UP The MS. from which the acts of this session were printed, is now in the library of Congress at Washington.

Plan of encreasing the

"In 1634. The country divided into 8 shires, which "are to be governed as the shires in England.

"The names of the shires are,

"And Lieuten'ts. to be appointed the same as in "England, and in a more especial manner to take care "of the warr against Indians. And as in England sheriffs shall be elected to have the same power as there; "and sergeants, and bailiffs where need requires.'

66

"

"Commissioners, instead of £5 causes, may deter"mine £10 causes and one of the council to have no"tice to attend and assist in each court of shire."

ATT A

GRAND ASSEMBLY

6TH JANUARY, 1639-SR FRANCIS WYATT, Gov.

[From a MS.* belonging to Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, which was purchased by him from the executor of Richard Bland, dec'd.]

ACT I.

TOBACCO by reason of excessive quantities made being soe low that the planters could not subsist by

* This MS. volume is lettered" WRITINGS RELATING TO VIRGINIA," and contains most of the old charters, instructions to the governors, &c. At the end of the volume is an abstract of public papers, taken from the rolls, the number and page of which are referred to; but without regard to chronological order. The acts of 1639, appear to be a mere abridgement; aud, from the hand-writing and orthography, it seems to have been made long posterior to their date. This abstract concludes with a list of the governors of Virginia, down to the year 1722, at which time, or shortly afterwards, it was probably compiled. The hand-writing on comparison appears to be that of "R. HICKMAN," by whom, as "CLERK OF THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE, several public papers are attested.

value of tobacco

Quantity li

half the good

it or be inabled to raise more staple comodities or pay their debts, Enacted that the tobacco of that year be viewed by sworn viewers and the rotten and unmer- mited-all chantable and half the good to be burned. So the whole the bad and quantitie made would come to 1,500000 without strip- to be deing and smoothing: and next 2 years 170lb. tobacco stroyed. per poll stript aud smoothed was to be made which Creditor to would make in the whole about 1,300000lb, and all certain part creditors were to take 40lb. for a hundred.

receive a

of his debt only.

ACT II.

NOE man to be obliged to perform above half his Relief of covenants about freighting tobacco in 1639.

debtors, on tobacco contracts.

ACT III.

WHEREAS by reason of the late proclamation prohibiting (until further order from this Assembly) all trade for tobacco, diverse persons were indebted for money whose debts are to be satisfied in tobacco at 3d. per pound and merchants to advance but 30 per cent. on their goods and both debtor and creditor to be accountable according to the sale of the tobacco in Englaud or the debtor may consign his tobacco and pay money.

Further re

lief of debtor and creditor.

ACT IV..

Limitation of

AFTER the planters debts are paid they shall not price of todispose of the remainder of their tobacco made 1639 bacco. under 3d. per pound at the first peny.

ACT V.

ton of tobac

A TUN of tobacco to consist of 4 hhds. and it any Contents of R master of a ship exacted above £6 per tun freight he was to be fined at pleasure of Governor and Council.

co.

ACT VI.

AFTER 10th May debtors to make tender of their flow tobac tobacco before the viewers.

co to be ten dered.

Public charges, ministers, &c.

Debtors to pay 2 thirds of their debts only.

Price of tobacco made 1640.

All persons to be armed except negroes.

James City the metropo

lis.

Concerning wine.

Orchards.

ACT VII.

HOW public charges and impositions is to be paid, vizt. ministers 10lb. per poll to maintain himself, clk. and sexton; muster master gen'l. 3lb; capt. of the fort and ten guards, 3lb. Two lbs. to be raised next year, to build a new fort at Point Comfort and 2lb. more to build a state house.

ACT VIII.

NOT to pay above 2 thirds of their debts during the stint.

ACT IX.

TOBACCO made 1640 not to be sold under 12d per pound and 2s per lb. next year's crop, on forfeiture of the whole crop.

ACT X.

ALL persons except negroes to be provided with arms and amunition or be fined at pleasure of the Governor and Council.

ACT XI.

JAMES CITY to be the chief town and Governor is to have his residence there.

ACT XII.

AN act against buying wine or liquors repeal

ed.

ACT XIII.

AN act to plant orchards made in 1636 revived.

ACT XIV.

ANY person may export to New England or other neighboring colony the 7th head of neat cattle and no more under penalty double value.

ACT XV.

NO person to buy corn of the neighbouring colonies. At what prior Indians unless it be 16s. per barrel, and then ces corn may be bought & must first obtain Governor's commission for it, and when corn is under 12s. by such commission, may export it.

sold.

ACT XVII.

AN act in 1637, which makes it felony to barter with the Indians repealed, and enacted that for trading with them for arms and amunition shall be felony, and for other commodities imprisonment at discretion of the Governor and Council.

ACT XVI.

A DEED or mortgage made without delivery of possession to be adjudged fraudulent unless entered in when deem

Deeds and mortgages,

some court.

ed fraudulent.

ACT XVIII.

PLACES to be paled in to bury the dead in.

A certain proportion of cattle may be exported.

ACT XIX.

NO sheriff to compell any man to go off the plantation where he lives to choose burgisses.

Trading

with the In

dians.

Burying grounds.

Burgesses, how chosen:

ACT XX.

CHURCH wardens to present to monthly courts, and the court is to inflict punishments if within their church warcognizance.

Duty of

dens.

Shooting and hunting bow

exercised.

Boundaries of Isle of Wight and Lower Norfolk counties.

Hogs to be confined.

Quitrents

when pay. able.

Kiskyake parish.

Demurrage of vessels.

Privilege of certain plant

ers.

Council and servants exempted.

ACT XXI.

NOT to shoot or hunt on other men's land that is seated and bounds marked under penalty of 40s. but may pursue deer and shoot on their own land.

ACT XXII.

WHAT shall be the bounds of Isle of Wight, Upper and Lower Norfolk Counties.

ACT XXIII.

HOGGS to be confined in pens by night and to have keepers by day or owner to satisfie all damages done by them.

ACT XXIV.

SEVEN years after date of patents, 2s. per hundred acres quitrents to be paid yearly, at some convenient place to be appointed in each county.

ACT XXV.

CHISKIACK to be a parish.

ACT XXVI.

NO demorage to be allowed for the stay of shipsaccording to a proclamation for stinting and regulating tobacco.

ACT XXVII.

A MAN that has a wife or child in England that did formerly reside here may be allowed a proportion of tobacco.

ACT XXVIII.

COUNCIL and 10 servants each, exempted from publick charges.