3270121. A Bill concerning Wills; the Distribution of Intestate’s Estates; and the Duty of Executors and Administrators, 18 … (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly that every person aged twenty one years or upwards, being of sound mind, and not a married woman, shall have power at his will and pleasure, by last will and testament, in writing, to devise all the estate, right, title, and interest, in possession, reversion, or remainder, which he hath, or at the time of his death shall have, of, in, or to lands,...
3270256. A Bill concerning Aliens, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that all manner of aliens, of whatsoever nation or country they be, being in amity with the United States of America, together with their families, agents and servants whom they bring, shall be welcome, and freely may come within the commonwealth and there be conversant to merchandise and tarry, or travel, as long as them liketh, and they bear themselves...
3270360. A Bill concerning Guardians, Infants, Masters, and Apprentices, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that any father, even if he be not twenty one years old, may, by deed, or last will and testament, either of them being executed in presence of two creditable witnesses, grant or devise the custody and tuition of his child, which had never been married, although it be not born, during any part of the infancy of such child, to whomsoever he will; and such...
3270495. A Bill Constituting Justices of the Peace and County Courts, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the Aldermen to be elected for every county, who by that election shall stand nominated to be Justices for the said county, if they were not such before, shall on the first Monday in after their election, if fair, if not, on the next fair day, Sunday excluded, laying aside all excuses, other than grievous sickness, convene at the court-house of the...
3270519. A Bill for Establishing Cross Posts, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
For the more general diffusion of public intelligence among the citizens of this commonwealth and the maintenance of correspondence between friends and merchants, be it enacted by the General Assembly, that across the post road, which is, or shall be hereafter established through this commonwealth, by Congress, according to the powers with which they are invested by the confederating states of...
3270623. A Bill Securing the Rights Derived from Grants to Aliens, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that those citizens who heretofore were aliens, and had not been naturalized, shall be deemed to have been able to hold the lands, tenements, or hereditaments granted to them by the crown, or conveyed to them by others, so that all who deriving the rights and titles they claim under such grants or conveyances, either by color of hereditary succession or...
3270758. A Bill Directing What Prisoners Shall Be Let to Bail, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
For ascertaining in what cases persons apprehended on suspicion of felony shall, or shall not, be admitted to bail, Be it enacted by the General Assembly that those shall be let to bail who are apprehended for any crime not punishable in life or limb: And if the crime be so punishable, but only a light suspicion of guilt fall on the party he shall in like manner, be bailable: But if the crime...
3270862. A Bill for the Restraint, Maintenance, and Cure of Persons not Sound in Mind, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the present directors of the hospital for reception of persons of unsound minds, and their successors, to be chosen when vacancies happen, by joint ballot of both Houses of General Assembly, are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate, to have perpetual continuance, by the name of the Directors of the Hospital, for the maintenance and cure of...
3270997. A Bill for Licensing Counsel, Attorneys at Law, and Proctors, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no person, except the Attorney General, shall be permitted by any court to practice therein as a Counsel, Attorney at law, or Proctor, unless he shall heretofore have obtained a license, in the manner prescribed by the law then in force, or until he shall obtain a license, in writing, from three of those, who shall be at that time, Judges of the High...
3271025. A Bill to Prevent Frauds and Perjuries, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no action shall be brought, whereby to charge any executor or administrator upon any special promise, to answer any debt or damages out of his own estate; or whereby to charge the defendant upon any special promise to answer for the debt, default or miscarriage of another person, or to charge any person upon any agreement made upon consideration of...
32711100. A Bill Directing the Method of Proceeding upon Impeachments, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the process against any person impeached by resolution of the House of Delegates shall be summons, attachments and distress, bearing teste, the first of them the day of emanation, and the others the return-day of the process preceeding, and shall be issued and signed by the clerk of the said court. A copy of the articles of impeachment shall be...
3271264. A Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments in Cases Heretofore Capital, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas it frequently happens that wicked and dissolute men resigning themselves to the dominion of inordinate passions, commit violations on the lives, liberties and property of others, and, the secure enjoyment of these having principally induced men to enter into society, government would be defective in it’s principal purpose were it not to restrain such criminal acts, by inflicting due...
3271399. A Bill to Prevent the Sale of Public Offices, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that if any person shall, for valuable consideration, dispose of any office which concerns the receipt, or the controlment or auditing accounts, of the public revenue, taxes, or duties; the office of Attorney for the commonwealth, clerk of the Council, or of any other public board, clerk of a Court of Record, sheriff, Naval-Officer, Advocate, Register, or...
