Maritime. 141 XVIII. SECTION All Mariners being shipt upon a Voyage, and in Pay, fhall duly attend the Mariners not Service of the Mafter's Ship or Veffel for the Voyage, and not abfent them- to be abfent felves by Day or Night, without Leave from the Mafter, upon forfeiting for without every Offence the Sum of Five Shillings. SECTION XIX. No Officers or Mariners shall be disorderly or unruly to occafion Disturbance leave. punished. in the Ship or other Veffel he is shipped upon, to hinder or damnify the Voyage; Officers or to be proved by the Mafter or other Mariners, or both, upon Penalty of paying mariners difthe Damage, if able; and in cafe of Inability to pay, to fuffer corporal Punith-orderly, how ment, as the nature of the Offence may require: And in cafe the Mafter fhal! conceal the Offences of fuch, and refuse to give Evidence therein, they shall be amerced or imprisoned, as the Judges fhall fee meet. ed. If any fhail undertake the Charge of Pilot, Boatswain, Gunner, or any other Ignorance Office in Ship or other Veffel, and not be able to difcharge the Duty of the how punifit. Place; fuch fhall lofe their Wages in Part or in Whole; and be further punished for their Prefumption, as the Judges fhall fee meet. SECTION XXI.. All Mariners shall keep true Watch at Sea or in Harbour, as the Master hall appoint, upon pain of forfeiting One Shilling for every Default, to be de- Watch to be faulked out of their Wages. SECTION XXII. Any Mariner that hath entered upon a Voyage, and shall depart, and leave kept. the Voyage, thall forfeit all his Wages; one half to the Poor, the other half to Mariners dethe Mafter and Owners, and be further punished by Imprisonment, or otherwife ferting the as the Cafe may be circumftanced; to be judged by the Magiftrate or Magif- Voyage. trates which are complained to, except fuch Seaman fhall fhew juft caufe for his fo leaving the Voyage, and fhall procure an Order therefor from Authority. SECTION XXIII. If any Mariner fhall have received any confiderable Part of his Wages, and fhall run away from the Ship or Veffel he belongs to, and decline the Service of the Mafter in the Profecution of the Voyage; he fhall be pursued as a disobedient run-away Servant, and proceeded with as fuch an one. SECTION XXIV. Run away mariners. If any Mariner fhall entertain any Perfon or Perfons, on board the Ship of Mariners en Veffel he fails in, without the Mafters leave; or if Mafters or Mariners fhall do tertaining o it at unfeasonable times; he or they fhall forfeit Twenty Shillings, one half to the Poor, the other half to the Owners. SECTION XXV. thers with out leave. No Seaman or Seamen, or Officer, fhall commit any Outrage upon the Master of any Ship or Veffel; but thofe fo offending fhall be feverely punished by Outrage of Fine, or corporal Punishment, as the fact shall appear to be circumftanced to the master. the Judges that fhall hear it, and as they fhall judge meet. If any Officers or Mariners fhall combine against the Mafter, whereby the Voyage fhall be diverted, or hindred, or that damage thereby fhall accrue to the Ship and Goods: they fhall be punished with lofs of Wages, or otherwife as Mutineers, as the Cafe may require. SECTION XXVI. In Cafe any Ship or Veffel be in diftrefs at Sea, by Tempeft or other Acci- ftrefs not to Ships in dident, the Mariners shall do their utmoft Endeavour to affift the Mafter in faving be left. Ship and Goods; and not defert him without apparent Hazard that by saying they may lofe their Lives. SECTION XXVII. Mariners du ty to do their utmost in And in Cafe of fuffering Shipwreck, the Mariners are without difpute, hipwrecks upon their getting on Shore, to do their utmost Endeavour to fave the to fave goods 142. Single perfons not to keep house, &c. unless, &C. Perfons under / parents, &c, incapable to contract, &c. Servants not to trade without licence. Masters. Ship or Veffel, Tackle and Apparel; as alfo the Merchants Goods as much as may be; out of which they shall have a meet Compensation for their Hazard and Pains And upon Conviction of Negligence therein, fhall be punished according to the Demerit of the Offence. An Act relating to Mafters, and Servents or Apprentices. Bit E it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives, in General Court affembled, and by the Authority of the fame, That no Man that is neither married, nor hath any Children, nor Servant, nor is a public Officer, fhall keep House of himself, without the Confent of the Town where he lives, under Penalty of Twenty fillings per Week. That no