Early Laws of New Hampshire Note: This book was written in original Old English. I have transcribed
these Selections from Province of New Hampshire Cappitall Lawes
March 16, 1679 The Generall Lawes and Liberties of the Province of New Hampshire, made by the Generall Assembly in Portsm the
16 of March, 1679, and aproved by the Presid' and Councill. For as much as it hath pleased our Sovereigne Lord
the King, out of his Princely Grace and favour, to take us, the Inhabitants of New Hampshire, into his imediate
Governm' and Protection, the wch, as we are ever bound to acknowledge wth great thankfulnesse, soe we have great
reason to hope and believe y' his Majesty will still continue to countenance and incourage us with y' Injoym' of
such Libertyes, Imnnities and ppties as belong to free borne Englishmen, and whereas his Majesty hath been pleased
by his Letters Pattents, sent to us, to confer such power upon y" Generall Assembly as to make such Lawes
and ordinances as may best sute with y" good Governm' and quiet settlem' of his Majesties subjects within
this Province : It is therefore ordered and inacted by this Generall Assembly and the authority thereof,
that no Act, Imposition, Law or Ordinance be made or imposed upon us but such as shall be made by the said Assembly
and approved by the Presid' and Councill from time to time. That Justice and Right be equally and impshally administered
vnto all: not sold, denied or causelessly deferred unto any. 9 Hen. 3, 29 Stat.; 2 Edw. 3, 8
Stat.; 5 Edw. 3, 9 Stat.; 14 Edw. 28; Edw. 3, 3 Stat. ; 11 R. 2,12,13; Caro. 1,10. CAPPITALL LAWES: IDOLLITRY. BLASPHEMY. TREASON. PUBLIQUE REBELLION . WILFUL MURTHER . MANSLAUGHTER. MURDER. WITCHCRAFT. BEASTIALITY. BUGGERY. If any man lieth with mankind as he lioth w a woman, both of them hath committed
abomination; they shall be surely put to death, unless the one pty were forced or be under 14 years of age; and
all other Sodomitical filthiness shall be sevearly punished according to the nature of it. FALSE WITNESS. And if any pson rise up by false witness, and of purpose to take away
a man's life, he shall be put to death. . MAN STEALING. If any man stealeth mankind, he shall be put to death or otherwise greviously
punished. CURSING PARENTS . A REBELLIOUS SON . RAPE. WILFUL BURNING . CRIMIXALL LAWS. ADULTERY. FORNICATION. BURGLARY. PROFANING THE LORD'S DAY . CONTEMPT OF GOD'S WORD, OR MINISTERS . FORCIBLE DETAINING POSSESSION . CONSPIRICIE AGAINST THIS PROVINCE, ETC . FORGIN'S OF DEEDS . DEFACING RECORDS . NONE TO ENDEAVOR TO CORRUPT OFFICERS . BURNING FENCES . BREAKING DOWN FENCES . DEFACING LANDMARKS . UNLAWFUL GAMING IN PUBL1QUE HOUSES . DRUNKENNESS. FIREINO WOODS . COUNCILLS' POWER IN CRIMINALS . PRISON KEEPER'S CHARGE . MARSHALLS. ALL TRYALLS BY JURY. MARRIAGE. BOUNTY FOR KILLING WOLF . NEAR RELATIONS NOT TO VOTE. NO IMPRISONMENT BEFORE SENTENCE. LEGAL NOTICE IN OASES OF ATTACHMENT . Ye FREEMEN OF EACH TOWNE TO CHUSE THEIR OFFICERS AND PRUDENTIAL OFFICERS . NONE TO CAST BALLAST INTO THE RIVER . AGE TO MAKE A VALID ACT. INNKEEPERS TO SELL NO STRONG DRINKS TO CHILDREN OR A PERSON BEING 3 M" IN TOWN SHALL BE AN INHABITANT, PERSONS SENT FROM OTHER TOWNS THEY ARE SENT FROM, TO NONE TO BRING IN OR ENTERTAIN STRANGERS W'OUT LEAVE .
from: Collections of the New Hampshire Historical Society
containing Province Records and Court Papers
from 1680 to 1692
And Other Articles Relative to the
Early History of the State
Edited by Nathaniel Bouton - Printed 1866
Transcribed by Sandie Cummins
passages, to the best of my ability, exactly as they were presented in the book.
