1802.

NOVEMBER. LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP.

XXXVII.

Finis Caronat Opus, and running thence north, five degrees east, sixty perches, north, sixty degrees
west, forty perches, south, fifteen degrees west, forty-eight perches, south forty-six perches, and
then with a straight line to the place of beginning, containing twenty acres, be the same more or
less; that the said deed being defective and inoperative In law, nothing thereby passed from the said¹
James Douli to the said James O'ffutt; that the said James Offutt did, in virtue of the said deed, en-
ter upon the said land, and put expensive improvements thereon, and did hold and possess the same
during the residue of the life of him the said James Doull, who afterwards died intestate, and with-
out heirs, whereby the said land became liable to escheat; that the said James Offutt, having by his
last will and testament devised to his widow during life, and after her death to certain of his chil-
dren and grand-children, all his interest in the said lands; and the devisees of the said James Offutt'
have petitioned this general assembly to relinquish to them the right of the state of Maryland in and .
to the said lands, and to give to them a legal estate In the same upon certain conditions, which re-
quest is thought reasonable and just; therefore,

Deed made
good, &c,

II. BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the aforesaid deed from James Doull,
late of Montgomery county, to the aforesaid James Offutt, lace of the county aforesaid, both since
deceased, bearing date on the eighth clay of June, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, and
on the same day acknowledged before Richard Thompson and Thomas Beall, of George, two of the
justices of the peace for the county aforesaid, and recorded on the thirtieth day of July, in the year
one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, in liber B, folio 242,, one of the land records of Mont-
gomery county, be deemed, adjudged and taken, as and for a deed good and operative in law, to pass
in fee-simple ail the right, interest and estate, which he the said James Doull, the grantor therein
named, then bad, to him the said James Offutt, the grantee therein named, of, in and to, the lands
and premises in the said deed mentioned ana intended to be conveyed; and that the operation of the
said deed, and the interest of him the said James Offutt in the lands and premises therein mentioned
and intended to be conveyed, be deemed, reckoned and taken, to all intents and purposes whatsoever,
to commence from the day or the date of the said deed; saving to all and every person or persons
whatsoever, natural or civil, (except the right of the state of Maryland by escheat, from the death
of the said James Doull intestate, and without heirs.) all and every right, claim or interest, in law
or in equity, which they, or any of them, may have acquired to the said lands, or. to any part there-
of, under the said James Doull, or under the said James OfFutt, both deceased, or in any other way
whatsoever.

Passed 8th of
January, 1803.

CHAP. XXXVIIL

An ACT for the benefit of William Elliot, of Prince-George's
county.

Preamble.

WHEREAS William Elliot, of Prince- George's county, emigrated to, and settled in, this
state, and Since his emigration and settlement as aforesaid hath contracted for the purchase
of considerable real property therein, but from bis not having been naturalized cannot receive con-
veyances for the same, and hath prayed that he may be enabled to receive conveyances for and hold
the said real property, and also that he may be enabled to purchase and hold- other real property in
said state; therefore.

Centrals to
have effect, &c.

II. BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That all contracts made or entered into
between the said William Elliot and any other person, for the conveyance of any real property in
this state, shall have the same effect, and be of the same validity, as if the said William Elliot had
been at the time of making the same, a citizen of the United States; and all conveyances made or
executed to the said William Elliot, in virtue of any such contract or agreement, shall be as valid
as if the said William Elliot was a citizen of the United States.

W. Elliot may-
take and hold
lands, &c.

III. AND BE IT ENACTED, That it shall and may be lawful for the said William Elliot, by deed
hereafter to be made, to take and hold lands within this state, and sell and convey, or devise the
same, or transmit the same to his heirs, (being citizens of the United States,) in as full, and ample
manner as if he was a citizen of the United States; provided, that unless the said William Elliot
shall, on or before the first day of June. next, proceed according to law to make himself a citizen of
the United States, this act shall have no effect to confirm his title to the property above mentioned
to have been contracted for, nor shall he be entitled to the privilege above mentioned of purchasing
and holding real property in this state, but if the said William Elliot shall die before the time
when, by the laws of the United States, he might become a citizen thereof, nothing in this proviso
contained shall prevent him from transmitting or transferring his said property, by descent or devise,
to any person being a citizen of the United States.
CHAP.