Perfon under the Government of a Parent, Guardian or Master shall be capable to make any Contract or Bargain, which in the Law fhall be accounted valid, unless the said Perfon be authorized or allowed fo to Contract or Bargain, by his or her Parent, Guardian or Mafter; in which Cafe fuch Farent, Guardian or Master shall be bound thereby. That no Servant Man or Maid, fhall either give, buy, fell or exchange any Commodity whatsoever, without Licence from their Master, during the Time of their Services under Pain of Fine or corporal Punishment, as the Offence fhall deserve, by the Judgment of the Court. And whereas fome ftubborn, refractory and discontented Servants and Apprentices, do sometimes withdraw themselves from their Masters Service : Be it therefore further enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That whatsoever Apprentices Servants or Apprentices of fifteen Years of Age, or upwards, fhall unjustly Ofto ferve treble fend in that Kind, by withdrawing or abfconding from their Master's Service, time for ab- before their Covenants or term of Service are expired, they all ferve their fconding, &c. Mafters the treble Term, or threefold the Time of their Absence in fuch Man ner. And when any Servant, Servants or Apprentices fhall run from their Masters, Run away it fhall be lawful for the next Affiftant, or Juftice of the Peace, or Constable, fervants to be and two of the chief Inhabitants in fuch Town where no Affiftant or Juftice is, purfued. to prefs Men and Boats, (if Occafion be) at the Master's Request and Charge, to purfue fuch Servants and Apprentices, by Sea or Land, and to bring them back by Force. That if any Servant or Apprentice fhall flee from the Tyranny or Cruelty of Servants pro- his or her Mafter, to the House of any Inhabitant of the fame Town whereto tected and re. he or she belongs, fuch Servant or Apprentice fhall be there protected and fuflieved from the cruelty of tained till due Order be taken for his or her Relief. their Mafters. Provifo If default in the mafter, &c. Provided, Due Notice thereof be forthwith given to his or her Mafter, and to the next Affiftant or Juftice of the Peace: Which Authority fhall caufe faid Mafter and Servant, or Apprentice, to come before him, and fhall reconcile them if he can ; but if not, may according to his Discretion, bind over the said Mafter to the next County Court; and alfo bind over faid Servant or Apprentice to faid Court, or give Orders for his or her fafe Cuftody in the mean Time, and for his or her Appearance before faid Court: Which Court on hearing the Matter may upon Default found in the Master, discharge fuch Servant or Apprentice from his or her Indenture and Service. ́Ând if default be found in the Servant or Apprentice, may înfli& fuch proIf in the fer- per Punishment upon him or her, as the said Court in their Difcretion fail think fit. Meeting-Houfes. An Act directing how to proceed when it fhall be neceffary to build a Meeting-Houfe for divine Worship. BE it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives, in General Court 143 affembled, and by the Authority of the fame, That when any religious So- When a meeciety, allowed to be fuch by this Affembly; or eftablished and approved by the ting houfe is Laws of this State, (thofe only tolerated by the Laws of this State, and dif- to be built, fenting from us, excepted) fhall by their Vote (wherein two third Parts of the application Inhabitants, qualified by Law to vote; and prefent in the Meeting of fuch So- to be made to ciety) declare it to be neceffary to build a Meeting-Houfe; every fuch Society court. fhall apply to the County Court in the County where fuch Society, or the greater Part thereof is fituate, to appoint and affix the Place whereon their MeetingHoufe fhall be erected and built. And the County Courts in the refpective Counties, are hereby authorized and impowered to hear all concerned, and take proper Measures for affixing the county fuch Place; and to appoint, order and affix the Place whereon their Meeting. To affix the Houfe fhall be erected and built: Which be done, concluded and afcertained place. by the Judgment of the County Court, in the County where fuch Society, or the major Part thereof is fituate; the Committee of fuch Society fhall forthwith give due Notice to the Inhabitants thereof to meet at fome fuitable Time and Place, to authorize and appoint fome meet Perfons to be a Committee for fetting up, building and finishing an Houfe proper and fuitable for fuch Ufe, on the Place appointed, as aforefaid. At