32751118. A Bill concerning Inquests, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the sheriff of that county in which the General Court shall sit, shall, before every term, summon twenty four good and lawful men, being freeholders in the commonwealth, which he shall have power to do, not only in his own county, but in all places out of it, within the distance of thirty miles from that in which the court shall be held, to appear...
32752122. A Bill for Enforcing Performance of Awards Made by Rule of Court, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that by consent of parties, either personally declared by them, or signified in writing sworn to be their act, by two subscribing witnesses, before a Court of Record, any suit between those parties, in their own rights, may, after issue joined, by rule of such court, be submitted to arbitrators, who shall return their award to the same court, to be there...
3275386. A Bill Annulling Marriages Prohibited by the Levitical Law, and Appointing the Mode of Solemnizing Lawful Marriage … (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that marriages prohibited by the Levitical law shall be null; and persons marrying contrary to that prohibition, and cohabiting as man and wife, convicted thereof in the General Court, shall be amerced, from time to time, until they separate. A marriage between a person of free condition and a slave, or between a white person and a negro, or between a...
3275490. A Bill Constituting the High Court of Chancery, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the Court of Equity, called the High Court of Chancery, consisting of the present three Judges thereof, or their successors, to be appointed, when vacancies happen, in manner herein after directed, of whom any two are declared to be a sufficient number to constitute a court, shall be a Court of Record, and have jurisdiction over all persons, and in...
3275514. A Bill for the Appointment of Clerks to the Governor and Council, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly that the Governor and Council shall have power to appoint, from time to time, as they shall be wanting, a drawing clerk, a copying clerk, and a clerk of foreign correspondence, who shall each of them take an oath to be administered by any member of the board, to keep secret all such matters as they shall direct them to keep secret: Which clerks shall be...
3275649. A Bill for Unlading Ballast and Burial of Dead Bodies from on Board Ships, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the court of every county, adjacent to any navigable river or creek, shall from time to time, as vacancies happen, appoint one or more ballast masters, residing near to the places where vessels usually ride in such river or creek, to be overseers and directors of the delivery and unloading of ballast from on board any ship or vessel within a certain...
3275753. A Bill for Apprehending and Securing Runaways, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that any person may apprehend a servant or slave, suspected to be a runaway, and carry him before a Justice of Peace, who, if to him the servant or slave appear, by the oath of the apprehender, to be a runaway, shall give a certificate of such oath, and the distance, in his opinion, between the place where the runaway was apprehended and that from whence...
32758124. A Bill concerning Rents and Distresses, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that any person to whom rent is or shall be due upon a lease for life, may bring an action of debt for such rent in like manner as he might have done if the rent had been reserved or become due upon a lease for years. A landlord, by action on the case, may recover a reasonable satisfaction for the use and occupation of tenements held and enjoyed by...
3275988. A Bill to Prevent Gaming, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that every promise, agreement, note, bill, bond, or other contract, to pay, deliver, or secure money, or other thing, won, or obtained, by playing at cards, dice, tables, tennis bowles, or other game, or by betting or laying on the hands or sides of any person who shall play at such games, or won, or obtained, by betting or laying on any horse race, or...
3276092. A Bill Constituting the Court of Admiralty, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the Court of Admiralty, to consist of three Judges, any two of whom are declared to be a sufficient number to constitute a court, shall have jurisdiction in all maritime causes, except those wherein any parties may be accused of capital offences, now depending and hereafter to be brought before them, shall take precedence in court according to the...
3276116. A Bill for Apprehending Deserters, and Preventing the Loss of Arms and Other Things Delivered to Soldiers, 18 June … (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the commanding officer of the militia of every county, shall appoint persons to search for soldiers and seamen who shall have deserted from the army or navy of the United American States, or of this commonwealth; and the said searchers shall apprehend every such deserter, by them discovered, or person, for good cause, suspected to be such, and carry...
3276220. A Bill Directing the Course of Descents, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that henceforth when any person having title to any real estate of inheritance, shall die intestate as to such estate, it shall descend and pass in parcenery to his kindred male and female in the following course: that is to say: To his children or their descendants, if any there be: If there be no children, nor their descendants, then to his father: If...
3276355. A Bill Declaring Who Shall Be Deemed Citizens of This Commonwealth, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that all white persons born within the territory of this commonwealth and all who have resided therein two years next before the passing of this act, and all who shall hereafter migrate into the same; and shall before any court of record give satisfactory proof by their own oath or affirmation, that they intend to reside therein, and moreover shall give...
