262 Assembly Proceedings, November 16-December 23, 1773.

Liber R. G.
1773

titled an Act for the Relief of the poor with the County of Balti-
more So help me God." The which Oaths are to be administered by
any of the four Persons last named to the Person first named or in
his Absence to any one of the three Persons first named that shall be
there present the which Person being Sworn as aforesaid shall ad-
minister the Oaths atorementioned to all the rest and so successively
the Person first named that shall be present shall always administer the
said Oaths to any that have been absent or that shall hereafter be
elected and chosen Pursuant to the Directions of this Act to supply the
Place of any that shall be dead or removed out of the County or of
any who shall refuse or neglect to Qualify and act as a Trustee when
elected and chosen Pursuant to the Directions of this Act And
the aforesaid Persons or the Major Part of them being sworn as

[Trustees
invested
with full
Power as a
Body
Politic.]

aforesaid shall be constituted and Qualified as Trustees for the poor
of their said County and as such are hereby invested with full Power
and Authority as a Body politic to plead and be impleaded to sue
and be sued to defend and be defended to answer and be answered
by the Name of the Trustees for the Poor of Baltimore County in all
and every Cause Complaint and Action Real Personal or mixt of
whatsoever kind or Nature it shall be in any of the Courts of Judi-
cature within this Province and by that Name they and any of them
and their Successors shall and they are hereby enabled to take hold
possess and enjoy any Gift Decoration or Present which shall or may
hereafter be given devised or bequeathed by any Person or Persons

p. 304

whatsoever to them or any of them for or towards the Support and
Maintainance of the poor in the County aforesaid and they or any
of them may receive by Way of Subscription any Sum or Sums of
Money which shall or may be given for the better and more speedy
promoting the Benefit and Good by this Act intended and that they
have full power Authority Lawful Capacity and Ability to purchase
take hold receive enjoy and have to them and their Successors for-
ever any Lands Tenements and Hereditaments not exceeding the
Yearly Value of one thousand Pounds of any Person or Persons
whatsoever and are hereby impowered and Authorized to use one
common Seal in their Business relating to the said Corporation and
the same at their Pleasure to change and alter and that the said
Persons so incorporated the Longest Livers and Successors of them
shall be the true sole and undoubted Trustees in perpetual Succession
forever to be continued in way and Manner hereafter specified with
full and absolute Power Liberty and Authority in the making and
ordaining such Laws Orders and Rules for the better relieving
regulating and setting the Poor to Work and punishing Vagrants
Beggars Vagabonds and other Offenders and for the good Govern-
ment of the said Alms and Work House in their Respective Coun-
ties as to them and their Successors from time to time seem most
fit and requisite all which shall be observed by the Overseer of such