CHAP.
XXIX.
 
 
 
 

To qualify as
trustees for
the poor, by
taking the
oaths to the
government,
and oath of
office.







Mode of qualification.










Invested with
power and
authority as a
body politic.














And to use a
common seal
in their business,
&c.

And to make
laws, &c. for
the better relief
of the 
poor, and punishing
vagrants,
&c.



Proviso.

and Nathaniel Magruder.  For Worcester county, Messieurs Parker Selby, George
Hayward, Peter Chaille, Lemuel Purnell, and William Whittington.  For Frederick
county, Messieurs Jonathan Wilson, Upton Sheredine, Thomas Bowles,
Charles Beatty, and William Beatty.  For Charles county, Messieurs Samuel
Hanson, jun. Robert Mastin, John Hanson, Thomas McPherson, and Henry
Smith Hawkins.  The which persons, so nominated, appointed, authorised and
named, for the several and respective counties as aforesaid, or the major part of
them, in case of the death or absence of any, are hereby required, with all convenient
speed, to meet at such places within their counties as to them shall seem
meet, to qualify themselves for the office of trustees for the poor of their several
and respective counties, which they are to do by taking the several oaths appointed
by law to be taken to the government, signing the oath of abjuration, and repeating
and signing the test, and also taking the following oath, to wit, " I, A. B. do
" swear, that I will duly and faithfully discharge the duties and trusts committed to
" me, as a trustee for the poor for _____ county, according to the best of my skill
" and knowledge, and an act of assembly, entitled, An act for the relief of the poor
" within the several counties therein mentioned.  So help me God."  The which
oaths are to be administered by any of the four persons last named for the county
to the person first named, or, in his absence, to any one of the three persons first
named that shall be there present, the which person, being sworn as aforesaid, shall
administer the oaths aforementioned to all the rest, and so successively, the person
first named, that shall be present, shall always administer the said oaths to any that
have been absent, or that shall hereafter be elected and chosen, pursuant to the directions
of this act, to supply the place of any that shall be dead, or removed out
of the county, or of any who shall refuse or neglect to qualify and act as a trustee,
when elected and chosen, pursuant to the directions of this act; and the aforesaid
persons, or the major part of them, being sworn as aforesaid, shall be constituted
and qualified as trustees for the poor, in all and every cause, complaint and action,
real, personal or mixt, of whatsoever kind or nature it shall be, in any of the courts
of judicature within this province, and by that name they, and any of them, and
their successors, shall, and they are hereby enabled to take, hold, possess and enjoy,
any gift, donation or present, which shall or may hereafter be given, devised or bequeathed,
by any person or persons whatsoever, to them, or any of them, for or towards
the support and maintenance of the poor in any of the counties aforesaid;
and they, or any of them, may receive, by way of subscription, any sum or sums
of money, which shall or may be given, for the better and more speedy promoting
the benefit and good by this act intended; and that they have full power, authority,
lawful capacity and ability, to purchase, take, hold, receive, enjoy and have,
to them and their successors for ever, any lands, tenements and hereditaments, not
exceeding the yearly value of one thousand pounds, of any person or persons whatsoever,
and are hereby empowered and authorised, to use one common seal in their
business relating to the said corporation, and the same, at their pleasure, to change
and alter; and that the said persons so incorporated, the longest livers and successors
of them, shall be the true, sole and undoubted trustees, in perpetual succession,
for ever, to be continued in way and manner hereafter specified, with full and
absolute power, liberty and authority, in the making and ordaining such laws,
orders and rules, for the better relieving, regulating, and setting the poor to work,
and punishing vagrants, beggars, vagabonds and other offenders, and for the good
government of the said alms and work-house in their respective counties, as to
them and their successors shall, from time to time, seem most fit and requisite; all
which shall be observed by the overseer of such alms and work-house, and by all
poor, beggars, vagrants, vagabonds and other offenders, in such alms and work-house,
under the penalties therein contained.  Provided always, That the said
rules, laws and orders, be no wise contrary to the laws of this province.