It is Inacted by y" Assembly and ye authority thereof, y' if any pson having had the knowledge of the true
God, openly and manifestly have or worship any other God but the Lord God, he shall be put to death. Ex. 22, 20
; Deu. 13, 5 and 10.
If any pson wthin y" Province professing ye true God shall wittingly and willingly presume to blaspheme the
wholly name
of God, Father, Son or Holy Ghost, w" direct, express, presuptious or high-handed blasphemy, either by willful
or obstinate
denying y" true God or his creation or Governm' of y" world, or shall curse God, Father, Son, or Holy
Ghost, such pson shall be put to death. Levit. 24, 15 and 16.
Treason against y" pson of our Souereigno y" King, the State, and Comon Wealth of England, shall be punished
wth death.
If any man conspire and attempt any Invasion or insurrection or Publique Rebellion against this his Majesties Province,or
shall endeavor to surprise any towue or townes, fort or forts therein, or shall treacherously or pfidiously attempt
the alteration and subversion of the fundamental frame of ye Government, according to his Majesties constitution
by his Letters Patients, every such pson shall be put to death, or otherwise greveously punished.
If any pson shall comitt wilfull murther by killing any man, woe. or child, upon premeditated mallice, hatered
or cruelty, not in a way of necessary and just defence, nor by casualty against his will, he shall be put to death.
If any pson shall slay another through guile, either by poysoning or other such devilish practice, he shall be
put to death.
If any pson shall slay another pson sudenly, in his anger and cruelty of passion, he shall be put to death.
If any Christian, soe called, be a witch, y' is, hath or consulted w' a familliar spirit, he or they shall be put
to death.
If any pson lie w' a beast or bruite creature by carnall copulation, they shall surely be put to death, and ye
beast shall be slaiue and buried, and not eaten.
If any child or children above 16 years old, of competent understanding, shall curse or smite their natural father
or mother, he or they shall be put to death, unless it can be sufficiently testified that the parents have been
very unchristianly negligent in y education of such children, or soe provoked them by extreme cruell correction
y' they have been forced thereunto to preserve themselves from death or maiming.
If any man have a rebellious or stubborne son of sufficient years and vnderstanding, viz. 16 years of age or upwards,
wch
shall not obey ye voyce of his father or ye voyce of his mother, y' when they have chastened him will not hearken
unto them, then shall his father and mother, being his naturall parents, bring him before the Majestrates assembled
in court, and testifie unto them that theire son is rebelleous and stubborne, and will not obey theire voyce and
chastizem' but lives in sundry notorious crimes, such son shall be put to death, or otherwise severely punished.
If any man shall ravish a maid or woeman by committing carnal copulation w' her, that is above 10 years of age,
or if she were undr 10 years of age, though her will was gained by him, he shall be punished w' death, or some
other greivous punishm' as the fact may be circumstanced.
Whosoever shall wilfully or on purpose burn any house, ship, or barque, or any other vessell of considerable vallue,
such pson shall be put to death, or otherwise greviously punished, as ye case may be circumstanced.
It is ordered by the Assemby and the authority thereof that w' pson soever is to answer any criminal ofence, whether
they be in prison or under baile, his case shall be heard and determined at the court y' hath cognizance thereof.
