146 Assembly Proceedings, July 7-29, 1740.

Session
Laws
Duration of
the Act.

This Act to continue for Three Years next ensuing, and to the end
of the next Sessions of Assembly that shall happen after the said
Three Years.

Chapter XII

An Act for the Relief of Samuel Deavor a languishing Prisoner in
Ann-Arundel County Goal, Michael Taylor a languishing Pris-
oner in Prince George's County Goal, William Burros a languish-
ing Prisoner in Kent County Goal, James Carter a languishing
Prisoner in Cecil County Goal, Sarah Butcher a languishing Pris-
oner in Dorchester County Goal, and William Biggs a languish-
ing Prisoner in St. Mary's County Goal.

Preamble.

Whereas the said Samuel Deavor, Michael Taylor, William
Burros, James Carter, Sarah Butcher, and William Biggs, by their
humble Petition to this present General Assembly, have set forth,
that they have continued Prisoners for Debt in the Custody of the
several Sheriffs aforesaid, and still continue in the like deplorable
Circumstances, and not being able to redeem their Bodies with all
the Estate or Interest that they have in the World, which they would
readily deliver up and part with to their several and respective Credi-
tors, if they would accept of the same and grant the said Petitioners
their Liberty, which seems so unlikely for them to obtain, that unless
relieved by a particular Act Paffed in their Favour, which by their
said Petition they have humbly prayed, they must inevitably con-
tinue Prisoners for Life. And for that the Truth of the said Peti-
tioner's Allegations are made appear to this present General Assem-
bly by sufficient Testimonies, and that the said Petitioners are fit
objects of Charity, and that their lying in Goal can be no Benefit to
their Creditors, it is humbly prayed that the said Petitioners may

p. 20

be Relieved according to their Prayers, and that it may be Enacted,

Creditors
to go to the
Sheriffs in
20 Days,
and give
security for
the Fees, &c.

And be it Enacted by the Right Honourable the Lord Proprietary,
by and with the Advice and Consent of his Lordship's Governor, and
the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly and the Authority of the
same, That unless all or any of the Creditor or Creditors of the said
Samuel Deavor, Michael Taylor, William Burros, James Carter,
Sarah Butcher and William Biggs, or the Attorney of such Credi-
tors aforesaid within this Province, shall within Twenty Days after
this Session of Assembly go to the Sheriffs of the aforesaid Coun-
ties of Ann-Arundel, Prince George's, Kent, Cecil, Dorchester, and
St. Mary's, and give good Security to pay the Imprisonment Fees
the Sum of Ten Pounds of Tobacco per Day, that shall or may
become due from the said Samuel Deavor, Michael Taylor, William
Burros, James Carter, Sarah Butcher and William Biggs, after
the end of the said Twenty Days, and also find the said Samuel
Deavor, Michael Taylor, William Burros, James Carter, Sarah
Butcher and William Biggs, sufficient Meat, Drink and Cloathing,
during their future Imprisonment; and in case they the said Samuel