U. H.

Journal

1659-69

442 Assembly Proceedings, April 1662.

howse of this p^rsent Generall Assembly That every such
Mother of a Bastard Child not able sufficiently to prove the
party charged to be the Begetter of such Child In every such
case the mother of such Child shall only be lyable to sattisfye
the Damage soe Susteyned by Servitude or otherwise as the
Court before whome such matter is brought shall see Con-
venient.
Provided That where the mother of any such Child as afore-
said shall be able to proue her charge either by sufficient
Testimony of Wittnesses Confession or pregnant Circumstance
agreeing with her Declaracon in the Extremity of her paynes
and Throwes of Travaile, or her oathe taken by some Magis-
trate, then the party charged if a Servant to sattisfye halfe the
said Damage, if a Freeman then the whole damage by Servi-
tude or otherwise as the Court before whome such matter is
brought as aforesaid shall thinke fitt
And if any such mother as aforesaid be able to prove by
such Testimony or Confession that the party charged being a
Single person and a Freeman did before the begetting of such
Child promise her Marryage that then he shall performe his
promise to her or Recompence the Abuse as the Co^rt before
whome such matter is brought shall see convenient the Quallity
and Condicon of the persons Considered. This Acte to endure
for three yeares or to the End of the next Generall Assembly

The lower howse haue The vpper howse haue
Assented Assented
W^m Bretton Clk. John Gittings Clre.

p. 138

An Acte for the Publicacon of
Marryages.

Be it Enacted by the Lord Proprietary by and with the Con-
sent of the Vpper and Lower howse of this Generall Assembly
That all persons who shall desire marryage haue liberty to
applye themselues either to a Minister or Pastor or Magistrate
for the Contracting thereof And be it further Enacted by the
authority aforesaid that all persons within this Province intend-
ing marryage shall make Publicacon thereof either at the
Church or Chappell next where they dwell County Court or

Meeting howse And that at such tymes as such Church

Chappell Co^rt or Meeting howse be full and thereby capable
to take Cognizance thereof And that it shall and may be
Lawfull vpon Certifficatt had from the Minister Pastor or County
Court where such Publicacon shall haue been made (three
weekes after the said Publicacon) for either Minister Pastor or
Magistrate to joyne in marryage such persons as aforesaid.