1807.

NOVEMBER. LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. CIII.

Passed 20th of
January, 1808.

An ACT annulling the marriage of Joseph Boyd, and Elizabeth
Boyd, his wife.

Preamble.

WHEREAS it is represented to this general assembly, by the petition of Joseph Boyd, of
Prince-George's county, that in the year eighteen hundred he intermarried with a certain
Elizabeth Tate of said county; that in the month of April, eighteen hundred and one, she eloped
from him, and went to reside with her parents, that after about two weeks he prevailed on her to
return, and she continued to live with him until July following, when she again eloped, and. hath
ever since refused to return and live with him; that in the spring of eighteen hundred and three she
left this state, and went into London county, in the state of Virginia, with a certain Thomas Don-
nell, where she continued to reside until the month of August last, when she returned to this state,
and hath since been delivered of a child, which she has requested a justice of the peace for Prince-
George's county to permit her to swear to a person in Virginia, thus avowing her adulterous and
disgraceful conduct; and the allegations in the said petition being proved to the satisfaction of this
general assembly, therefore,

Marriage de-
clared void, &c.

II. BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the marriage of the said Joseph
Boyd, and Elizabeth his wife, heretofore solemnized, be, and the same is hereby declared to be, ab-
solutely and to all intents and purposes, null and void, and that the said Joseph Boyd, and Eliza-
beth his wife, are hereby declared to be divorced a vinculo matrimonii; provided, that nothing in this
act contained shall illegitimate any issue of the said Joseph Boyd, and Elizabeth his wife, born prior
to the year eighteen hundred and three.

CHAP. CIV.

Passed 20th of
January, 1808.

An ACT to lay out and make a public road from Thomas Richard-
son's mill, in Montgomery county, to intersect the main road lead-
ing to the town of Bladensburgh, in Prince-George's county.

Commissioners
appointed, &c.

BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That Josias Jones, James Ray and Benjamin
Prather, or a majority of them, be and they are hereby appointed commissioners, to survey,
lay out and open, at the expense of such persons as may think proper to contribute thereto, a road,
not exceeding thirty feet in width, in the straightest and best direction the ground will admit of, from
the aforesaid Thomas Richardson's mill until it intersects the main road leading to the town of Bla-
densburgh, in Prince George's county, and return the certificate of survey thereof to the clerk
of Prince-George's county court, to be by him recorded; and the said road when so opened, and the
survey recorded as aforesaid, and the valuation herein after directed shall have been paid, or secured,
to be paid, shall for ever thereafter be deemed a public highway.

Who shall as-
certain the da-
mages, &c.

II. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the commissioners aforesaid, or a majority of them, shall ascer-
tain and value the damages that may be sustained by each and every person through whose land the
said road may pass, by opening the same, and the valuation shall be made, and the amount thereof
paid to the parties respectively interested, before the said commissioners, or a majority of them,
shall proceed to open the said road; provided nevertheless, that the said road shall not be laid out
or opened through, any garden, orchard or meadow, without the consent of. the owner or owners
thereof,

CHAP. CV.

Passed 20th of
January, 1808.

An ACT for the relief of the heirs of Levin Woolford, of Dorches-
ter county.

Preamble.

WHEREAS it has been represented to this general assembly, by the petition of John Wool-
ford, Margaret Woolford and Polly Woolford, of Dorchester county, in behalf of their
younger sisters Elizabeth Woolford and Susan Woolford, that their father Levin Woolford, of said
county, deceased, by his last will and testament appointed George Ward, and Anne Woolford his
wife, executors of his said last will and testament, with discretionary powers to sell so much of his
real estate as devolved on his two daughters Elisabeth Woolford and Susan Woolford, if they in
their judgment should think it most conducive to their interest; and the said George Ward having
refused to act under the said will, and no provision by any law existing affording sufficient remedy
in such case, and the said John Woolford, Margaret Woolford and Polly Woolford, having petition-
ed the general assembly for relief in the premises^ and the petition appearing reasonable; therefore,