which Meeting the faid Society fhall proceed to grant and levy a Tax on To tax. the Inhabitants of fuch Society, to be collected and paid to the Society Treafurer, to enable faid Society to go forward with the faid Building. Clerk of the fociety to And the Clerk of the Society fhall keep the Account of their Difbursements: And every fuch Clerk fhall certify the County Court which gave fuch Order, the Doings of the Society at their next Seffions after fixing the Place, as acertify their forefaid; as alfo the Progrefs of the Committee in building fuch Houfe, to each doings to the County Court in the County at their fated Seffions, till the Houfe be finished. county court. And for every neglect of his Duty therein, fhall incur the Penalty of Two Pounds to the County Treasury in fuch County: To be recovered of fuch Clerk Penalty for before the County Court in the County where the Society is fituate; by Acti- neglect. on, Bill, Plaint or otherwife as the Law will allow. Beit further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if the County Court in fuch County do find by the Clerk's Certificate, that the Inhabitants of fuch Affembly to Society do not proceed to fet up and finish a Meeting-Houfe at the Place ap- tax in cafe, pointed, as aforefaid, and certify the fame to this Affembly; this Affembly will &c. affefs and levy upon fuch Society, from Time to Time, fuch Sum and Sums of Money as may be needful, to fet up and finish fuch Meeting-Houfe: Which fhall be by Order of this Affembly accordingly improved. How reimbursed. And every fuch Sum of Money fhall be by the Treasurer of the State added to the public Tax of the Society, and gathered as a part of the public Tax, by the Conftable who gathers the State Rate, and paid into the public Treafury, to be re-imbursed for the Ufe aforefaid: Who fhall by Order of this Affembly, deliver the fame to fuch Perfon or Perfons as by Affembly fhall be appointed. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That it fhall not be lawful for any of the Societies aforefaid, or for any Part of fuch Society to build Not to build, or fet up any Meeting-Houfe for religious Worship, without procuring the &c. except, County Court in the County where fuch Society is fituate, firft to ascertain the &c. Place for it, as in this Act is limited and provided. And whofoever shall tranfgrefs this Order, hall incur the Penalty of X On penalty of Forty Pounds, to the Treasury of such County; To be recovered before the 401. County Court in the County where the Trangreffion is committed. And the Proceedings it fettling and affixing fuch Meeting-Houfe Place fhall be at the Charge of the Society where fuch House is needed: And fuch County Court fhall be allowed the Fees for their Judgment thereon, as in the Trial of other Causes. An Act for preferving due Order in Town-Meetings, Society-Meetings, and in the Meetings of other Communities; and for preventing Tumults therein. WHEREAS the Peace and good Order of Iowas, Societies and other Communities do very much depend on their peaceably and orderly carrying on and managing their Affairs in their Meetings, and their regularly proceeding therein. Therefore, it enacted by the Governor, Council ana Representatives in General Court Bembled, and by the Authority of the fame, That when any Town, Society or Proprietors Meeting, or the Meeting of any other Community is lawfully affembled, if any Perfon or Perfons whatsoever, fhall in fuch Meeting or Affembly, by tumultuous Noife, Quarrelling, or by any unlawful Act, difturb fuch Meeting, or hinder the Members thereof from proceeding in an orderly and peaceable Manner to the choice of their Moderator, or after the choice of fuch Moderator, fhall vilify or abufe him, or interrupt him in the discharge of his Traft; or after he hath commanded Silence in fuch Meeting, fhall speak in the Meeting to the difturbance of the Bufinefs of the Meeting, without the Moderator's Leave first had and obtained, (unless it be to afk reafonable Liberty to fpeak) fuch Perfon or Perfons fo offending in any of the Particulars above-mentioned, contrary to the Intent of this Act, fhall for every fuch Offence forfeit and pay a Fine of Five Shillings to the Treasurer of the Town where the Offence is committed. All Offences against this Act to be heard and determined by any one Affiftant or Juftice of the Peace; unless the Offence be aggravated by fome notorious breach of Peace; in which Cafe the Offenders fhall be bound over by fuch Aflitant or Juftice, to the next County Court, to anfwer for