Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1667-75. 119

travel either on Horse back or on foot over Patuxent River
about their Lawful Occasions and for that several Assemblies
have endeavoured to make a Law for the same but Could not
pitch upon a person that would willingly undertake the
same that Lived Convenient to perform it and Geo Beckwith
of Calvert County Gent living opposite to Point Patience
and being willing to undertake the same for a Reasonable
Allowance to be paid by each respective Person that hath
Occasion to make use thereof either for foot or Horse and we
being desirous to give the said Beckwith all reasonable En-
couragement to perform so publick and Beneficial an Under-
taking do by these presents Authorize and Empower the said
George Beckwith or his Assigns to keep ferry Boats for to
transport men and Horses either from Point Patience over the
said River of Patuxent to his own house or from his own house
over the said River to Point Patience aforesaid and to ask
demand receive and take for every Person he shall so trans-
port as aforesaid either Backwards or forwards over the said
River the Sum of twelve Pence and Also to ask demand re-
ceive and take for every Horse he shall so transport as afore-
said the like Sum of twelve pence to have hold and enjoy the
sole Priviledge of Keeping the said Ferry Boat for transporting
Persons or Horses over the said River as aforesaid during his
Natural Life and since between Point Patience and the said
Beckwiths is the most Convenient place in the said River for
the Keeping a ferry Boat we do hereby Order Command and
Enjoyn all other Persons whatsoever for private Gain or
otherwise to forbear to keep any ferry Boat or Boats for trans-
porting men or Horses over the said River either there or in
any other Place or Part of the said River upon pain and perill
that shall fall therein and also Provided that the said Beckwith
shall keep a sufficient Boat and man or men for the doing and
performing the same wind & weather Permitting and shall not
presume to exact or demand more of any Person then is here-
by allowed for transporting either them or their Horses over
the said River upon pain of forfeiting the License hereby

Liber A. M.
p. 112

Granted to him it being made Appear before the Justices of the
Provincial Court and also Provided that the said Beckwith or
his Assigns take special Care to examine Persons that they
know Not of their own certain knowledge to be freemen) that
so run away Servants may not be helped forwards by Reason
of the ferry Boat aforesaid and of this all Persons are to take
notice at their Perills Given under the Great Seal of the said
Province of Maryland the first day of March in the 41^st Year
our dominion over our said Province Annoq Dom 1672
Witness our dear Son Charles Calvert Esq^r our Captain
General and chief Governor of our said Province of Maryland

p. 113