CHAP.
XXII.
And meet
four times in
the year, &c.
Overseer to
keep a fair list
of all poor,
&c.
And may
compel them
to work, &c.
Disorderly
persons may
be committed,
&c.
Trustees to
direct what
poor shall be
received, &c. |
XII. And
be it enacted, That the said trustees, or the major part of them,
shall and they are hereby directed and enjoined to meet at the alms
and work-house
in Washington county four times in the year, in the first week in May,
August, October, December, or oftener, if it should by them be deemed
necessary,
to make and ordain, by a majority of votes of such as may be present,
all such
good and wholesome ordinances, rules and by-laws, as they shall think
convenient
and necessary for the direction, government and support, of the alms
and
work-house in said county, and also for the cleanliness, maintenance
and employment,
of all such poor persons as shall be taken under their care, and of
all
vagrants, beggars, vagabonds and offenders, that shall be committed
thereto by
virtue of this act; all which ordinances, rules and by-laws, shall
be, from
time to time, inviolably observed by all persons concerned, according
to the
tenor and effect thereof.
XIII. And
be it enacted, That the said overseer shall keep a fair and regular
list of all poor, and of all beggars, vagrants, vagabonds and offenders,
who
shall be committed to his said alms and work-house, and also fair and
regular
accounts, in writing, of all materials and other things coming to his
hands as
overseer aforesaid, and all expences and charges attending their maintenance
and
support, and of all monies received by him for the sale of the produce
of their
labour, and otherwise, as overseer aforesaid, and shall lay the said
lists and accounts
before the trustees of said county, or the major part of them, at their
meetings at the times by this act directed, or oftener, if by them
required.
XIV. And
be it enacted, That the said overseer may compel and oblige any
of the said poor, vagrants and vagabonds, or offenders, in his alms
and work-house, if of a sufficient ability, to work and labour, and
the produce
of their labour he is hereby directed and empowered to sell, and apply
the money
arising from such sale to their maintenance and support.
XV. And
be it enacted, That upon complaint made, that any person, from
his or her disorderly conduct, gives disturbance to his or their neighbourhood,
and is likely to become chargeable to the said county, it shall and
may be lawful
for any one magistrate of the said county, if upon hearing the party
he shall
judge the complaint to be well founded, to commit such disorderly person,
residing
within the said county, to the said work-house, for any time not exceeding
three months, unless he or she shall find security, at the discretion
of the magistrate
aforesaid, in any sum not exceeding thirty dollars, for his or her
good behaviour
during the space of six months; and also upon complaint, and due proof
made by the overseer of the said alms and work-house, to any one trustee,
that
any vagrant, vagabond or beggar, in the work-house, hath behaved and
demeaned
him or herself in a disorderly manner, or hath refused or neglected
to do
and perform his or her daily labour or task, or hath refused or neglected
to obey,
keep and observe, any of the ordinances, rules and by-laws, of the
said corporation,
to order and direct such moderate and proper correction, not exceeding
fifteen lashes for any one offence, to be given to such offender, as
the nature of
the case may require.
XVI. And
be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for any of
the said trustees to direct and appoint, under their hand in writing,
what poor
shall be received into the alms and work-house of said county; and
it shall and
may be lawful for any one justice of the peace for the said county,
and for any
person authorised and appointed by such justice, to apprehend, or cause
to be apprehended
and committed to the said work-house, any vagrants, vagabonds, beggars,
and other idle, dissolute and disorderly persons, found loitering or
residing
in said county, who follow no labour, trade, occupation or business,
and have no
visible means of subsistence whereby to acquire an honest livelihood,
there to be
kept at hard labour for any time not exceeding three months; and the
overseer
of such alms and work-house shall be obliged to receive any poor appointed
as
aforesaid to be received, and any vagrant, vagabond, beggar, and other
idle, dissolute
and disorderly person, so as aforesaid committed. |