It is Inacted by this Assembly that whosoever shal comitt Adultery w' a married woe: or one bethrothed to another
man, both of them shall be sevearly punished by whiping two severall times, not exceeding 40 lashes, viz'., once
when ye Court is sitting at wch they were convicted of the fact, and ye 2d time as the court shall order, and likewise
shall ware 2 cappitall letters A. D. cut out in cloth and sowed on theire uppermost garm* on theire arms or back,
and if at anytime they shall be found w'hout the said letters so woren whilst in this Governm', to be forthw' taken
and publiquely whiped, and so from time to time as they are found not to weare them.
It is ordered by this Assembly and the authority thereof that if any man comit Fornication with any single woe:
they shall be punished, either by injoyning marriage, or fine or corporall punishm', or all or any of these, as
ye judges of ye court y' hath cognizance of ye case shall appoint, and if any comitt carnall copulation after contract
before marriage, they shall be amerced each of them 50s. and be imprisoned, if the court see reason; and if any
cannot and will not pay ye fine, then to be punished by whiping. And for ye more discountenancing this prevailing
evill, the Assembly hath farther determined y' such as transgress in any of these wayes, and shall be convicted
in publique court, theire fines shall be paid in money.
For as much as many psons of late years have been and are apt to be injurious to the Lives and Goods of others,
notwithstanding all Laws and means to prevent the same, it is therefore ordered by this Assembly and ye authority
thereof y' if any pson shall comitt Burglary by breaking up any dwelling house or ware house, or shall forceably
robb any pson in ye field or high wayes, such offenders shall for the first offence be branded on the right hand
w' ye letter B; and if he shall offend in the like kind a 2d time he shall be branded on the other and be
sovearly whiped, and if either were comitted on ye Lord's day his brand shall be sett on his forehead, and if he
multiplying the same as it is appoynted for profaine swearing; and in case any pson so offending by multiplying
odthes or curses shall not pay his or theire fine forthwith, they shall be whipped or comitted to prison till they
shall pay the same, at
the discresion of ye Court or Judges that shall have cognisence thereof.
Upon information of sundry abuses and misdemeanors comitted by divers persons on ye Lord's Day, It is therefore
ordered and enacted by this Generall Assembly, That w' pson soever w' in this Governm' shall pfane yc Lord's Day,by
doeing unnessary severell work or travell, or by sports or recreations, or by Dining at ordinarys in time of publique
worship, such pson or psons shall forfeite 10s. or be whipt for every such offence, and if it appears y' ye sin
was proudly or presumptiously, and w' a high hand, comitted against the known comand and authority of y' Blessed
God, such person therein dispising and reproaching ye Lord, shall be sovearly punished, at y' Judgm' of ye Court.
It is inacted &c., for as much as yc open contempt of God's word and ye messengers thereof, is ye desolating
sin of t,evell State and Church, It is therefore enacted, that if any Christian, so called, in this Province, shall
speake comtcmpteously of the Holy Scriptures, or of ye holy penmen thereof, such pson or psons shall be punished
by fine or corporall punish m', as ye Court shall soo reason, soe as it extend not to life or limbe, or shall behave
himself contempteously toward the Word of God preached, or any minister thereof called and faithfully dispensing
ye same in any congregation, either by manifest intorupting him in his ministeriall dispensations, or falsly or
prmtorily charging him with teaching error, to y' disparagm' or hinderance of y' work of Christ in his hands ;
or manifestly or contempteously reproach ye wayes, churches or ordinances of Christ, being duely convicted thereof,
he or they, for the first transgression, be amerced 20s. to the province use, or to sett in ve stocks, not exceeding
4 hours; but if he or they go on to transgress in ye same kind, then to be amerced 40s or to be whiped for every
such trancegression.