3271427. A Bill concerning the Dower and Jointures of Widows, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that a widow after the death of her husband, shall tarry in the mansion house of her husband and the plantation thereto belonging, rent free, until her dower shall be assigned her. And if she be thereof in the meantime deforced, she shall have a vicontiel writ in the nature of the writ de quarentin habend, directed to the sheriff, whereupon such...
3271531. A Bill for Levying County Rates, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the Justices of every county, at some court, to be held for their county, between the last day of April and second Tuesday in July, in every year, shall make up in their minutes an account of all expences incurred by the said court, under authority of law, and remaining unpaid, stating therein the sums due, for what, and to whom due, and all credits...
32716102. A Bill for Regulating Proceedings in Courts of Common Law, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that all writs, given by the twenty-fourth chapter of the statutes, made in the thirteenth year of the reign of King Edward, the first, of England, and heretofore in use, shall continue to be used, in the same manner as if that statute were hereby re-enacted. Actions of account may be maintained against the representatives of deceased guardians, bailiffs,...
3271766. A Bill concerning Treasons, Felonies and Other Offences Committed Out of the Jurisdiction of this Commonwealth, 18 … (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that all high treasons, misprisions and concealments of high treasons and other offences, except piracies and felonies committed by any citizen of this commonwealth, in any place out of the jurisdiction of the courts of common law of this commonwealth, and all felonies committed by citizen against citizen in any such place, other than the high seas, shall...
3271870. A Bill for Preserving the Privileges of Ambassadors, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
For preserving the privileges of Ambassadors and other public ministers from other states, it is declared by the General Assembly, that all process whereby the person of any such Ambassador, or other public minister, authorised and received as such by this commonwealth, or by the Congress of the American States, in union with this commonwealth, or any his domestic servants whom he brought with...
3271929. A Bill Providing that Wrongful Alienations of Lands Shall Be Void So Far as They Be Wrongful, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that all alienations and warranties of lands, tenements and hereditaments made by any purporting to pass or assure a greater right or estate than such person may lawfully pass or assure, shall operate as alienations or warranties of so much of the right and estate in such lands, tenements, or hereditaments as such person might lawfully convey; but shall...
3272033. A Bill for Ascertaining the Salaries and Fees of Certain Officers, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the salaries and fees, ascertained by the table hereunto annexed, shall be paid to the officers therein mentioned, the salaries out of the public treasury, and the fees by the persons for whom the services, opposite to which the fees are extended, shall be respectively performed. The clerk, or register, of every court, shall, within six months after...
32721104. A Bill Directing the Method of Trying Slaves Charged with Treason or Felony, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the Justices of every county shall be Justices of Oyer and Terminer, for trying slaves charged with treason or felony: Which trials shall be by five at the least, without juries, upon legal evidence, at such times as the sheriffs shall appoint, not being less than five, nor more than ten, days after the offenders shall have been committed to jail. No...
3272268. A Bill for the Employment, Government and Support of Malefactors Condemned to Labour for the Commonwealth, 18 June … (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that malefactors condemned by judgment of law to hard labour, in the public works, in punishment of their crimes, shall be employed to row in the gallies of the commonwealth, or to work in the lead mines, or on fortifications or such other hard and laborious works, for the behoof of the commonwealth, as by the Governor and Council, in their discretion,...
3272372. A Bill Forbidding and Punishing Affrays, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no man great nor small, of what condition soever he be, except the ministers of justice in executing the precepts of the Courts of Justice, or in executing of their office, and such as be in their company assisting them be so hardy to come before the Justices of any court, or other of their ministers of justice doing their office, with force and arms...
3272435. A Bill to Prevent the Circulation of Private Bank Notes, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that it shall not be lawful for any person to offer in payment a bank bill, or note for money, payable to bearer, and whosoever shall offend herein shall not only forfeit, to the informer, ten times the value of the sum mentioned in such bill or note, but may be apprehended by warrant of a Justice, and, upon due proof of the fact made to him, or upon his...
32725106. A Bill concerning Partitions and Joint Rights and Obligations, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that all joint tenants or tenants in common who now are, or hereafter shall be of any estates of inheritance in their own rights, or in the right of their wives, and all joint tenants or tenants in common who now hold, or hereafter shall hold, jointly, or in common, for term of life or years, [and joint tenants, or tenants in common, where one or some of...
