FORASMUCH as in the Beginning of this Plantation, and till of late
Years, there never was any settled Course of conveying Lands, Tenements
or Hereditaments, from Man to Man, in this Province, by reason
whereof the Titles of divers Persons, who have, bona fide, bought
and
paid for Lands, become doubtful: And thence arise divers Suits
at law, to
the great Loss of divers Inhabitants of this Province, We, the Delegates
and
Deputies of the Freemen of this Province, in this present General Assembly,
do pray that it may be Enacted,
II. And be it Enacted
by
the Right Honourable the Lord and Proprietary of
this Province, by and with the
Advice and Consent of the Upper and Lower houses
of this present General Assembly,
That
all Sales, Gifts, or Grants heretofore made,
of any Lands, Tenements or Hereditaments,
within this Province, by any
Person or Persons whatsoever, that
Right had to sell, give or grant such Lands,
Tenements or Hereditaments, made
by Writing only, with or without Seal,
shall for ever hereafter be accounted
good, and available in Law, to bar the
Heirs or Executors of such Vendors,
Donors, or Grantors; and all persons
claiming Dower from any such Vendors,
Donors or Grantors; any Error in
the Form only, of such Writings,
to the contrary notwithstanding.
III. And
forasmuch as divers Assignments
of Patents (written on the Backside
of such Patents) for Land, are now
worn out, and also many other Sales
in Paper, either worn out, or quite
lost, for which the Purchase Money hath
been bonâ fide paid,
Be
it further Enacted by the
Authority, Advice and Consent
aforesaid, That all Sales,
Gifts or Grants heretofore made, by Persons that
Right had, as aforesaid, where either
the Sale, Gift or Grant, or Payment,
bonâ fide made, can
be proved by Witness, such Sales shall for ever hereafter
be accounted good, and available
in the Law, to bar the Heirs and Executors
of such Vendors, Donors or Grantors,
or other Persons claiming Dower
from any such Vendors, Donors or
Grantors; any Law, Custom or Usage to
the contrary hereof notwithstanding.
Examined and Compared with the Record, REVERDY GHISELIN,
THOMAS BACON. |
Preamble.
Conveyances
by Writing
only, with or
without Seal,
heretofore
made, shall
be good in
Law.
Where lost or
defaced,
Proof of Payment
shall be
good in Law.
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