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Chap. XV
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An Act for the Publication of Marriages, and to prevent un-
lawful Marriages.
Be it Enacted, by the Right Honourable the Lord Pro-
prietary, by and with the Advice and Consent of his Lord-
ship's Governor, and the Upper and Lower Houses of As-
sembly, and the Authority of the same, That all Persons who
desire Marriage, shall apply themselves to a Minister for the
contracting thereof, and shall cause due Publication to be
made, according to the Rubrick of the Church of England, of
their Intent to marry, at some Church or Chapel of Ease
belonging to the Parish wherein the Woman, so intended to be
married, shall be resident: And in case there be no Minister,
Curate or Reader in such Parish, an Advertisement or public
Notification of such intended Marriage, shall be set up at the
Court-House Door of the County where such Marriage shall
be intended, there to remain for the Space of Three Weeks at
the least, of which Advertisement put up as aforesaid, the
Clerk of the County Court, where such Advertisement shall
be so put up, shall make a Certificate under his Hand, and the
Seal of the County ; and that it shall and may be lawful after
such Publication, and Certificate thereof had, for any Min-
ister, duly qualified, to join together in Matrimony, any such
Persons so Published, according to the Liturgy of the Church
of England ; saving to the Minister of the respective Parishes,
where such Publication shall be made, their just Dues for such
Marriages.
II. And if any Person shall presume to contract Marriage,
without such Publication, and Certificate thereof had as afore-
said, or without particular Licence from the Governor, for
the Time being, do privately contract Marriage, every Man so
contracted or married, shall be liable to a Fine of Five Thou-
sand Pounds of Tobacco ; and every such Minister joining in
Marriage any Persons without Publication or Licence, or any
ways infringing this Act, shall be liable to a Fine of Five
Thousand Pounds of Tobacco ; one Half of the said Fines to
the Lord Proprietary, his Heirs and Successors, for the Sup-
port of Government of this Province, the other Half to the
Informer ; to be recovered in any Court of Record, by Action
of Debt, Bill, Plaint or Information, wherein no Essoin, Pro-
tection, or Wager of Law to be allowed.
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