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THOMAS JOHNSON, Esq; Governor.
to administer the same, and upon elections afterward, either by a justice
of peace as aforesaid, or the first vestryman, who is hereby likewise required
and empowered to administer the same, and each person so elected, chosen
and
qualified, shall be and not before, deemed and taken as one of the vestry,
to all
intents and purposes. |
1779.
CHAP.
IX. |
III. And be
it enacted, That the first election for vestrymen shall be on the
first Monday in June next, in each parish, by the persons entitled to vote
as aforesaid,
who shall repair to their respective parish churches for that purpose. |
When the first
election is to
be held. |
IV. And be it
further enacted, That two vestrymen shall be annually chosen
thereafter, in the room of two of the vestrymen, who shall be left out
by ballot,
unless rechosen with their own consent and agreement, to which purpose
all the inhabitants
of every parish, being entitled to vote as aforesaid, and contributing
to
the charges thereof, or such of them as shall attend, shall repair to their
respective
parish churches every Easter Monday, and there, by their free choice, make
the election aforesaid; which vestrymen, thus elected, shall take the oaths
and
qualify themselves in manner and form aforesaid. |
Two vestrymen
to be annually
chosen, &c. |
V. And,
for keeping a fair register of all such vestries proceedings, and for registering
of all births, marriages and burials, in each respective parish, Be
it enacted,
That each vestry shall and is hereby obliged to provide a fit person for
a register,
who shall at all times keep a true and fair registry of the several proceedings
of such vestry, from time to time, in executing their trust and authority,
and
making just and true entries thereof; which person, so to be appointed
for keeping
such registry, shall take and subscribe the oath to the government required
by
law as aforesaid, take an oath of office, to be administered by any one
of the
vestrymen aforesaid, which oath any such vestryman is hereby empowered
to administer
accordingly, for the due and faithful executing his said office, before
he
shall be admitted into the said office, and shall make due entry of all
vestry proceedings,
and of all births, marriages and burials, (negroes and mulattoes excepted)
that is to say, the christian and surname, with the day, month and
year,
of every such birth, marriage or burial, where the same shall be known
to
such register, and desired to be recorded, under the penalty of three pounds
currency,
to be forfeited by such register refusing or neglecting to enter it, having
received his fee for the same; and such register shall have the custody
of all former
parish registers, and is hereby obliged to shew any person or persons,
reasonably
desiring it, any such register, or give a certificate of any births, marriages
or burials, that shall be reasonably required of him, and shall have for
his
fees from such person two shillings and six-pence for any search, and two
shillings
and six-pence for any copy or certificate given as aforesaid, and no more;
which said certificates, under the hands of such register, shall be received
in evidence
in all courts of justice within this state. |
Each vestry to
provide a register,
&c. |
VI. And,
for the preventing of delays and other inconveniencies which might
happen, if there was a necessity for the attendance and presence of all
the said
vestrymen, and at the same time to prevent the doing of any thing of consequence
by surprise by a small number of them; Be
it enacted, That the first Monday
in every month shall be and is hereby fixed and ascertained for holding
a vestry,
at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, in the usual place for that purpose,
without
any notice or warning to be given thereof; at which time and place, or
any other
meeting on due notice, the major part of the vestrymen then present (so
as such
majority be not under the number of three persons) shall be esteemed a
vestry, and
shall have full power to order, direct and act, as a vestry, in all things
by this act
appointed to be done. |
Day for holding
a vestry,
&c. |
VII. And,
that the register of each parish may be enabled to perform the charge
hereby required of him, Be it enacted,
That the vestries of the respective parishes
shall provide good and substantial writing books, well bound, sufficient
for
registering such proceedings in, according to the directions aforesaid,
under the
penalty of ten pounds currency: And, that there may be no neglect
in the vestries, |
Vestries to
provide
books,
&c. |
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