Maryland General Assembly Pertaining To The Acadians aka French Neutrals

Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1755-1756
From the Maryland State Archives

Volume 52, Page 543

	Acts. 543
	Provided nevertheless, That if his most Sacred Majesty should be graciously pleased to order the said Inhabitants of Nova-Scotia to any other Part of his Majesty's Dominions or elsewhere, that then, in such Case, all Manner of Contracts, which shall have been made by the Justices aforesaid with any Person or Persons, with regard to such Child or Children, shall be absolutely void and of one Effect; and the said Justices shall make the Person or Persons, to whom any of the Children aforesaid shall have been bound, such an Allow- ance in the County Levy, as they shall think just and reasonable. And be it further Enacted, That the Constables of every Hundred	Liber H. S. No. 1 [Proviso.]
	shall, and they are hereby directed to take and return to the next August Court of their respective Counties, to be entered in the Records of the said County, an exact List of all and every such French Neutral, in their several Hundreds, distinguishing therein the Men, Women, Boys, and Girls; and on Failure thereof, every such Constable shall be adjudged, by the Court to whom such List should be returned, in a summary Way, to pay the Sum of Thirty Shillings Current Money, to be applied for the Use of the County. Provided always, and be it Enacted, That no Constable shall return	[Constables to return an exact List of all the French Neutrals, in their several Hundreds, to next August Court.]
	any of the said Neutrals as Taxables, but that all and every Neutral French Man shall be exempt from the Payment of all Taxes. And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That if	[Proviso.]
	any of the said late Inhabitants of Nova-Scotia commonly called French Neutrals, shall be found travelling above the Distance of ten Miles from the Place of his or her Abode, or out of the County where he, she or they, shall reside, without a Pass from some Pro- vincial or County Magistrate, describing the Person or Persons of such French Neutrals, mentioning their Place of Residence, and whither they are going, and limitting a Time for their Return, it	[French Neutrals not to travel ten Miles from their Place of Abode, without a Pass.]
	shall and may be lawful for any Person or Persons to take up such French Neutral or Neutrals, and him, her, or them, carry before some Justice of the Peace; and if, on Examination, it shall appear to such Justice, that such French Neutral or Neutrals are travelling beyond the Place or Places, or after the Time mentioned in the said Pass, it shall and may be lawful for such Justice, and he is hereby required to commit such Person or Persons to the Public Goal of the County where he, she or they reside, there to remain for the Space of five Days, unless he, she or they give Security for his, her or their good Behaviour and Appearance at the next County Court. And if any of the said French Neutrals shall be found in any other County, than that in which they are registered as aforesaid, without such Pass as aforesaid; it shall be lawful for any Person to take up such French Neutral or Neutrals, and carry them before some Magistrate of the County, who is hereby impowered to confine such French Neutral or Neutrals, until, upon Examination, it can be known from what	p. 282

		544 Assembly Proceedings, Feb. 23-May 22, 1756.
	Liber H. S. No. 1	County they departed, and then, by Warrant under his Hand, to order him, her or them to be conveyed back, from Constable to Constable, to the County where they belong, or shall properly reside, there to be confined for the Space of five Days, and then sent by the Sheriff of such County to their respective Places of Residence, unless Security be given for his, her or their good Behaviour and Appear- ance at the next County Court. And be it further Enacted, That if any of the said late Inhabitants
	[Neutrals who shall refuse to work, how to be treated.]	of Nova Scotia, after the first Day of June next, being Persons of Ability of Body, shall use wandering and loitering, and refuse to work for reasonable Wages, every such Person shall, upon their Apprehension by Order of any Justice of the Peace, be sent to the Public Goal of the County where he, she or they shall reside, there to remain until he, she or they shall be willing to Labour for Sub- sistence. This Act to continue for one Year from the End of this Session
	[Continu- ance.] p. 283	of Assembly, and no longer. 22.d May I7s6 On behalf of the Right 22d May 1756 Read and assented to Honourable the Lord Read and assented to by the Lower house of Proprietary of this Prov- by the upper house of assembly ince I will this be a Law assembly Signed p order Hor.o Sharpe Signed p order MMacnemara Cl lo ho JRoss Cl Up Ho.
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