32764126. A Bill for Repealing Certain Acts of Parliament and of General Assembly, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that all acts of the Parliament of England, made before the fourth year of the reign of King James the first of England, except such of them as shall be by this General Assembly enacted, in express words, to be in force, shall be, and are repealed, so far as they concern any persons or things in, or belonging to this commonwealth. And it is declared, that...
3276594. A Bill for Constituting Courts Martial, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that it shall be lawful for the Governor, with advice of the Council of State, by commission, to be directed to three or more able and sufficient persons to constitute, from time to time, so often as occasion may require, a Court Martial, to which it shall pertain to have cognizance of things touching war out of the commonwealth, and also of things that...
3276618. A Bill for Supplying the Public with Lead, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the Governor, with advice of the Council, from time to time, may hire or purchase, so many laborers to work in the lead mines, in the county of Montgomery, as may be beneficially employed therein, for the use of the public, and put them, with the others already there, under the direction of a manager. Of the lead produced from the said mines so much...
3276722. A Bill for Regulating Conveyances, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no estate of inheritance, or freehold, or for a term of more than five years, in lands or tenements, shall be conveyed from one to another, unless the conveyance be declared by writing, sealed and delivered; nor shall such conveyance be good against a purchaser, for valuable consideration, not having notice thereof, or any creditor, unless the same...
3276857. A Bill Declaring that None Shall Be Condemned without Trial, and that Justice Shall Not Be Sold or Deferred, 18 June … (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no freeman shall be taken or imprisoned, or be disseised of his freehold, or liberties, or free customs, or be outlawed, or exiled, or any otherwise destroyed, nor shall the commonwealth pass upon him, nor condemn him but by lawful judgment of his peers, or by the laws of the land. Justice or right shall not be sold, denied or deferred to no man....
3276961. A Bill to Enable Guardians and Committees to Perform Certain Acts for the Benefit of Those Who Are under Their Care … (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that where any person under the age of twenty-one years, or of unsound mind, is, or shall be seized or possessed of any land, tenements, or hereditaments, in trust, or by way of mortgage, the guardian of the one, or committee of the other, by order of the High Court of Chancery, made upon the petition of one or more of the parties interested, and after...
32770II. Catalogue of Bills Prepared by the Committee of Revisors, 1–5 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
1. A Bill To arrange the counties into Senatorial districts. 2. Concerning the election of members of General Assembly. 3. Empowering one of the Privy Council to officiate in certain cases as Lieutenant Governor. 4. To empower the Governor with advice of the Privy Council to lay embargoes. 5. For regulating and disciplining the militia. 6. Making provision against invasions and insurrections....
3277196. A Bill concerning Sheriffs, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that each county court shall, annually, in the months of July, or August, recommend three persons, named in the commission of the peace, one of whom shall be commissioned by the Governor, or Commander in Chief, with advice of the Council, on the twenty fourth, or twenty fifth, day of October following, to execute the office of Sheriff of such county, for...
3277224. A Bill concerning Escheators, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that there shall be one escheator commissioned in every county, by the Governor on recommendation from the court of the same county, who shall execute his office in proper person, and not by deputy, and shall, before the court of the county, be bound in the penalty of 1000 1. with security to be approved by the same court, duly to perform the duties of...
3277359. A Bill Directing the Mode of Suing Out and Prosecuting Writs of Habeas Corpus, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that whensoever a habeas corpus shall be served, by delivering it to the officer or other person to whom it is directed; or by leaving it at the jail or prison in which the party suing it out is detained; unless the warrant of committment plainly and specially express the same to have been for treason or felony; if the charges of bringing the prisoner, to...
3277463. A Bill for Registering Births and Deaths, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that notice, in writing, of the birth, and time of the birth, of every child shall be given to the Assessors of the public taxes of the hundred, wherein the birth shall have been, at the time of making the assessment next after such birth, by the father, or, if he be dead or unknown, by the mother of the child, in case such mother be a free woman; or, if...
3277598. A Bill Prescribing the Oath of Fidelity, and the Oaths of Certain Public Officers, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that every person, by law required to give assurance of fidelity, shall, for that purpose, take an oath in this form, “I do declare myself a citizen of the commonwealth of Virginia. I relinquish and renounce the character of subject or citizen of any Prince, or other state, whatsoever, and abjure all allegiance, which may be claimed by such Prince, or...
3277626. A Bill of Mortmain, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly that no person presume to convey by deed, will, or otherwise any lands or slaves, or the use of them, or under the color of any such conveyance to receive of any man, or by any other craft or ingenuity to appropriate to himself any lands or slaves, or the use of them, whereby such lands or slaves, or the use thereof may any wise come into mortmain. And if...