It is ordered &c., y' where a judgement is given in any Court, for any pson, or house, or lands, upon y' tryal
thereof, or other just cause, if the Pson against whome ye Judgmt is given doth either forceably detaine possession
thereof, either against the officer impowered to serve an execution thereon, or otherwise after execution served,
enter upon it again, and soe retain possession by force, he shall be accounted a high offend' against ye Law, and
breaker of tho publique peace; therefore, speedily to redress such a criminall offence, every of the Councill is
impoured, and by his place hath power to give warrant and comand to ye Marshall officer and other men whome he
thinks meet to be imployed in the case or business, the Marshall or other officers requiring aid greater or lesser
as need require to suppress y' force and give possession to ye owner, and to imprission such as doe appear to be
delinquents and their aiders and abbettors, to be forth coming at ye next Court, y' did give ye Judgm' in the case,
their to make them answer, and whom the Court doth find guilty, to sett such fine or other punishm' upon them,
as the merrit of their severall cases doth require.
It is ordered &c., That whosoever shall disturb or undermine the peace of this Province or Inhabitants thereof,
by plotting w" others, or by his own tumultuous and offenceive carrage, traducing, quarreling, challinging,
or assaulting, or any other way tending to publique disturbance in w' place soever it be done, or shall defame
any Court of Justice, or any of his Majesties Councill, or Judges of any Court in this Province, in respect of
any act or sentence therein passed, be by ye Councill punished by fine, imprisonm', binding to y' peace or good
behaviour, according to the quality and measure of the
offence or disturbance, to them seeming just and eaquall. And that such as beate, hurt or strike any other person,
shall be lyable to pay unto y' ptie hurt or stricken, together w' such fine to the Province, as, on consideration
of the ptie smiting or being smitt and w' instrument, danger more or less, time, place, pvocation, &c., shall
be judged just and reasonable, according to the nature of the offence.
It is ordered, &c., ye if any pson shall forge any deed or conveiance, testim', bond, bill, release, acquittances,
letters of attourney, or any writing, to the injury of another, to prevent equity and justice, he shall pay ye
ptie agreived double damage, and be fined soe much himself, to ye Province vse, and if he cannot pay it, to be
publiquely whiped and be branded with a Roman F in y' forehead.
Be it also enacted, y' if any notary, or keeper of publique records or writings, shall wilfully imbazle or make
away any
such records or writings of concernm' comitted to his keeping and trust, or shall on ppose falsefie or deface them
by raceing
out, adding to them, or otherwise, such corrupt officer shall loose his office, be disfrancezed and burned in the
face, according
to ye circumstances of the case.
And if any person shall endeavour to corrupt any officer y' keepeth such publique records or pap of concernm',
to procure him to deface, corrupt, alter, imbazle any of them, he shall be sevearly punished by fine, imprisonm'
or corporall punishm', as ye matter may be circumstanced. It is inacted by this Assembly, &c., That w' pson
soever, being 16 yeares of age, or upward, shall wittingly or willingly make or publish any lie wch may be tending
to ye damage or hurt of any pticular pson, or w' intent to deceive and abuse the people with false news or reports,
shall be fined for every such defalt 10s., and if ye ptie cannot or will not pay ye fine, then he shall sit in
y' stocks as long as the Court shall think meete and if the offenders shall come to any one of Councill and
own his offence, it shall be in the power of any one of ye Councill afforeed to execute ye law upon him where he
liveth, and spare his appearance at y' Court, but in case when ye lie is pnicious to y' comon weale, it shall be
more sevearly punished according to the nature of it.
It is inacted by this Assembly, &c., That if any pson shall willfully, and of sett purpose, borne any man's
fence, he shall make good the damage to the ptio wronged, and be amerced 40s. and be bound to the good behavior,
if the Courte semeete.
It is further ordered, That if any pson shall wilfully and on purpose brake down an other man's fence, gate or
bridge, to ye
anoyance either of a pticular person or a neighborhood, he shall make up such fence, gate or bridge, at his own
charge,
pay ye damage thereby sustained, and be amersed according to the nature of the offence, sauing the right of him
y' pulls up
a fence sett on his land w' out his approbation.
And whosoever shall pluck up, remove or deface any Landmark or bound betweene ptie and ptie, y' hath been or shall
be orderly set up by psons thereunto appointed, he or they shall be fined from 20s. to 5 pounds, as the offence
may be circumstanced.
