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39 CÆCILIUS Lord BALTIMORE.
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CHAP. X.
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Passed 19th
April 1671.
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The humble Petition of Alexander Dhyniossa, of Forster's
Island, in the County
of Talbot, and Margaretta, his Wife; Alexander,
Johannes, Peter, Maria,
and Margaretta; Matthew Cartwright of St. Mary's County;
Thomas
Turner of Ann-Arundel County; Matthias Peterson, and
Peter
his Son,
of Talbot County; Jacob Clause de Young, of Baltimore
County; Hans
Jacob de Ring of the same County; Rutgertson Garrets, of
the same County;
John Lederer, of Calvert County; John Elexon, of Kent
County;
Peter
Mills, of St. Mary's County; Mark Cordea, of St.
Mary's
County; Nicholas
Fountaine, of Somerset County; Anthony Demouderer,
of
Ann-Arundel
County; and Andrew Toulson, of Baltimore County.
Lib. C and WH.
fol. 199. and Lib. WH and L. fol. 58.
PR. |
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For Naturalization. Confirmed by 1676, ch.
2.
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CHAP. XI.
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Ditto.
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An Act for the raising and providing a Support for his Lordship
the Lord and
Proprietary of this Province, during his natural Life, as likewise
a Supply towards
the Defraying the public Charges of Government. Lib. C
and
WH. fol.
202. Lib. WH. fol. 135. and Lib. WH and
L.
fol. 60. EXP.
Viz.
(1.) Two Shillings per Hogshead on all Tobacco exported, to be paid
by the
Masters of Ships and Vessels on clearing out, and before
their Departure. (2.) All such Masters
at their first Arrival, and before taking any Tobacco
on board, to give Security for the true Payment
of the said Imposition, on Forfeiture of all Tobacco
shipped, or attempted to be shipped on
board before such Security given, and Certificate thereof
obtained. (3.) One Half of the said
Money to be employed towards the maintaining a constant
Magazine, with Arms and Ammunition,
for the Defence of the Province, and defraying other
necessary Charges of Government.
(4.) During the Continuance of this Act, no public
Levy to be laid on the Inhabitants of this
Province, but by Consent of the Freemen in open Assembly,
and the 3d Section of the Act of
1650, ch. 26 , to remain suspended. (5.)
His Lordship, during the same Continuance, to receive
good, sound and merchantable Tobacco, when tendered for
his Rents and Alienation
Fines, at 2 d. per Pound. (6.)
The Act of 1650,
ch. 9, to be for ever repealed. (7.)
This Act
to continue during his Lordship's natural Life, and for
one Crop after his Decease.
By the Act of 1674, ch. 1,
this Act (with the Addition of a Clause, that in case of Shipwreck,
&c. so that the Tobacco should be lost, before their
Delivery at the Port, then the Merchant,
Master or Owners of the Tobaccoes so lost, should
be repaid the said Duty of Two Shillings
per hogshead, or have Liberty to ship, at some other
Time, so many Hogsheads as they
had paid Money for, free of any the said imposition)
was further continued for and during the
Life of the Honourable Charles Calvert, Esq; Son and
Heir apparent of his Lordship, the Governor
of the Province.
And by the Act of 1676, ch.
3, the same Duty, under the same Limitations and Provisoes,
was further continued, not only for and during the Life
of the Right Honourable CHARLES,
then Lord proprietary of this Province, but also for
and during the natural Life of the Honourable
Cæcilius Calvert, Esq; Son and heir apparent
of his said Lordship.
The Government at the Revolution being
seized into the Hands of the Crown, these Duties
continued to be collected under the above recited Acts,
and lodged with the Treasurers as belonging
to the Public. And in the first Assembly held by
Commission from their Majesties, under
Governor Copley, an Act was made (Viz.
1692, ch. 4,) which settled a Revenue of One
Shilling Sterling per Hogshead on all Tobacco exported,
for the Support of their Majesties Governor
within this Province for the Time being.
Lord Baltimore had always laid Claim to the Moiety
of the Two Shillings per Hogshead, granted by the aforesaid
Acts, as a private Contract between
him and his Tenants, under the Sanction of Laws, which
they had obliged themselves to pay
in Compensation for the Loss he might sustain in his
Rents, &c. by receiving Tobacco instead
of Sterling Money, at the Price therein stipulated: And
as such, had obtained repeated Orders
from the Crown, to the Persons in whose Hands the Administration
of Government then was,
for the Payment thereof to him. But receiving no
Benefit thereby, Col. Henry Darnall, his
Lordship's Agent, on the 27th May 1692, petitioned
the General Assembly, for Liberty peaceably
and quietly to receive and collect all his Lordship's
Dues and Revenues in this Province; And among
other Claims, demanded the Moiety of Two Shillings per
Hogshead above mentioned, as
belonging to the proprietary's private Estate.
See the King's Letter, upon which this Petition
was founded, in the Note upon the Act of 1692, ch.
17.
The Answer of the General Assembly
to this particular (which was transmitted to the Lords
of the Committee for Trade and Plantations) is couched
in these Words:
"As to the 12 d. per Hogshead,
this House say, that they are ready, with their Majesties Royal
" Assent, to confirm the same to his Lordship; provided
his Lordship grant the same Conditions
" of Plantations he did before the happy Revolution,
or the same that their Majesties do to the
" Colony of Virginia, to the Inhabitants of this
Province, and such of their Majesties Subjects,
" as for the future shall transport themselves hither,
to inhabit. Which, we humbly conceive,
" was the true Intention and Design of his Lordship's
Patent, granted by King CHARLES the First,
" as fully appears by the Preamble thereof, which was
primarily to advance the Crown of England,
" by seating a large and ample Colony. Which, we
humbly conceive, the best Way to
" effect, is, by granting easy Terms and Conditions of
taking up Land, to the Inhabitants, at
" present and future Times; without which the Province
will daily decay, and the Intent of
" the Patent totally frustrated." |
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