J O H N HENRY, Efquire, Governor.

1797.

Snow Hill, near Mary Parker's on the weft fide of faid river, to the Queponco
road on the eaft fide of faid river, and paffes near Elifha Purnell's plantation,
has been opened and repaired at the expence of individuals, but is of great pub-
lic convenience, and have petitioned that the faid road fhould be confidered a
public road, and repaired as fuch; and the prayer of the petition appearing to
this general affembly reafonable and juft, therefore,

C H A P.
LXXXV.

II. Be it enacted, by the General Affembly of Maryland, That Meffieurs
William Morris, Elifha Purnell and James Houfton, be and are hereby appoint-
ed commiffioners for the purpofes of this act; and the faid commiffioners, or a
majority of them, are hereby authorifed to open and clear, at leaft twenty feet
wide, the faid road, and the faid road, fo opened and cleared, (after the valuation
herein after directed to be made, or the damages herein after directed to be af-
feffed, fhall be paid or fecured to the individuals concerned,) fhall be recorded
among the records of Worcefter county, and fhall for ever thereafter be deemed
a public road, and fhall be kept in repair in the fame manner as other public
roads are kept in faid county.

Commiffion-
ers appointed,
&c.

III. And be it enacted, That the commiffioners aforefaid, or a majority of
them, fhall afcertain and value what damages may be fuftained by any perfon or
perfons through whole lands the faid road may pafs by opening and clearing the
fame, and the faid valuation fhall be made and paid before the commiffioners
fhall proceed to open and clear the fame; and in cafe any proprietor or proprietors
fhall conceive him, her or themfelves aggrieved by the valuation of the faid com-
miffioners, or fhall be an infant, feme-covert, or non compos mentis, it fhall and
may be lawful for the faid commiffioners, on the application of any perfon in-
terefted, to apply to any juftice of the peace for Worcefter county, who fhall
thereupon iffue his warrant, under hand and feal, to the conftable of the hundred
wherein fuch lands may be, commanding him to fummon twelve freeholders,
difinterefted in the faid road, and not related to the owner or owners, to appear
on a day by him to be appointed on the faid lands, at which time fuch free-
holders, fo fummoned, fhall refpectively appear before fuch juftice, and take the
following oath, or affirmation, viz. " I, A. B. do fwear, or affirm, that I will
" honeftly value the damage and injury fuftained by C. D. by opening a road
" through the lands of the faid C. D. in purfuance of this act, having regard to
" all the conveniencies and difadvantages attending the fame;" and fhall return
an inquifition of fuch damages by them affeffed to the clerk of the county court
of Worcefter, and the damages fo affected fhall be conclusive.

Damages to
be afcertain-
ed, &c.

IV. And be it enacted, That the perfons who may conceive themfelves intereft-
ed or benefited by faid road, are hereby required to pay into the hands of the
commiffioners aforefaid, for the ufe of the perfon or perfons in whofe favour fuch
valuation may be made, immediately upon laying out the road aforefaid, what-
ever damages be as aforefaid adjudged to the party fuftaining fuch damages, and
in cafe of failure of payment as aforefaid, this act to be null and void, but in
cafe of compliance with the provifions of this act, the faid road to be confidered
a public road, and to be kept up as other public roads in faid county.

To be paid to
the commif-
fioners, &c.

C H A P. LXXXVI.
A Further fupplement to an act, entitled, An act to empower
Sarah Buchanan, executrix of Archibald Buchanan, deceafed,
Alexander Cowan, Thomas Sim Lee, Daniel of St. Thomas
Jenifer and Benjamin Nicholfon, to fell and difpofe of certain
lands for the purpofes herein after mentioned.

Paffed Janua-
ry 20.

WHEREAS it is reprefented to this general affembly, that the truftees
in the faid act mentioned took upon themfelves the truft by the faid

act repofed in them, and according to the directions of the faid act
make fale of the lands therein mentioned; and that all the truftees in the
faid act mentioned are fince dead, except Thomas Sim Lee, Efquire, and the

Preamble.