Be it further inacted by this Assembly, &c., That noe Inn houlder or puhlique house keeper shall suffer any
unlawfull games, nor any kind of gaming, in or about his house, for money or moneyes worth liquors, wine, beer
or the like, on forfeit of 40s., to be paid to the master or keeper of such house, and 10s. by each gamester for
every such default. Be it further inacted, y' no pson in this Province shall play at cards, dice, or any such unlawful
games wherein there is Lottery, at any private house or elsewhere in the Province, on penalty of 10s. fine, to
be paid by evry one y' soe playeth, and 20s. by the master or head of a family y' shall know of
and suffer any such gameing where he hath to comand.
For as much as it is observed y' ye sin of drunkenness doth greatly abound, to the dishonor of God, impoverishing
of such as fall into it, and grief of such as are sober minded, for ye prevention of ye growing and prevailing
evill, It is inacted by this Assembly and ye authority thereof, y' w'soever pson shall be found drunk at any time
in any Taverne, ordinary alehouse, or elsewhere in this Province, and be legally convicted thereof, he or they
shall for ye first defalt be fined 5s. to ye use of the Province — for the 2nd defalt 10s.; and if he or they cannot
or will not pay ye fine, then to be sett in ye Stocks not exceeding 2 houres, and for the 3rd transgression
to be bound to ye good behavior; and if he shall transgress a 4th time, to pay 5 pounds, or be publiquely whipt,
and so from time to time as they shall be found trancegresiors in that kind. By drunkness is to be understood one
y' lisps or falters in his speach by reason of over much drink, or y' staggers in his going, or y' vomitts by reason
of excessive drinking, or that cannot by reason thereof follow his calling.
Whereas many have sustained great damage by indiscreet and untimely fireing of the woods, It is ordered, that none
shall tire ye woods at any time but between ye 1" of March and y' latter end of Aprill; and if any shall unessessarily
fire the woods, or not observe this order, damifie any, he shall make good the damage and be fined 10s., or sett
in the Stocks.
It is hereby inacted, y' it shall be in ye power of any member of the Councill to hear and determine all criminall
cases where the fine doth not exceed 40s., or ye punishm' to stripes or committing to stocks, always allowing liberty
to the delinquent of appeale to ye next Court for tryalls of actions w' in y' Province ; and further, in cases
doubtful or difficult, it shall be in ye power of ye Judge before whom ye pson is convicted, to bind them over
to the next Court in this Province, to comitt to prison as ye fact may deserue, allowing also for entering Judgm'
and filing evidences 2s.
It is ordered by this Assembly and y' authority thereof, y' no Prison keeper w'hin this Province shall suffer any
pson to goe w'out the presinks of the sd prison, and y' it shall be lawful for any officer w'in this Province,
if he have occation to carry any prisoner to 'the neerest Prison in the Province, and y' if any Prison keeper shall
suffer any such prisoner to goe w'out the presinks of y' sd prison, they shall be liable to sattisfie the whole
debt for wch ye sd Prisoner was imprisoned, and the sd keeper's fees shall be 5s. for turning the key, to be paid
by the person imprisoned, before he be set at liberty.
It is ordered by this Assembly and the authority thereof, y' it shall be lawfull for either of the marshalls in
this Province to levy executions, attachm" and warrants in any p' of ye sd Province, and y' feese for serving
attachm" w'in theire owne townes shall be 2s. for evry attachm", to be paid by them y' imploy them before
they shall be compelled to serue it, and 2 a warr: for warr'1 served upon criminall offenders.
