call meetings. To establish necessary rules for regulating the corporation, &c. and be sued and prosecuted to final judgment and execution, and do and suffer all other matters and things which bodies politick may, or ought to suffer or to do; and that the said corporation shall and may have full power and authority to make, have and use a common seal, and the same to break, alter and renew at pleasure. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, Empowered to That the said John Hancock, Thomas Russell, Nathaniel Gorham, James Swan, and Eben Parsons, Esq'rs. or any three of them, may, by advertisement in any two of the Boston newspapers, warn or call a meeting of the said Proprietors, to be holden at Boston or Charlestown aforesaid, at any suitable time after fifteen days from the publication of the said advertisement; and the said Proprietors, by a vote of the majority of those present or represented at the said meeting, (accounting and allowing a vote to each share in all cases) shall choose a clerk, who shall be duly sworn to the faithful discharge of his office, and also shall agree on a method for calling future meetings, and at the same or any subsequent meeting, may make and establish any rules and regulations that shall be necessary or convenient for regulating the said corporation, effecting, compleating and executing the purposes aforesaid, or for collecting the toll hereinafter granted, and the same rules and regulations may cause to be kept and executed, or for the breach thereof may order and enjoin fines and penalties, not exceeding Four pounds, provided the rules and regulations aforesaid are not repugnant to the constitution or laws of the Commonwealth; and the said Proprietors may also choose and appoint any other officer or officers of the corporation that they may deem necessary, and all representations at the said meetings shall be proved by a special appointment in writing, signed by the person making his representative, which shall be filed with or recorded by the clerk; and to be recorded this act, and all rules, regulations and votes of the said corporation, shall be fairly and truly recorded by their said clerk, in a book or books for that purpose provided and kept, which book or books shall be subject to the inspection of any person or persons for that purpose appointed by the legislature. Proviso. Rules, regula. tions and votes, by their clerk, subject to inspection. Toll established. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That for the purpose of reimbursing the said Proprietors the money expended, or to be expended in building and supporting the said bridge, a toll be, and is hereby granted and established for the sole benefit of the said Proprietors, according to the rates following, viz.: Each foot passenger (or one person passing) two-thirds of a penny; one person and horse, two pence two-thirds of a penny; single horse cart, or sled or sley, four pence; wheelbarrows, handcarts, and other vehicles capable of carrying like weight, one penny one third of a penny; single horse and chaise, chair or sulkey, eight pence; coaches, chariots, phaetons and curricles, one shilling each; all other wheel carriages or sleds drawn by more than one beast, six pence; sleys drawn by more than one beast, six pence; neat cattle and horses passing the said bridge, exclusive of those rode, or in carriages or teams, one penny one third of a penny; swine and sheep, four pence for each dozen, and at the same rate for a greater or less number; and in all cases the same toll shall be paid for all carriages and vehicles passing the said bridge, whether the same be loaded or not loaded; and to each team, one man and no more shall be allowed as a driver, to pass free from payment of toll; and in all cases double toll shall be paid on the Lord's day; and at all times when the toll gatherer shall not attend his duty, the gate or gates shall be left open. And Toll to continue the said toll shall commence at the day of the first opening of the said bridge for passengers, and shall continue for and during the term of forty years from the said day, and be collected as shall be prescribed by the said corporation. forty years. which the be built. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said bridge shall be well built, at least forty feet Manner in wide, of sound and suitable materials, with a convenient bridge shall draw or passage way, at least thirty feet wide, and at a proper place, with well constructed, substantial piers on each side, and well planked on the top and sides with plank proper for such a bridge; and the same shall be kept in good, safe and passable repair, for the term aforesaid, and at the end of the said term, the said bridge shall be left in like repair: And the said Proprietors shall How accommoconstantly keep the said bridge accommodated with at. least twenty good lamps on each side the same, which shall be well supplied with oil, and lighted in due season, and kept burning till twelve of the clock at night; and also at the several places where the toll shall be received, they shall erect and constantly expose to open view, a dated. Sum allowed lege, annually. At the end of 40 years, the bridge to revert to the Commonwealth. sign or board with the rates of toll of all the tollable articles fairly and legibly written thereon in large or capital letters; and the draw shall be lifted for all ships and vessels without toll or pay, except such as usually pass under Cambridge bridge, and those passing for pleasure. And be it also further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That after the said toll shall commence, the said Proprietors or corporation shall annually pay to Harvard College or University, the sum of Two hundred pounds, during the said term of forty years; and at the end of the said term, the said bridge shall revert to and be the property of the Commonwealth, saving to the said College or University, a reasonable and annual compensation for the annual income of the ferry, which they might have received had not said bridge been erected. And be it further enacted, That if the said Proprietors shall refuse or neglect, for the space of three years after the passing of this act, to build and compleat the said bridge, then this act shall be void and of no effect. 