1820.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 78.

same, for her own use and benefit, and the same to dispose of ac-
cording to her will and pleasure, without the molestation, inter-
ference, hindrance or consent of her husband, in the same man-
ner she could or might have done were she a feme sole.

Passed Jan. 25 1821.

Preamble.

CHAP. LXXIX

An Act for the benefit of Ely Dorsey, (of Ely) of Frederick County.

WHEREAS the said Ely Dorsey (of Ely,) hath by his petition
represented to this general assembly, that many years ago be pur-
chased of Charles Ridgely of Baltimore county, part of a tract
of land called Pleasant Fields, for which the purchase money
hath been long since paid; that before a deed was made for the
said land, the said Charles Ridgely died intestate as to the legal
title in the land sold to said petitioner; and the legal representa-
tives of the said Charles Ridgely are so numerous, and dispersed
in so many different places, that the said Ely Dorsey, (of Ely,)
has been unable to discover who they are, and is therefore with-
out relief in a court of equity; Therefore.

An application
court to advertise
&c.

I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the
county court of Frederick county, as a court of chancery, upon
a bill being filed by the said Ely Dorsey, (of Ely.) his heirs or
assigns, against the legal representatives of the said Charles
Ridgely, without naming them, to compel them to convey to him
the said Ely Dorsey, (of Ely.) his heirs or assigns as the case
may be, all that part of the said tract of land called Pleasant
Fields, bought and paid for as aforesaid, the said county court,
instead of issuing subpenas for the legal representatives of the
said Charles Ridgely by name, to make them defendants, shall
and they are hereby authorised to cause the object and substance
of the said bill to be published once a week for six successive
weeks in some newspaper printed in the city of Baltimore, to
warn the legal representatives of the said Charles Ridgely, with-
out naming them, or any of them, upon a day therein limited, to
appear in said court, in person or by solicitor, to shew cause,
if any they have, why a degree should not pass as prayed.

May either take
the bill pro con-
fesso, or issue com-
mission, &c.

2. And be it enacted, That if the legal representatives of the
said Charles Ridgely, so made defendants, shall not appear to
answer the bill of the aforesaid Ely Dorsey. (of Ely,) his heirs
or assigns, as the case may be, after bring warned as aforesaid,
the county court aforesaid, as a court of chancery, may without
the appearance, of the absent parties, at discretion, either take
the bill of the said Ely Dorsey, (of Ely,) his heirs or assigns,
as the case may be, pro confesso, or issue a commission for taking
depositions, which commission may be executed ex parte on the
nonappearance of the legal representatives aforesaid, in person,
or by solicitor or agent, and on the taking pro confesso or return,
of the commission, the county court aforesaid, as a court of chan-
cery, may proceed to such decree as the justice, law, and equity
of the case may require, and every such decree shall have the
same operation, effect and consequence, as if the legal represen-
tatives of the said Charles Ridgely had regularly appeared to the
bill of the said Ely Dorsey, (of Ely,) his heirs or assigns, as
the rase may be, and had answered the same, and the decree bad

Proviso.

thereupon regularly passed; Provided always, that if all or any