Assembly Proceedings, May 10-June 9, 1692. 553

afores^d unmade not sett up and unfinished to be recovered in
the Severall County Courts where the said party or Partys
Cooper or Coopers do at that time dwell or reside unless the
Cooper or Coopers person or persons agreeing or under-
taking the said work or Task aforesaid shall or can before the
Comission^rs of such County Courts make it Sufficiently appear
that he was hindred in performing his said Agreement or
undertaking by sickness or some other lawfull Impediment to
be adjudged and Approved of by the Commissioners of the
said Severall County Courts And for the prevention of the

Lib. L L.
No. 1.

unreasonable great Tare of Tobacco hogsheads of very ill con-
sequence and damage of the Merchants and others Traders
here within this Province, and also to avoid the many Inconve-
niencies of too weighty and unseasoned Cask Be it also
Enacted by the Authority aforesaid by and with the advice
and consent aforesaid, That from and after Publication hereof,
All Merchants Traders Planters overseers and other Inhabit-
ants of this Province making any Crops of Tobacco, shall pro-
vide and cause to be fallⁿ and saw'd by the last day of Aprill
at furthest in every year respectively all such Timb^r as be
intended or allotted for making Tobacco hogsheads to the end
the same may be well seasoned under the penalty of one hun-
dred pounds of Tobacco forfeiture for every hogsh^d he or they
shall have sett up or made of any oth^r Timber then what shall
be seasoned as aforesaid, one half to Our Soveraign Lord and
Lady the King and Queen their heirs or Successors for the
Support of this Government, the other half to him or them
that shall sue for the same in any Court of Record within this
Province wherein no Essoine protection or wager of Law to
be allowed. And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid by
and w^th the advice and consent aforesaid, That from and after
the Publication hereof no Tobacco Hogshead or Cask for
Tobacco shall be sett up or made by any Cooper or Coopers

p. 233

whatsoever of any other Timber than what is herein before
Provided, and the same to hewn and riven into Staves and
heading by the last day of July in every year respectively, And
when sett up and finished not to weigh above ninety pounds
p hh^d under the penalty of one hundred pounds of Tobacco
for every hh^d that shall from and after the Publication hereof
hereafter be sett up of any other Tymber that shall be so
fallen and hewen or rived as aforesaid, or shall when set up or
finished exceed the Weight of ninety pounds as afores^d to be
paid by such Cooper or Coopers as shall be sett up or make
any such Cask or Casks, to be recov^rd in the County Courts
where the Offence shall be Comitted The one half to Our Sov-
eraign Lord and Lady the King and Queen their Heirs or
Successors for the Support of this Government, The other half

p. 234