32726110. A Bill Providing That Actions Popular, Prosecuted by Collusion, Shall Be No Bar to Those Which Be Pursued with Good … (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that if any person hereafter sue with good faith, any action popular, and any defendant, in the same action, plead any manner of recovery by action popular, in bar of the said action, or that he before that time barred any plaintiff in any such action popular, then the plaintiff in the action taken with good faith may aver, that the said recovery in the...
3272774. A Bill against Conveying or Taking Pretensed Titles, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no person shall convey or take, or bargain to convey or take, any pretensed title to any lands or tenements, unless the person conveying or bargaining to convey, or those under whom he claims shall have been in possession of the same, or of the reversion or remainder thereof one whole year next before. And he who offendeth herein knowingly shall...
327282. A Bill concerning the Election of Members of General Assembly, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the Delegates for the several counties, and the City of Williamsburg and Borough of Norfolk, and the six Senators for one of the four classes of districts, in the room of those who will annually be displaced, shall be chosen, in the manner hereafter directed, on the first Monday of September in every year, and shall meet together, and with the...
3272937. A Bill to Prevent Losses by Pirates, Enemies, and Others on the High Seas, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that when any ship of this commonwealth shall have been defended against pirates or enemies and brought to her port of delivery, and in making such defence any of the officers or seamen shall have been killed or wounded, the Judges of the Admiralty, on the petition of the master or seamen; shall call unto them four or more good and substantial merchants,...
3273041. A Bill for Preventing Infection of the Horned Cattle, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the driving of cattle into, or through, the commonwealth, or any part thereof, if it be not to remove them from one plantation to another of the same owner, or to be used at his house, shall be deemed a nuisance, unless the driver shall produce to any freeholder of a county, wherein the drove is passing, who shall require it, a bill of health, signed...
32731108. A Bill for Speedy Recovery of Money Due from Certain Persons to the Public, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that when any person, who hath received or shall receive public money from the Treasurer, for recruiting or paying the army, building, rigging, or furnishing ships or vessels of war, erecting fortifications, buying clothes, provision, arms, or ammunition, erecting or prosecuting public manufactories, or for other public use, hath not applied, or shall not...
32732112. A Bill Providing a Means to Help and Speed Poor Persons in Their Suits, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Where it is intended that indifferent justice shall be had and administered to all the citizens of this commonwealth, as well to the poor as rich, which poor citizens be not of ability, nor power, to sue according to the laws of this land for redress of injuries and wrongs to them daily done, as well concerning their persons and their inheritance, as other causes; For remedy whereof, in behalf...
3273376. A Bill Prescribing the Punishment of Those Who Sell Unwholesome Meat or Drink, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that a butcher that selleth the flesh of any animal dying, otherwise than by slaughter, or slaughtered when diseased, or a baker, brewer, or distiller, who selleth unwholesome bread or drink shall, on conviction the first time, be amerced; the second time he shall suffer judgment of the pillory, and the third time he shall be imprisoned and make fine; and...
3273480. A Bill for Amending the Constitution of the College of William and Mary, and Substituting More Certain Revenues for … (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas a scheme for cultivating and disseminating useful knowledge in this country, which had been proposed by some of its liberal minded inhabitants, before the year 1690 of the Christian epocha, was approved, adopted, and cherished, by the General Assembly, upon whose petition King William and Queen Mary of England, to the crown whereof the people here at that time acknowledged themselves,...
327354. A Bill Empowering the Governor, with Advice of the Privy Council, to Lay Embargoes, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that it shall be lawful for the Governor, with advice of the Privy Council, whenever, before the next session of General Assembly, they shall judge it to be for the good of the commonwealth, by his proclamation, published in the Virginia Gazette, to prohibit, during such time, to be therein limitted, as they shall think the exigency will probably...
3273639. A Bill concerning Estrays, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that it shall be lawful for any person, by himself, or his agent, to take up any estray on his own land; and having taken it, he, or his agent, shall forthwith give information thereof to some Justice of the Peace, for the said county, who shall thereupon issue his warrant to three disinterested freeholders, of the neighbourhood, commanding them, having...
3273743. A Bill for Preservation of Deer, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that it shall not be lawful for any person to kill, hunt, or course any wild deer whatever, not being more than twelve months old, or in any year called bissextile or leap year; or to kill, hunt or course in any other year, a wild buck, after the first day of December, and before the first day of August, or a wild doe, between the first day of January,...