It is further enacted y' all tryalls, whether capitall, criminall, or betweene man and man, both respecting merit
ine affairs as well as others, be tryed by a Jury of 12 good and lawfull men, according to the commendable custome
of England, excepting the ptie or pties concerned doe refer it to the bench, or some express law doth refer it
to their judgm' and tryall, or the tryall of some other court where, jury is not, in wch case any ptie agreived
may apealo, and shall have tryall by a jury; and it shall be in ye liberty of both plan' and defend', or any delinquent
y' is to be tryed by a jury, to challenge any of ye jury, and if ye challenge be found just and reasonable by ye
bench, it shall be allowed him, and others w'ont just exception shall be impanelled in theire roome; and if it
be in case of life and death the prisoner shall have libertye to except against 6 or 8 of ye jury w'out giving
any reason for his exceptions.
And as the ordinance of Marriage is Hon'able amongst all, so should it be accordingly solemnised. It is therefore
ordered by this Assembly and the authority thereof, that any member of ye Councill shall have liberty to joyne
any persons together in marriage ; and for prevention of unlawfull marriages it is ordered y' no pson shall be
joyned in marriage before the intention of the pties pceeding therein have been 3 times published, at some publiquo
meeting in ye townes, ye pties, or either of them doe ordinarily reside, or be sett up in writing upon some part
of theire meeting house door, in publique view, there to stand soe as it may be easily read, by y' space of 14
dayes.
It is ordered by this Assembly y' evry pson w'in this Province y' shall, after ye date hereof, kill any wolf w'hin
this Province, they shall forthw'h carry the head of every such woulfe unto ye constable of ye same Towne, who
shall bury the same by cutting the eares off, and ye sd constable shall give y' s" ptie a sirtifficate,
attested under his hand, of ye day and ye rec' thereof; and ye sd ptie procuring such a surtificate shall be allowed
by ye Treasurer of ye Province for every woulf soe killed 40 out of ye next rate made for the Province; but if
the ptie be an Indian that killed ye woulfe, he shall be allowed but 10s., and the sd Indian shall make proof that
he killed ye woulfe w'in this sd Province. •
For preventing all occation of ptiallity in Courts of Justice, and avoiding of jellousies, It is ordered y' in
all civill cases betweene ptie and ptie, where the judges or jurors are neerly related to either ptie, as ye relation
of ffather and son, either by nature or marriage, brother and brother, unkle and nephew, landlord and tennant,
y' judge or juror soe related shall not vote or give sentance in any case wherein his relations are ye pties concerned.
Be it farther enacted y' no man's pson shall be restrained or imprisoned by any authority w' soever
before the law hath sentanced him thereunto, if he can and will put in suffisient security, bail or main price,
for his appearance and good behavior in y' mean time, unless it be in crimes capitall, contempt in open Court,
but in such cases where some express act of court doth allow it.
And it is farther ordered, y' in all attachm'' of goods and chattells, Land or Heredittom'' by ye officer, notice
shall be given to the ptie against whome the suite is comenced, either by reading ye attachm' to him, or leaving
a sumons or a copia of ye attachm', under ye hand of ye officer, at his house or place of usiall abode, or else
ye case shall not proceed; but if ye ptie be out of y' Province and not like to returne before ye court, ye case
shall proceed a month after, and execution shall not be granted untill ye plaintife have given suffissient security
to respond, if ye defendant shall reverse ye judgment w'in the space of one year.
MAKE ORDERS FOR THEIB TOWNES.—PENALTY FOR OFFENCES.
Whereas pticular Townes have many things wch concerne themselves and ye ordering of yr owne affairs of disposing
of
business in their owne Towne, It is therefore ordered y' ye freemen of every towne shall have power to chuse yr
ownepticular officers, as Consta:, Grand Juror, and Jury of Tryalls, Surveyors for ye highwayes, and ye like, annually,
or otherwais as need requires, to make such laws and constitutions as may concerne ye well faro of ye towne; provided
they be not of a criminall but of a prudenciall nature, and y' the penalty exceed not 20s for one offence,
and that they be not repugnante to ye publique laws and orders of this Province; and if any Inhabitant shall neglect
or refuse to observe them, they shall have power to levy the appointed penalty by distress; and if any man shall
behave himself offencively at any towne meeting, ye rest yr present shall have power to sentence him for such offense,
soe as ye penalty exceed not 20s. .
