Surry county divided. Sussex county formed. CHAP. XVII. An Act for dividing the county of Surry, and adding part of the parish of Albemarle, to the parish of Southwark. I. WHEREAS many inconveniencies attend the inhabitants of the county of Surry, by reason of the large extent thereof, and they have petitioned this General Assembly that the said county may be divided. II. BE it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant Governor, Council, and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted, by the authority of the same, That from and immediately after the first day of February next, the said county of Surry be divided into two counties, and that all that part of the said county, which lies on James river, and on the inner or lower side of the bounds herein after mentioned, that is to say, beginning at Seacock swamp, on the line dividing the said county of Surry, from the county of Southampton; thence a straight course to Black water, at the mouth of Coppohank, and up Black water to the line dividing the said county of Surry, from the county of Prince George, shall be one distinct county, and retain the name of Surry; and that all the other part of the said county of Surry, shall be one other distinct county, and called and known by the name of Sussex. III. And for the due administration of justice in the said county of Sussex, after the same shall take place, Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That after the said first day of February, a court for the said county of Sussex, be constantly held by the justices thereof, on the second Monday in every month, in such manner as by the laws of this colony is provided, and shall be by their commissions directed. IV. Provided always, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to hinder the sheriff or collector of the said county of Surry, as the same now 'stands entire and undivided, from collecting and making distress for any public dues or officers fees which shall remain unpaid by the inhabitants of Sussex, at the time of its taking place; but such sheriff or collector, shall have the same power to collect or distrain for the said dues and fees, and shall be answerable for them in the same manner as if this act bad never been made, any law, custom, or usage to the contrary thereof in any wise, notwithstanding. V. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That from and immediately after the first day of February next, all that part of the parish of Albemarle, in the county of Surry, which lies on the inner or lower side of the bounds above mentioned for dividing the said county of Surry, shall be added to, and is hereby made part of the parish of Southwark, in the said county of Surry. VI. Provided always, That nothing herein contained, shall be construed to hinder the collector of the said parish of Albemarle, as the same now stands entire and undivided, from collecting or making distress for any parish levies, which shall remain unpaid by the inhabitants of the said part of the parish of Albemarle, at the time of its becoming part of the said parish of Southwark; but such collector shall have the same power to collect and distrain for such parishi levies, and shall be answerable for them in the same manner as if this act had not been made, any law, custom, or usage to the contrary thereof, in any wise, notwithstanding. VII. And whereas by reason of the great number of bridges in the said county of Sussex, which are now maintained at the charge of the said county of Surry, the levy of the said county of Sussex, by reason of the said division, will be greatly increased, Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all such money and tobacco, as shall be due and owing to the said county of Surry, at the time the said division shall take place, shall thereupon be vested in the justices of the said county of Sussex, and their successors, to and for the uses following, that is to say, therewith to pay and satisfy all such debts and dues as shall be owing from the said county of Surry, before the said division shall take place, and the residue, if any, to be by them applied in defraying the contingent charges of the said county of Sussex. Y y Vol. 6. Parish of St. CHAP. XVIII. An Act for dividing the parish of St. Andrew, in the county of Brunswick. 1. WHEREAS the parish of St. Andrew, in the Andrew in county of Brunswick, by reason of its large extent, is inconvenient to the inhabitants thereof. Brunswick county divi ded. Meherrin ed. II. BE it enacted, by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council, and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted, by the authority of the same, parish form- That from and after the first day of July next, the said parish of St. Andrew, shall be divided by Meherrin river; and that all that part of the said parish of St. Andrew, which lies on the south side of the said river, shall be one distinct parish, and called by the name of Meherrin; and that all that part of the said parish which lies on the north side of the said river, shall be one other distinct parish, and retain the name of St. Andrew. III. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the freeholders and housekeepers of the said parishes of St. Andrew and Meherrin, respectively, shall meet at some convenient time and place, to be appointedjand publickly advertised, by the sheriff of the said county of Brunswick, at least one month before the first day of September, next following, and then and there elect twelve of the most able and discreet persons of their respective parishes, for vestrymen in each of the said parishes, which vestrymen so elected, having in the court of the said county of Brunswick, taken and subscribed the oaths appointed to be taken, by one act of parliament, made in the first year of the reign of his majesty king George the first, intituled, An act for the further security of his majesty's person and government, and the succession of the crown in the heirs of the late princess Sophia, being protestants, and for extinguishing the hopes of the pretended prince of Wales, and his open and secret abettors, and taken and subscribed the oath of abjuration, and repeated and subscribed the test, and also subscribed to be conformable to the doctrine and discipline of the church of England, shall to all intents and purposes be deemed and taken to be the vestries of the said parishes, respectively. IV. Provided always, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to hinder the collector of the said parish of St. Andrew, as the same now is entire and undivided, from collecting or making distress for any parish levies which shall remain unpaid by the inhabitants of the said parish of Meherrin, at the time of its taking place, but such collector shall have the same power to collect and distrain for the said levies, and shall be answerable for them in the same manner, as if this act had never been made, any law, custom, or usage to the contrary thereof, in any wise, notwithstanding. V. And whereas there is due and owing to the said parish of St. Andrew, divers sums of money, and quantities of tobacco, which have been heretofore levied on the tithable persons of the said parish, for defraying the contingent charges thereof. And also the vestry of the said parish, at the expense thereof, have lately purchased books, plate, and church ornaments of considerable value. VI. Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the vestry of the said parish of St. Andrew, from and after being elected and qualified in manner aforesaid, shall have power and authority to demand and receive of all and every person and persons indebted to the said parish of St. Andrew, as it now stands entire and undivided, all debts and dues owing to the said parish, and after they shall have received the same, shall pay to the vestry of the said parish of Meherrin, for the use of their said parish, an equal part of all such money and tobacco, in proportion to the number of tithable persons in the said parishes respectively. And also shall reimburse and pay to the said parish of Meherrin, one third part of the sum of money first expended in the purchase of the said plate, and also the said parish of Meherrin, shall and may retain the books and ornaments that have hitherto been made use of in the chapels which are on the south side of the said river Meherrin. Vestry of ham, in Es- authorised to sell their glebe. CHAP. XIX. An Act to impower the vestry of the parish of South Farnham, in the county of Essex, to sell the Giebe land of the said parish, and to lay out and apply the money arising by such sale, towards purchas ing a more convenient Glebe, and erecting houses thereon. I. WHEREAS the giebe of the parish of South Farnham, in the county of Essex, is very inconveniently situated, and the minister and vestry of the said parish have petitioned this General Assembly, for leave to sell the same, and to purchase a more convenient glebe. 11. BE it therefore enacted, by the Lieutenant Governor, Council, and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the glebe land belonging to the said parish of South Farnham, eontaining about two hundred and fifty acres, be, and is hereby vested in the present vestry of the said parish, and the vestry of the said parish for the time being in trust. Nevertheless, that the said vestry, or the greater part of them, shall be impowered by deed of bargain and sale, indented and duly recorded, to convey the said glebe with the appurtenances, for a valuable consideration of money. bona fide received, to such person or persons as shall be willing to purchase the same, to hold to such purchaser or purchasers, his or their heirs and assigns for ever: And the money arising by such sale, shall be by them laid out and applied towards purchasing a more convenient glebe, and erecting houses thereon, for the use and benefit of the minister of the said parish, for the time being, for ever. III. Saving to the king's most excellent majesty, his heirs and successors, and to all and every other person and persons, bodies politic and corporate, their respective heirs and successors, other than the minister and vestry of the said parish, all such right, |