes.

Establishes and sets rates for ferries including "from the land of Abraham Shepherd, in the county of Berkeley, over Potowmack river, to the land of Thomas Swearingen in the state of Maryland;" also one over the Monongalia River.

This act does not mention the establishment of opposite ferries.

Oct. 1778-3d Commonwealth, Chap. XLIV, pp. 585-88.

An act for establishing several new ferries, discontinuing a former one, and for other purposes.

Establishes and sets rates for ferries including "from the land of the earl of Tankerville, in the county of Loudoun, (at present in the tenure of Christian Slimmer) across Potowmack river to the opposite shore in Maryland," and from "the land of Thomas Noland, in the county of Loudoun, across Potowmack river to the land of Arthur Nelson in the state of Maryland;" also ferries over the Staunton, Fluvanna, and Dan rivers. Discontinues a ferry in Loudoun co. from the land of Josias Clapham across Potomac.

Does not mention the establishment of opposite ferries.

MILLS

October 1778-3d Commonwealth, Chap. XXXIX, p. 579

An act to repeal the act intituled An act to oblige the owners of Mills on the river Rappidan to make openings or slopes in their mill dams for the passage of fish.

PILOTAGE

This is the only act concerning pilots; it does not mention any rivers by name.

May 1778-2nd Commonwealth, Chap. XIX, p. 470.

An act vesting powers in the Commissioners of the Navy for varying the rates of Pilotage according to the exigencies of times.

WAREHOUSES

There are some other laws regarding establishment or discontinuance of specific warehouses (none on Potomac); these are the general laws:

Oct. 1776-1st Commonwealth, Chap. I, pp. 153-63.

An Act for reviving several publick warehouses for the reception of Tobacco, and other purposes.

This act revives an Act for amending the staple of tobacco which expired Oct. 1, 1775 and warehouses are to be "revived or established" at several places, including in Fairfax co. at the falls of Potowmack. Others may be on the Potomac as well; it lists them by name and county, but does not give the river where located. Act establishes rules, rents, appointment of inspectors and so forth.

Act in force for one year and from thence to end of the next session of assembly.

Oct. 1778-3d Commonwealth, Chap. X, pp. 482-521.

An act for reviving several Publick Warehouses for the inspection of Tobacco.

General law regarding tobacco inspection. Lists where warehouses are to be kept, again by name and county, not by river; one is in Fairfax Co. "at the falls of Potowmack."