288 Assembly Proceedings, March — April 1671.

P. R. O.

Colonial En-
try Book

No. 53

An Act Touching Coopers

fforasmuch as divers Complaints have bene made to the
delegates and deputies in this p^rsent Assembly assembled of
the many great abuses Comitted by the Severall Coopers
psons pretending to Sett vpp Tobacco Caske within this Pro-
vince who having agreed with Severall of the Inhabitants of
this Province for the Setting vpp of their Tobacco hogsheads
doe for the most part Either through Idlenes or willfulnes
neglect Refuse or delay to Sett vpp and ffinish the Quantity
of hghds and Tobacco Casks agreed to be Sett vpp and made
till very Late in the yeare and till shipping time is almost done
to the great p^riudice of the Planter and Inhabitants of this Pro-
vince As also to the great p^riudice of Merchants and Masters
of Shipps who are forced to stay in the Country a long Time
for their Tobaccoes which they cannot Receive though Ready
for want of Cask to pack the Same to the Retarding their
voyage and hindrance of trade for prevencon whereof for the
ffuture Bee it Enacted by the Right Hono^ble the Lord and
Proprietary of this Province by and with the Assent and Con-
sent of the vpper and Lower howses of this p^rsent Generall
Assembly and by the Authority of the Same That from and
After the Publicacon hereof any Cooper or Coopers p^rson or
p^rsons whatsoever within this Province th^t Shall agree with any
the Inhabitants of this Province and undertake with him or
them to Sett vpp or make his or their Tobacco hgds or Casks
Shall and are hereby Enioyned to make Sett vpp and ffinish
one halfe of the Said Tobacco hgds or Caske by the Tenth day
of October next and so by the Tenth day of October in any
yeare And the Said Cooper or Coopers Person or Persons Soe
agreeing and vndertaking to Sett vpp the Same Caske as
aforesaid Shall and are also hereby Enioyned to make Sett vpp
and ffinish the other moyty or halfe p^t of the Said Tobacco
hgds or Caske by or before the Tenth day of december next
coming or by or before the Tenth day of december in any
yeare And if any Cooper or Coopers Person or Persons
whatsoever within this Province Soe agreeing and vndertaking
the same as aforesaid shall wilfully or otherwise neglect or
Refuse to make Sett vpp Compleat and ffinish the Said To-
bacco hgds or Cask aforesaid and in Such pportion and by
Such Severall Times as aforesaid Shall forfeit and pay vnto the
pty or plies whose hgds or Caske he or they had agreed and
vndertaken to make Set vpp and ffinish as Aforesaid the Sume
of one hundred pounds of Tobacco for Every Tunn of Caske
or Tobacco hgds Soe Left att the Times aforesaid vnmade not
Sett vpp and vnfinished To be Recovered in the Severall and
Respective County Courts where the Said Partie or Parties