1784.- Chapter 54. [January Session, ch. 22.] March 9, 1785. Chap. 54 AN ACT FOR INCORPORATING A CERTAIN TRACT OF LAND, SIT Preamble. Boundaries. UATE BETWEEN THE RIVERS OF GREAT AND LITTLE Whereas the inhabitants of the said tract of land have represented to this Court, that at great labour and expence they have severally settled the said tract; but by reason of their unincorporated state, are not in a capacity to raise money necessary for repairing roads, and supporting the preaching of the gospel, and schools, nor of answering the demands that may arise for their proportion of the public taxes: Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the tract of land aforesaid, bounded as follows, viz. Beginning at Great Ossipee river, where the province line (so-called) between New Hampshire and the late province of Maine, crosses the said river; thence running south, eight degrees west, by the said line, to the top of a mountain three quarters of a mile south of a pond, called Province Pond; thence east, eight degrees south, by a spotted line, to an elm tree, spotted near a small frog pond; thence north, eight degrees east, by a spotted line, to the bank of Great Ossipee river; thence westerly by the said river to the bounds first mentioned; containing by estimation thirtysix square English miles, be, and hereby is, erected into a town by the name of Parsonsfield; and that the inhabi- Invested with tants thereof be, and they hereby are, vested with all the powers, privileges and immunities, which the inhabitants of towns within this Commonwealth do, or may by law enjoy. powers. Esq; to call a And be it further enacted, That Simon Frye, Esq; be, Simon Frye, and he hereby is, empowered to issue his warrant to some meeting. principal inhabitant of the said town, requiring him to warn the inhabitants thereof to meet at such time and place. as he shall therein set forth, to choose all such officers as towns are by law required and empowered to choose in the month of March, annually. Provided always, That this act shall be so construed, Proviso. any thing therein to the contrary notwithstanding, as not to affect the claim of this Commonwealth, or other corporate body, or of any private person whatever, to the said tract of land, or any part thereof, if any such claim exists. March 9, 1785. 1784.- Chapter 55. [January Session, ch. 1.] AN ACT FOR REGULATING AND GOVERNING THE MILITIA OF Chap. 55 THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, AND FOR RE PEALING ALL LAWS HERETOFORE MADE FOR THAT PUR POSE. Whereas the laws now in force, for regulating the militia Preamble. of the Commonwealth, are found to be insufficient for the said purpose: Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the several laws heretofore Laws heretomade for regulating the militia aforesaid, be, and hereby regulating the are, repealed. fore made for militia repealed. Provided nevertheless, That all actions and processes Proviso. commenced and depending in any Court within this Commonwealth, upon or by force of the said laws, shall, Militia, how formed. divisions. and may be sustained and prosecuted to final judgment and execution; and that all officers elected, appointed and commissionated agreeably to law, shall be continued in commission, and hold their respective commands in the militia, in the same manner as they would in case the said laws were still in force. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said militia shall be formed into a Train Band, and Alarm List; the Train Band to contain all able bodied men, from sixteen to forty years of age, and the Alarm List, all other men under sixty years of age, excepting in both cases such as shall be hereafter by this act exempted. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, to be in four That the said militia be, and hereby is formed into four divisions; the counties of Suffolk, Essex and Middlesex, composing the first division; the counties of Hampshire, Worcester and Berkshire, the second division; the counties of Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes County and Nantucket, the third division; and the counties of York, Cumberland and Lincoln, the fourth division. General and And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, divisionary staff That there shall be a general and divisionary staff to each of the divisions aforesaid, consisting of one Major General, who shall have two aids de camp, a Deputy Adjutant General, who shall also be Inspector, and a Deputy Quarter to each of the divisions. Governor with advice of Coun cil to form divi sions into brigades, &c. Proviso. have a brigadier general, &c. Master. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Governor, or Commander in Chief, with the advice of Council, be, and hereby is, authorized and empowered to form the said divisions into brigades, regiments and companies; and from time to time to alter and divide such brigades, regiments and companies, as he shall judge expedient. Provided notwithstanding, That the several brigades, regiments and companies of militia, shall remain as they are now formed, until new arrangements thereof shall take place. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, Each brigade to That there shall be a Brigade General and Staff to each brigade of the militia aforesaid, consisting of a Brigadier General, a Brigade Major, who shall also be sub-inspector, and a Brigade Quarter Master. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, Each regiment That there shall be a regimental, field, commissioned and non-commissioned staff to each regiment of the militia to have a regi. mental, field, |