3277730. A Bill for Amending an Act, Intitled, “An Act for Raising a Supply of Money for Public Exigencies”, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that so much of one act passed in the year of our Lord 1777, and intitled, “An act for raising a supply of money for public exigencies,” as directs that during the continuance thereof, the freeholders and house-keepers shall meet together and chuse commissioners of the tax for their county, and that the said commissioners of the tax shall lay off their...
32778101. A Bill for Regulating Proceedings in Courts of Equity, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that original and subsequent process to bring any person to answer a bill, petition, or information, exhibited in the High Court of Chancery, shall run in the name of the commonwealth, bear teste, in the name of the first Judge of the court, the last preceeding return-day, be issued and signed by the clerk, and be returnable to the first or seventeenth...
3277965. A Bill Punishing Persons Guilty of Certain Forgeries, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that he or she shall be adjudged a felon, and not have the benefit of clergy, who shall falsely make, forge, or counterfeit, or aid or assist in falsely making, forging, or counterfeiting a writing signed and directed or certified to the public Treasurer, purporting to be a warrant of the Governor or other person exercising that function, or a certificate...
3278028. A Bill for the Preservation of the Estates of Ideots and Lunatics, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly that the lands, tenements and chattels, of ideots and lunatics, shall be safely kept without waste and destruction, and they and their household shall live and be maintained competently with the profits of the same, and the residue, besides their sustentation, shall be kept for their use, to be delivered unto them when they come to right mind: And if they...
3278132. A Bill for Support of the Poor, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the Aldermen of every county wherein such provision, as is herein after required for setting the poor of the county to work, shall not have been made, shall, so soon as conveniently may be, purchase the inheritance, or procure a lease, of one hundred acres of land, or any less quantity that is sufficient for the purpose intended, in the county, and...
32782103. A Bill Directing the Method of Proceeding against, and Trying Free Persons Charged with Certain Crimes, 18 June … (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that any free person, brought before a Justice of the Peace of a county, and, by the testimony of another free person, charged with treason, or felony, done in such county, shall be committed to jail, by warrant of such Justice, who shall by his precept, order the sheriff to summon the other Justices to meet, in the court-house, at an appointed time, not...
3278367. A Bill concerning Truces, Safe Conducts, Passports, Licenses and Letters of Marque, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
For enforcing due regard to truces, letters of safe conduct, passports, and licenses, and fixing rules for granting them, as also for granting letters of marque and reprisal, Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that letters of safe conduct, passports, and licenses, may be granted by the American Congress, by the Governor, or by any Ambassador or other public minister duly appointed by the...
3278471. A Bill for the Suppression and Punishment of Riots, Routs, and Unlawful Assemblies, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that if any riot, assembly or rout of people against the law, be made in any part of the commonwealth, the Justices of Peace, three, or two of them at the least, and the sheriff or under sheriff of the county where such riot, assembly or rout shall be made, shall come with the power of the county (if need be) to arrest them, and shall arrest them. And the...
32785VI. The Draft Reported by the Committee, [24 June 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
Amendments to the plan of Government continued Page 3 line 23. leave out from the word successively to the word an in the next line & insert nor be eligible until the expiration of jour years after he shall have been out of that office. 24. after the word salary insert shall. 25. strike out the words let him and insert he shall 26. strike out from the word Government to the end of the Clause &...
32786V. The Mason Plan as Revised by the Committee, [22 June 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
A PLAN Laid before [ a ] committee of the House , [ appointed to prepare a form of Government ] which they have ordered to be printed for the perusal of the members. 1. Let the legislative, executive, and judicative departments, be separate and distinct, so that neither exercise the powers properly belonging to the other. 2. Let the legislative be formed of two distinct branches, who,...
32787Bill to Establish Auditors of Public Accounts, [5 December 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
For the regular settlement of all Publick accounts, Be it enacted by the general Assembly of the commonwealth of Virginia, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same; that an Auditor General of accounts shall henceforth be established to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the privy council and continued in office during good behaviour and it shall be the...
32788Report on the Petition of Arthur Upshur, [28 November 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
The Committee of Privileges and Elections have, according to Order, had under their consideration the Petition of Arthur Upshur to them referred and have agreed to the following report. Your Committee find that the said Arthur Upshur, having several Vessels on the Stocks, cleared one of them out for the British West Indies on the 20th. day of July 1775; but that the said Vessel was not...
32789Army Promotion, [28 October 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
In pursuance of an Act of Congress of the 30th. day of September 1783. Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton is to take rank as Colonel by brevet in the Armies of the United States of America. Given under my hand at Princeton the 28th. Day of October 1783. DS , RG 233, Records of the Committee on Pensions, 14th Congress, National Archives. For an account of H’s services and retention in the...