32738114. A Bill Declaring When the Death of Persons Absenting Themselves Shall be Presumed, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that any person absenting himself beyond sea, or elsewhere, for seven years successively, shall be presumed to be dead, in any case wherein his death shall come in question, unless proof be made that he was alive within that time. But an estate recovered in any such case, if in a subsequent action or suit the person presumed to be dead shall be proved to...
3273978. A Bill for Compelling Vessels and Persons Coming, and Goods Brought from Infected Places, to Perform Quarantine, 18 … (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that vessels, persons, and merchandize, coming or brought into any place within this commonwealth from any other part of the world, whence the Governor, with advice of his council, shall judge it probable, that any plague, or other infectious disease, may be brought, shall be obliged to make their quarantine in such place, during such time and in such...
3274082. A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Well aware that the opinions and belief of men depend not on their own will, but follow involuntarily the evidence proposed to their minds; that Almighty God hath created the mind free, and manifested his supreme will that free it shall remain by making it altogether insusceptible of restraint ; that all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments, or burthens, or by civil...
327416. A Bill Making Provision against Invasions and Insurrections, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
For making provision against invasions and insurrections, and laying the burthen thereof equally on all: Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the division of the militia of each county into ten parts, [made under the laws heretofore in force, shall be] kept up in the following manner: The commanding officer of every county, within one month after every general muster, shall enroll,...
3274210. A Bill for the Annual Appointment of Delegates to Congress, and of a Member for the Committee of the States, 18 June … (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that at the first session of every General Assembly there shall be chosen by joint ballot of both Houses, seven persons to act as Delegates for this commonwealth in General Congress, from the first Monday in November next ensuing, the said election for the term of one year. Four of the said Delegates at the least, shall be always at Congress during its...
3274345. A Bill for Licensing and Regulating Taverns, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that it shall not be lawful for any one to keep a tavern, before they shall have obtained a license for that purpose, from the court of the county in which the tavern is, or, if it be in Williamsburg, from the court of that city; and if any one, without such authority, open a tavern, or sell, by retail, wine, beer, cyder, or rum, brandy, or other...
32744116. A Bill for Limitation of Actions, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no person shall maintain any action or suit for the recovery of lands or tenements, if such action or suit be not commenced within twenty years next after the cause thereof shall have arisen, unless the plaintiff or demandant, or the person from whom the right is derived were, at the time such cause of action or suit arose, under the age of twenty...
32745120. A Bill for Regulating the Commencement of the Year, and the Computation of Time, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas although the supputation of the year of our Lord, according to which the year beginneth on the twenty-fifth day of March, hath, since the year one thousand seven hundred and fiftyone, been discontinued by the people of this commonwealth, yet the supputation used instead of it, conformable with the usage of all nations with whom they have commerce, hath not been adopted by a proper...
3274684. A Bill for Punishing Disturbers of Religious Worship and Sabbath Breakers, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no officer, for any civil cause, shall arrest any minister of the gospel, licensed according to the rules of his sect, and who shall have taken the oath of fidelity to the commonwealth, while such minister shall be publicly preaching or performing religious worship in any church, chapel, or meeting-house, on pain of imprisonment and amercement, at...
327478. A Bill Establishing a Board of War, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly that a Board of War shall be constituted to consist of five persons, to be chosen by joint ballot of both Houses of Assembly, at the first session of every Assembly, and to continue in office until the next choice shall be made. But any member may be removed within that time by joint vote of both Houses, and thereupon, as also on the death, resignation or...
3274812. A Bill concerning the Public Treasurer, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the public Treasurer may continue in office, without re-election, until the end of the session of General Assembly next after one year from the time of his appointment shall have expired. On his first election, before he shall have power to act, he shall give bond to the Governor, with sureties, to be approved by the Council of State, in the penalty...
3274947. A Bill for Establishing Public Ferries, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that ferries be constantly kept, at the places hereafter mentioned, and at the rates annexed to each ferry; that is to say. Over the bay of chesapeak. For a Man. Horse. From George Wilson Spooner’s to Cedar Point in Maryland, 2 6 2 6 From Robert Lovel’s to Maryland, 2 6 2 6 From William Tyler’s to Cedar Point, 2 6
3275051. A Bill concerning Slaves, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no persons shall, henceforth, be slaves within this commonwealth, except such as were so on the first day of this present session of Assembly, and the descendants of the females of them. Negroes and mulattoes which shall hereafter be brought into this commonwealth and kept therein one whole year, together, or so long at different times as shall...