228 Assembly Proceeding s, Sept. 5-Oct. 3, 1704.

Lib. L. L.
No. 64.

This Act to continue for three years or to the end of the next
Generall Assembly which shall first happen.

September 29^th 1704 September 29^th 1704
Read and assented to by Read and assented by her
the house of Delegates. Majestys honourable Councill
W. Taylard Clk. W Bladen Cl Concil
house Del.

Maryland Octob 3^d 1704

On behalf of her Majesty &c I will this be a law.
Jo : Seymour

An Act for the encouragement of such persons as will under-
take to build Watermills.

Dayly Experience sheweth that the want of Watermills is
the true Cause that Husbandry in tilling the Ground & for
Sowing of wheat and barley is but coldly prosecuted tho the
Advantage thereby in raising the Stock of neat Cattle be
great and for as much as most part of the places fitt for Setting

P. 11

up of Watermills are already in the hands of persons under
age or unable to be at the Charge of building a Watermill or
else such as are wilfully obstinate in forbidding and hindring
such persons as would purchase the said places fitt for building
Watermills and sett them up to the encrease of our trade and
Navigation much to the publiq Damage of the province.
Be it enacted by the Queens most excellent Majesty by and
with the Advice and Consent of her Majestys Governour
Councill and Assembly of this Province and the Authority of
the same that if any person or persons from and after the pub-
lication hereof shall desire to sett up a Watermill upon any
Land next adjoyning to any Runn of Water within this Prov-
ince not being the proper possession or ffreehold of such per-
son or persons nor leas'd to them to the Intent thereon to sett a
Watermill they shall purchase a Writt out of Chancery directed
to the sheriff of the County where such land lyeth requiring
him by the Oath of twelve men of his County to enquire what
damage it would be to her Majesty or others to have a Mill
sett up in such place as aforesaid The fform of which writt
followeth viz. Anne by the Grace of God of England Scot-
land France and Ireland Queen Defender of the ffaith &c To
the Sheriff of A. County Greeting Wee Comand you that by
the oaths of twelve Honest and lawfull men of the County by
whom the truth of the Matter may be better known You dili-