present possessed by a certain Edward Oldham, fit and capable
for Launching
Ships pr other Vessels, if a Property was to be had thereto, so as not
to be
left to the Will of any Person to frustrate so public a Goal; Be
it therefore
Enacted,
That the Commissioners for the said Town are hereby impowered,
to fix
upon any Place at or near said Seneca Point, convenient for a Ship-Yard
to
the said Town and Common, and to agree for Two Acres of Land, with the
Owner or Owners thereof, which if they cannot do upon reasonable Terms,
then they shall cause a Jury, in the usual Manner, to be summoned and impannelled
by the Sheriff, to value the said Land; which Value so assessed the
said Commissioners shall tender and pay the said Owner or Owners, out of
the public money collected and belonging to the Public of said Town; and
the said Two acres of Land shall for ever be deemed to belong to the Public
thereof: In Satisfaction whereof, all Persons Building any Ship or
other Vessel
on the said Ground, above the Length of Twenty Foot Keel, shall pay
to the Commissioners for the public Use of the said Town, such Sum as shall
be thought necessary, not to exceed Six-pence Current Money per Ton, for
Licence to build any Ship or other Vessel thereon: And that the Commissioners,
or major Part of them, have also Power to lay out a convenient
Cart-Road to the said Ship-Yard, so as to do the least Damage they possibly
can to the Owner of the said land; and which Road shall be always kept
open
and free for the Use of the said Ship-Yard.
XX. And to continue
a Succession of the said Commissioners, for the good
Order and Regulation of the said Town and Trade thereof; Be
it Enacted,
by the Authority, Advice and Consent aforesaid,
That
when and as often as any
of the said Commissioners shall die, or depart this Province, or shall
refuse or
neglect to act in the Execution of this Act, then and in any such Case,
it
shall and may be lawful for the said Commissioners, or the major Part of
them, to meet at the said Town, on the Tenth Day of May next ensuing
such
Death or Removal, and appoint such other person as they shall think fit,
to
be Commissioner in the Room of his so dead, removed, or neglecting to act
as aforesaid.
XXI. Provided,
That
at what Time soever it shall be made appear to the
said Commissioners, or the major Part of them, for the Time being, that
there are the Number of Twenty fixed and settled Inhabitants, capable by
Land or Estate to vote for a Burgess, according to the Qualifications of
the
Laws now in being, actually dwelling and residing in said Town, that then
it
shall be lawful for the said Commissioners, and they are hereby directed
and
required, on all such Occasions that shall thereafter happen, to meet at
Charles-Town
aforesaid, on the Tenth Day of May next after such vacancy shall
be,
and then and there, by Vote of the said Inhabitants of Charles-Town,
so qualified
as aforesaid, to choose or elect one other Person or Persons, to serve
as
a Commissioner on the Room of him or them so dead, removed, or neglecting
as aforesaid; and which said person or Persons, so chosen or elected
by Majority
of such Votes, shall be a Commissioner, and be authorized to put this
Law in Execution in all Respects, and to all Intents and Purposes, as any
other
Commissioner herein named, is authorized to do.
XXII. Be it also Enacted,
That
the said Commissioners be, and are hereby
directed and impowered to meet at the said Charles-Town, in the
Tenth
Day of May yearly, and oftener as Occasion shall require, to view,
regulate,
and perpetuate the Boundaries of the several and respective Lots and Town,
according to the true Intent and Meaning of the Return of the Survey-Plat,
and Certificate thereof; and from Time to Time, as they shall see Cause,
to
inspect and enquire into the Proceedings and Management of the said Wharf
and Store-house, at said Charles-Town to be built and raised, in
order to prevent
and restrain all Irregularities and Impositions that may there happen. |
CHAP.
XXII.
The Commissioners
impowered
to
lay out Two
Acres near
Seneca Point
for a Ship
Yard.
All Vessels
built therein,
of above 20
Foot Keel, to
pay 6 d. per
Ton for the
Use of the
Town.
Succession of
the Commissioners
provided
for.
How Vacancies
shall be
filled up by
Election of
the Inhabitants.
Commissioners
to meet
every 10th of
May, &c. to
view and perpetuate
the
Boundaries,
&c.
|
