or appearing openly as aforesaid, then his or her heir, if
such defendant shall have any real estate sequestered, or whereof
possession shall have been delivered to the plaintiff or plaintiffs,
and such heir may be found, or if such heir shall be a feme covert,
infant, or non compos mentis, the husband, guardian, or committee,
of such heir respectively, or, if the personal estate of such defendant
be sequestered, or possession thereof delivered to the plaintiff
or plaintiffs, then his or her executor or administrator, (if any
such there be,) may and shall be served with a copy of such decree,
within a reasonable time after it shall be known tot he plaintiff
or plaintiffs, that the defendant is dead, and who is his or her
heir, executor or administrator, or where he, she or they respectively
be served therewith; and if any person or persons, so served
with a copy of such decree, shall not, within six months after such
service, appear and petition to have the said cause reheard, such
decree, so made as aforesaid, shall stand absolutely confirmed against
the person or persons so served with a copy thereof, his, her and
their respective heirs, executors and administrators, and all persons
claiming, or to claim, by, from or under him, her, them, or
any of them, by virtue of any act done, or to be done, subsequent
to the commencement of such suit; and if any person, so served
with a copy of such decree shall, within six months after such service,
or if any person, not being so served, shall, within two years
next after the making such decree, appear in court, and petition to
be heard with respect to the matter of such decree, and shall pay
down, or give security for payment of such costs as the court shall
think reasonable in that behalf, the person or persons so petitioning,
his, her, or their respective representatives, or any person or
persons, claiming under him, her, or them, respectively, by virtue
of any act done before the commencement of the suit, may be admitted
to answer the bill exhibited; and issue may be joined, and
witnesses on both sides examined, and such other proceedings, decree
and execution, may be had thereon, as there might have been
in case the same party had originally appeared, and the proceedings
had been newly begun, or as if no former decree or proceedings had
been in the same cause; and if any person or persons against whom
such decree shall be made, his, her or their heirs, executors or administrators,
shall not, within two years next after making such
decree, appear and petition to have the cause reheard, and pay
down, or give security for payment of such costs as the court shall
think reasonable in that behalf, such decree made as aforesaid, shall
stand absolutely confirmed against the person and persons against
whom such decree shall be made, his, her and their heirs, executors
and administrators, and against all persons claiming, or to claim,
by, from or under him, her or them, or any of them, by virtue of
any act done subsequent to the commencement of such suit, and at
the end of such two years, it shall and may be lawful for the court
to make such further order as shall be just and reasonable, according
to the circumstances of the case.