ACT OF THE ASSEMBLY PASSED IN
DECEMBER 1754

At a Session of Assembly begun and held at the City of Annapo-
lis the 12^th Day of December in the fourth year of the Proprietary
of the Provinces of Maryland and Avalon Lord Baron of Baltimore
&c^a Annoqj Dom 1754 and Ending the 24^th Day of the same Month.
The following Laws were Enacted and Assented to by his Excel-
lency Horatio Sharpe Esq.^r Governor.

An Act for taking and detaining able-bodied Men for His Majesty's
Service.

Liber H. S.
No. 1

p. 165

Whereas it is thought necessary at this Time, to raise a Body of
able Land-men, for his Majesty's Service, against the French and
their Allies on this Continent; and whereas it is found by Experience,
that although there are Numbers of able-bodied Men in the several
Counties of this Province, (whose enlisting into the said Service
would not only greatly promote the same, but would also be removing
a Burthen and Charge from the honest and industrious Inhabitants
thereof) yet that such Persons are too generally averse to engage in
such Service :

[Preamble.]

Be it therefore Enacted, by the Right Honourable the Lord Pro-
prietary, 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 it shall and may be lawful, upon Applica-
tion of any Officer, or Officers, commissioned or appointed to raise or
levy Men for his Majesty's Service, to and for the Justices of the
Peace of every County in this Province, or any one or more of them,
and they, and every of them, are hereby directed and required, within
their several and respective Counties, by Warrant under their or
some or one of their Hands and Seals, to command all Sheriffs,
Under-Sheriffs, Constables, and others, within their several and
respective Counties, to be by the said Justices from Time to Time for

[Upon Ap-
plication of
an Officer to
any Justice,
he is obliged
to issue his
Warrant.]

that Purpose especially appointed, to take and seize all and every able-
bodied Freeman who live idle and do not follow or exercise some
lawful Calling or Employment, or have not some other visible and
lawful Support and Maintenance, and to make or cause to be made
Search, within their several and respective Counties, for all and
every such Person and Persons as they can find, who are or shall
appear to them to be within the Description of this Act, and to bring

[To take up
idle Free-
man;]

before the said Justices, or any two or more of them, all such Per-
sons. And in Case the said Justices, before whom such Person or
Persons shall be brought, upon Examination had before them, shall
judge them, or any of them, to be such as are herein before described

[and enlist
them as
Soldiers.]

p. 166