town of Wareham, and take a view thereof, and also to make inquiry into the circumstances of the inhabitants, and report a state of the same at the next session of the General Court; the said town of Wareham defraying the whole expence of the said committee. And it is further Resolved, That all executions against the said town of Wareham be stayed till a final determination of the General Court be had on the report of the committee aforesaid. March 16, 1785. Chapter 138. Chap.138 RESOLVE ON THE PETITION OF THE SELECTMEN OF SALEM, AUTHORIZING MILES WARD TO COLLECT THE TAXES MEN- On the petition of the Selectmen of Salem, praying that Miles Ward, tertius, may be authorized to collect the public taxes remaining uncollected on the several tax lists, which in the year 1783 were committed to one John Andrew, a Collector of the same town, who has since absconded: Resolved, That the said Miles Ward, tertius, be, and he is, hereby authorized and empowered to collect the public taxes which remain uncollected on the several tax lists aforesaid, as fully to all intents and purposes, as if he had been regularly and legally chosen a Collector for that purpose, and had received, in due form of law, the necessary warrants of collection agreeably thereto, he, the said Ward, being first sworn to the faithful discharge of the duties assigned him by this resolve. Chapter 139. March 16, 1785. Chap.139 RESOLVE ON THE PETITION OF JOSIAH WATERS, AS AGENT FOR THE OWNERS OF THE SHIP GENERAL PUTNAM, LOST On the petition of Josiah Waters, as agent for the owners of the ship General Putnam, lost on the expedition against the British Post at Penobscot, setting forth, that the said ship was taken by order of this Government into their service, against the consent of the owners thereof; and that the said ship was appraised by persons appointed by the then Board of War, in which appraisement neither the said owners nor their agent had any voice, nor were consenting thereto; and it appearing that the sum at which this ship was appraised was not equal to her value, compared with the value at which other vessels lost on the same expedition were appraised: Resolved, That there be allowed and paid out of the treasury of this Commonwealth, to the said Josiah Waters, as agent to the owners of the said ship General Putnam, the sum of Nine thousand pounds, lawful money, in the same way and manner as the owners of the other vessels. lost on the said expedition were paid, which sum of Nine thousand pounds shall be in full payment for the said ship, with her appurtenances and equipments: Provided nevertheless, That if the Treasurer of this Commonwealth has already paid any sum or sums on account of the loss of the said ship General Putnam, the same shall be deducted from the aforesaid sum of Nine thousand pounds, and the balance thereof only be paid. March 17, 1785. Chapter 140. EESOLVE GRANTING THIRTEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIVE Chap.140 POUNDS, FOR DEFRAYING THE NECESSARY CHARGES OF THE On the representation of the Justices of the Court of Resolved, That there be, and hereby is, granted a tax of Thirteen hundred and sixty-five pounds, to be apportioned and assessed on the inhabitants of the said county and estates lying within the same, and collected, paid and applied for the use of the said county, according to the laws of the Commonwealth. March 17, 1785. Chapter 141. RESOLVE REQUESTING THE LIEUT. GOVERNOR TO FORWARD Resolved, That his Honor the Lieut. Governor be, and he hereby is, requested to forward to the Delegates of this Commonwealth, at Congress, as soon as conveniently may be, copies of the report made by the Agents appointed by Chap.141 a resolve of the 7th of July, 1784, to repair to the eastern part of this State, to inform themselves of encroachments made by British subjects; and also a copy of the letter from Rufus Putnam, Esq; to the Legislature, with respect to the eastern boundary of this State, and such parts of the official correspondence between the late Governor Hancock and Governor Parr, of Nova Scotia, touching the same boundary, as may be in the possession of the Lieutenant Governor, with such other information and evidence concerning the same boundary line, as he may be able to procure. And be it further Resolved, That the Lieut. Governor be requested to inform the said Delegates, that it is the expectation of the General Court, that they use their utmost endeavours to procure such instructions from Congress to their Minister at the Court of London, as shall be thought most effectual to prevent any further disputes concerning the said eastern boundary, and cause the encroachments aforesaid to be removed. Chapter 142. March 17, 1785. Chap.142 RESOLVE ON THE PETITION OF TIMOTHY JACKSON, OF NEW TOWN, GIVING LIBERTY TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OF HIS LATE FATHER'S ESTATE, TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL SUM MEN- On the petition