32790From a Committee to Inspect Beef, 20 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
We the subscribers being appointed a Committee to Inspect the Beaf drawn for Genl Learnard’s Brigade, under the Command of Colo. Bailey Commandant, we have examianed the Beaf and Judge it not fit for the use of human beings, unwholesome & destructive to nature for any person to make use of Such fude. DS , DLC:GW . A note signed by Maj. Gen. Johann Kalb beneath the text of the letter reads:...
32791Memorandum from Committee to Supervise Military Expenditures, 8–11 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
At a Committee held pursuant to an Act of Assembly Intituled “An Act, For raising the Sum of Forty Thousand Pounds for the protection of his Majestys Subjects in the Frontiers of this Colony.” November the 8th & 11th 1755. Resolved That the sum of £10,000 be lodged in the hands of Colonel George Washington as a Military Chest, out of which he is to pay the Pay Master, and Commissary; (& to...
32792To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Commons, 17 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Exelency will pardon my boldness of my undertaking, as I find myself under necessity to apply to your Exelency. I was by a bad sett poeple persuadet & forced to inlist in the Service of the United States, and if I would not comply with there desire, they would flog me ecct; I am in the Service here in the Artillerie in Captn. Coxs Compagnie, and I do not know how long I must Stay. I would...
32793Pay Voucher as Delegate to the General Assembly, [28 January] 1786 (Madison Papers)
Comwlth of Virga. to Js. Madison Jr. Orange Novr. Session. To Attendance as Delegate to 21. Jany. 21. 1786. inclusive 89 days £44.10 To travelling to & from Richmond 150 Miles 3 — £47.10 Ms ( Vi ). Docketed by John Beckley.
32794To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Compagnoni, 30 November 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Lugo in the Romagna, November 30, 1777, in French: I wrote you on September 21 to the following effect: Your literary merit and your patriotism move me to dedicate to you a small rhymed work on a war that has brought Europe the good fortune of having you back. The poem, entitled “Il Washington,” will not offend reason or virtue and, though most favorable...
32795To James Madison from Pierre S. Compere, [ca. 14 December 1813] (Madison Papers)
The petition of the Congregation of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Francis, in Natchitoches County State of Louisiana, respectfully sheweth That your petitioners are the legal owners of a tract of land in, & contiguous to the village of Natchitoches; a part of which land your petitioners did intend to dispose of for the use of a Court House. That part of the aforesaid land which has all...
32796To James Madison from Pierre S. Compere, 10 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
I am instructed by the Church Wardens of the Roman Catholic Congregation of St François of Natchitoches as President of that Corporation, to trouble your Excellency again on the subject of the ground occupied by the Indian Factory in this place, belonging to the Church. On the thirteenth of December 1813 I was authorised by an order of the Church Wardens, a copy of which is enclosed to offer...
32797To Thomas Jefferson from William Compton, 1 March 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of soliciting your interference on a subject that I think calls loudly for redress—The Fact is this—I arriv’d in this Country in the Ship Corn-Planter from London in July 1808 & brought with me sundry articles for my own private use & amusement; (it being my intention to reside in this Country) amongst others a small Bust of Sir Francis Burdett, made of Plaister Paris, & a...
32798To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Adam Comstock, 27 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
By order of Col. Greene I again put Pen to Paper, and inform your Excellency; That Yesterday he received your Favour of the 24th instant, by Express; in which your Excellency was pleased to express your warmest approbation of the conduct of the whole Garrison on the 22d instant, accompan’d with your “particular Thanks.” The whole Garrison entertain a grateful Sence of the Honour done them; and...
32799To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Adam Comstock, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Col. Greene being very much fatigu’d in Strengthening the Fo[r]t & in other necessary business of the Garrison, has Commanded me to inform your Excellency that on the 23d instant he had information that a strong Force under the Command of Genl Cornwallace had crossed Coopers Ferry, and were advancing toward us—Col. Greene expecting a new attack: The wounded Hessian Officers, and Privates being...
32800Private Agreement for Lease of the Hôtel de Langeac, [5 September 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
Entre les soussignés Haut et Puissant Seigneur Auguste-Louis-Joseph-Fidel-Amand De Lespinasse Langeac, Chevalier Comte de Langeac, Colonel d’Infanterie, Chevalier de l’Ordre royal et Militaire de St. Louis, Gouverneur pour le Roi des Villes de Guerande, Le Croisic et St. Nazaire en Bretagne, de celle de Ruë en Picardie, et en Survivance de celle du Puy en Vélay, et ancien Capitaine des Gardes...