302 Assembly Proceedings, Sept. 5-Oct. 3, 1704.

Lib. L. L.
No. 64.

An Act for the Confirming Titles of Land given to the use of
the Churches and Severall Chappells within this Province
Impowering the Comissioners of the respective Countys
and the Vestrys of the respective Parishes to take up Cer-
tain parcells of Land for the use of the same.

Whereas severall pious and well disposed persons have
given and granted Unto the respective Parishes whereto they
do belong Certain parcells of Ground for the use and benefitt
of a Church and Church-yard which said Land through the
neglect of the Vestrys who by an Act of Assembly of this
province made at a Sessions of Assembly held at the Port of
Annapolis the twentyeth day of July Anno Domini One
thousand six hundred ninety and Six Intituled An Act for the
Service of Allmighty God and establishment of the Protestant
Religion were Capacitated and Impowered by the names of
the principall Vestryman and the rest of his brethren Vestry-

p. 100

men of such parish to take and receive any Deed of Gift for
the same Notwithstanding the Charges of the respective
parishes in building Churches or Chappells thereon is like to be
lost or the Title thereunto very disputable for want of such Deed
of gift or Conveyance inrolled and recorded as by an Act of
Assembly is required the first Donors or grantors thereof
being dead and the heires of such Donors or Grantors either
refusing to make over such Land as aforesaid or under age
not capable of so doing.
Be it therefore 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 all such lands as have formerly
been given to the use of any Church or Chappell and for
which the Donors or Grantors thereof in their life times have
not made a deed of Gift for the same or otherwise refuse so to
do and in Confidence of whose promise the parish have been
at the Charge of erecting and building their Churches thereon
be and remaine to the use of the parish for ever against all
Claims and pretensions of Claims made or that hereafter shall
be made by such Donors or Grantors or his or their heires
Executors or Assigns as firmly and absolutely as if the same
had been made over by Deed of gift Grant or otherwise
inrolled and recorded as aforesaid.
And to the end it may be known what Lands have been so
given to the use of any Church or Chappie aforesaid and
made over and Confirmed by deed of gift or Grant as afore-
said The Grand Jury in each respective County within this
Province next after the publication of this Act shall have in
Charge to enquire by what Titles such lands whereupon the