of Timothy Jackson, of Newtown, setting forth, that previous to the late war, his father was indebted to the estate of the late Jane Eustis, a sum of money by bond, and mortgaged his real estate as collateral security for payment thereof, and that the money due as aforesaid became the property of Sampson Salter Blowers, Esq; an absentee, and that the said bond, during the said war, was carried out of this Commonwealth, so that the same could not be come at to be discharged; that since the establishment of peace, an action of ejectment has been brought against the said Timothy for the possession of the premises mortgaged as aforesaid, and judgment hath been rendered for the same, and the said Timothy is likely to be dispossessed of the said estate, unless the principal sum mentioned in the condition of the said deed is paid, with interest in full, contrary to a resolve of this Commonwealth, passed the last session of the General Court, post poning the payment of the interest due on absentees debts, in certain cases, until the sense of Congress could be had thereon: Be it therefore Resolved, That the said administrator on the said estate of the said Jackson shall be, and hereby he is at liberty to pay the principal sum due on the said bond, with the interest thereon, up to the 19th day of April, 1775, with such costs and charges of Court as shall or may arise in consequence of the said action brought as aforesaid, and the same shall operate in bar of the said action, as fully as if the whole of the principal and interest due thereon, was paid to the making up the said judgment: Provided always, and this resolve shall not be construed to prevent the future payment of the said interest due since the said 19th day of April, 1775, provided the interest due on the debts of absentees shall be finally adjudged by Congress or this Commonwealth as justly due to the said absentees. Be it further Resolved, That all sums of money paid on the said bond since the said 19th day of April, 1775, shall be considered as paid towards the principal and interest, due previous to the said 19th day of April, 1775, and not afterwards, any law or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. March 17, 1785. Chapter 143. RESOLVE ON THE PETITION OF JOHN JENKS, TO SERVE SAM- On the petition of John Jenks, praying for a trial and hearing at the next Court of Common Pleas, to be holden in and for the county of Berkshire, in an action or plea of trespass on the case commenced against him by Samuel Miller and Caleb Hill, at a Court of Common Pleas, held in said county on the second Tuesday of May, A. D. 1784; and that further proceedings in the said action be stayed in the mean time, for reasons set forth in the said petition. Resolved, That the said John serve the said Samuel and Caleb, or their attorney, with an attested copy of his petition and this order thereon, fifteen days before the second Wednesday of the next session of the General Court, that they may then appear and shew cause (if any they have) on the said day, why the prayer of the said Chap.143 petition should not be granted. And it is hereby resolved, that execution, or any further proceedings on the said action, be stayed in the mean time. March 17, 1785. Chapter 144. Chap.144 RESOLVE ENTITLING JOHN FRANCIS, CAPT. OF THE 11TH MASSA Chap.145 CHUSETTS REGIMENT, TO ONE EIGHTH PART OF PAY. On the representation of John Lucas, Esq; Commissary of Pensioners, in behalf of John Francis, Capt. of the eleventh Massachusetts regiment, who lost one finger and the use of another finger by a shot, while in the service of the United States: Resolved, That the said John Francis be entitled to receive one eighth part of pay as a Captain, from the nineteenth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty, till the further order of the General Court or Congress. March 17, 1785. Chapter 145. RESOLVE ON THE PETITION OF THE SELECTMEN OF LEICES- CONSTABLES MENTIONED. On the petition of the Selectmen of Leicester, in behalf of the said town, praying to be relieved from an execution issued against them by Thomas Ivers, Treasurer of the said Commonwealth, for reasons set forth in the said petition: Resolved, That the Treasurer be, and he hereby is, directed to recall his said execution against the said town, and discharge them from the sum for which the said execution was issued, on account of the deficiencies of three delinquent Constables, viz. Benjamin Richardson, James Jackson, and John Crowl, the said sum being Twelve pounds, eight shillings and seven pence; it appearing to this Court that the sums aforesaid have heretofore been paid into the treasury. March 17, 1785. Chapter 146. Chap.146 RESOLVE ON THE PETITION OF JAMES SWAN, ESQ; DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE UPON THE SUBJECT OF UNAPPROPRIATED LANDS IN THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN, TO SELL HIM LAND, AS Whereas it appears to the General Court that. James |