534 Assembly Proceedings, May 10-June 9, 1692.

Lib. L. L.
No. 1.
p. 195

An Act for encouragement of such
persons as will undertake to build Water-
Mills.

Dayly Experience shewing that the Want of Water mills is
the true cause that husbandry in tilling the Ground & for
sowing of wheat and Barly is but coldly prosecuted though
the advantage thereby in raising the stock of neat Cattle be
great and forasmuch as for the most part the places fitt for
setting up of Water mills are already in the hands of Persons
under age or unable to be at the charge of building a water
mill, or else such as are wilfully obstinate in forbidding and
hindring such psons as would purchase the said places fitt for
building water mills and set them up to the Encrease of our
Trade and Navigation much to the Publick damage of the
Province. Bee it Enacted by the King and Queens most excell^t
Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of this p^rsent
Generall Assembly and by the Authority of the same, That if
any person or persons from and after the tenth day of June
next Ensuing, shall desire to sett up a water mill upon any
land next adjoyning to any run of water within this Province,
not being the proper Possession or free hold of such person
or persons nor leased to them) to the intent thereon to sett a
water mill they shall purchase a Writt out of their Maj^ts Court

p. 196

of Chancery directed to the Sherriff of the County where such
Land lyeth requiring him by the Oaths of Twelve men of his
County to enquire what damage it would be to their Majesties
or others to have a Mill set up in such place as aforesaid, the
form of which writt followeth Viz. William and Mary by the
Grace of God of England Scotld France and Ireland King and
Queen defenders of the Faith &c. To the Sherriff of A. B
County Greeting Wee Command you that by the Oath of
Twelve honest & lawfull men of the County by whom the
truth of the Matter may be better known diligently to enquire
if it be to the damage of us or others, if we grant to N: N: of
N. County twenty Acres of Land lying at N: in the County
aforesaid Viz. Tenn Acres on one side of such run and Ten
Acres on the other side of such runn of Water togeth^r with
the liberty to take sell Cutt down and carry away either by
Land or Water, any wood or Timber fitt for building a Mill
other then Timber fit to splitt into Clap board upon any the
Lands next adjoyning to the said twenty Acres of Land lying
on each side of the run of Water at N: N: aforesaid in the
County aforesaid, And if it be to the damage or prejudice of
us or others then to what damage and what prejudice of us
and to what damage and prejudice of others and of whom

p. 197

and in what manner and how and of who or of whom