And ye freemen of every towne shall have power to chuse yearly, or for a less time, a convenient number of fitt
men to
order ye prudenciall affaires of ye Towne, provided nothing be done by them contrary to ye Lawes and orders of
this Province,
and ye ye number doe not exceed 7 for one towne; and ye selectmen in evry towne shall take care from time to time
to order and dispose all single psons and inmates w'hin y' towues to service or otherwise; and if any pson be greived
at any such order or disposall, they have liberty to appeale to the next court of this Province, and y' by law
hath prop, cognicence thereof.
It is ordered y' no ship or other vessell shall cast out any ballast in ye channel, or other place inconvenient,
in any Harbor or River w'in this Province, vpon ye penalty of tenn pounds.
It is ordered by the Generall Assembly, &c., That no pson in this Province shall have power to pass
away lands, Herridittam", or any other estates, or make any legall or vallued act, or be capable of suing
or being sued in any of our Courts, in his or her own pson, vntill they attaine vnto ye age of 21 years; but any
orphan may choose yr Gardean, to act for them at ye age of 14 years, to secure or Defend ye estates During y' minority;
also y' all parents and masters shall have powerin all civill cases to prosecute and Defend yr Rights of y' children,
and in all criminal cases every person, younger as well as elder, shall be Lyable to answer in yr owne person for
any misdomeanures charged upon them, and may also Inform against any other person to any Court, member of y' Coun'l,
or Grand Jury man w'in the Province.
SERVANTS.
Be it also enacted, y' no ordinary or Inkeeper suffer any Servants, or Children under family governing to buy (or
to set drinking of) Liquor, wine or other drink, in their houses or where they have to doe, or to spend their time
there, w'out ye Leave of ye parents or Masters, unless it be in Case of necessity, on pain of 10s forfeiture
for every offence, to ye informer and ye other to ye poore of ye towne.
EXCEPT.
Likewise it is further ordered, y' if any pson come into any house w'hin this province, and be sick or
Lame, he shall be relieved by y' towne where he was soe long entertained, but if y' Constable of y' Towne, or any
of ye selectmen, have given warning to such pson w'n yc space of 3 moth"' y' ye towne will not admit of him,
if such pson shall stand in need of Relief ye towne shall supply his necessity, until ye Presid' and Counn can
dispose of him, as to ym shall seem most just and Equall.
PAY THE CHARGE .
It is also ordered, y' if any Children or elder pson shall be sent or come from one towne to another,
to school, or to nurse, or otherwise to be educated, or to a phisition or Cherurgion, to be cured or healed, if
such shall stand in need of Relief they shall be Relieved at the charge of y' towne from whence they came or doe
belong, and not by ye towne to wch they are sent; and in case they bo sent from any towne w'out ye Province, the
taker, nurse, phisition or Chirnrgion to whome they are
sent, shall take good security to save ye town and Province chargless, or shall be Kesponcable themselves, for
such as need Releife.
Be it also enacted, y' no pson, m"e of any vessel), or other, do bring into any of our townes w'hin this Province,
any pson or psons, w'hout ye approbation of ye predit or 3 of y' Coun', or ye selectmen of each Towne, nor y' any
Inhabitant wttin this Province, doe entertaine in his family any pson y' is not soe allowed, for more than one
weeke, w'out giving notice thereof to 1 of ye members of ye Coun' or to ye Selectmen of ye towne to wch they
belong, on penalty of forfeiting 51. to ye towne, and be lyable to be sued and fine bond to free ye towne for Damage.
Provided this ordr shall not hinder any man from taking of an apprentice or Cov'ent servant, for a year or years,
y' is at present sound and well; and if such servant shall fall sick or Lame he shall be maintained by his Master
during ye Date of his Indentures or Covenant, and afterwards by y' towne, in case of necessity.
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