fuch Offence: Which Court may impofe fuch Fine as the aggravations of the Offence, in their Judgmen: deferves; not exceeding Ten Pounds. And that no fuch Meeting fhall be adjourned, but by the major Part of the An Act for forming, regulating, and conducting the military WHEREAS the Defence and Security of all free States depends (under God) up- B Wherefore, Eit Enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives, in General Court affembled and by the Authority of the fame, That all male Perfons, from fixteen Years of Age to Forty-five, fhall conftitute the Military Force of this State, except Members of the Council, of the Houfe of Representatives, and of the Congrefs of the United States for the Time being, the State Treasurer, and Secretary, Juftices of the Peace, field, Commiffioned, and staff Officers, honourably discharged, Minifters of the Gospel, the Prefident, Tutors and Students of College, Phyficians and Surgeons, Selectmen, constant School-Masters, one Miller to each Grift-mill, being approved by the Select-Men, and having a Certificate thereof, conftant Mariners who make it their conftant Business to go to Sea, Sheriffs and Conftabies, conflant Ferrymen, Perfons difabled through Lameness or other bodily Infirmity, during the Continuance of fuch Disability, producing a Certificate thereof from two able Phyficians, to the Acceptance of his or their commiflioned Ocers, non-commiffioned Officers and Privates who have inlifted or fhall hereaf ter inlift into the Connecticut Line of the Army of the United States, for the Term of the prefent War, and have faithfully ferved for faid Term, or obtained an honourable Discharge, and Indians, Negroes and Molattoes. Provided nevertheless, That fuch military Officers, and all Housholders and others not fifty-five Years of Age, fhall give their Attendance on Days appointed for viewing of Arms, as hereafter directed; and fuch Officers fhall be fubject to do their Proportion of military Duty, when called by a fuperior Officer, in the Office they have refpectively fuftained. And whereas fundry Perlons have heretofore obtained Discharges from military Duty, on Account of temporary Disorders and Infirmities of Body, which in many Inftances are removed, and others have obtained fuch Discharges from an Abuse of the Provifions of the Law heretofore in force for that Purpose. Therefore, Provifo. military duty. Be it enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That no able-bodied and effective When dif. Man, in the Judgment of the commiffioned Officers of the Company, within the charges fhall Limits of which he may belong, fhall, on Account of fuch Discharges, be ex. not avail to empted from military Duty, but shall be enrolled in their respective Companies, exempt from agreeable to the Provisions of this Act, and be liable to do Duty in fuch Companies as others by Law are, fuch Discharges notwithstanding. Companies Be it further enacted, That the military Companies hall continue and re- to remain the main as they now are, in respect to the Lines of Division and Boundaries and fame, &c. Order of Dignification. Divided into And that the feveral military Companies aforefaid, fhall be divided into Re- regts. & bri giments, Brigades and Divifions, in Manner following, viz. gades, &c. Thofe in the Towns of Hartford, Windjor, Saffield, and that Part of the Town of Farmington lying in the Parish of Wintonbury, hall conftitute the firft Re- ft. Regt. giment. Thofe in the Towns of New-Haven, Milford, Derby and Woodbridge, fhall 2d. Regt. conftitute the fecond Regiment. Thofe in the Towns of New-London and Lyme, shall conftitute the third Re- 3d. Regt. giment. Thofe in the Towns of Fairfield, Stratford and Reading, fhall conftitute the 4th Regt. fourth Regiment. gth Regt. Thofe in the Towns of Windham, Mansfield, Coventry and Ashford, shall conftitute the fifth Regiment. Thofe in the Towns of Wethersfield and Glaftenbury, fhall conftitute the fixth 6th Regt. Regiment. Thofe in the Towns of Say-Brook, Killingworth and Haddam, fhall conftitute the feventh Regiment. 7th Regt. Thofe in the Towns of Stonington, Prefton and Groton, fhall conftitute the eighth Regiment, 8th Regt. Thofe in the Towns of Norwalk, Stamford and Greenwich, fhall conftitute the ninth Regiment. 9th Regt. Thofe in the Towns of Wallingford, Cheshire and Durham, fhall conftitute the tenth Regiment. roth Regt. Thofe in the Towns of Pomfret, Killingly and Woodstock (except the South 11th Regt. Marlborough in Colchefer, fhall constitute the twelfth Regiment. 12th Regte |