100 ~  [8 November 1692] Commission of Edward Green as Ranger of Somerset

Maryland  ~~~  LIONEL COPLEY, ESQ. Cap’t Gen’rl and Governor in Chif in and over their Ma’ties Province & Territory of Maryland  ~~  To Edward Green of Somerset County Gent’l Greeting  ~~ 

Out of the Especial trust & Confidence I have in your fidelity integrity and circumspection as also your skill & knowledge in the woods, and in Rainging and hunting for wild catle, horses and hoggs, have ordained constituted & appointed and doe by these presents ordaine constitue & appoint you the said Edward Green Chief Rainger in Somerset County aforesd, giving you or whome you shall depute & appoint hereby full power & authority to rainge in any part of the woods, or forest lands of the said County, and to take up all such wild horses and mares running within the same as by Act of Assembly of this Province is tearmed, deemed or adjudged to be strayes belonging to their Ma’ties or their Ma’ties Governor of this Province for the time being or heretofore to the Lord Baltimore as Lord Prop’ry of the same, all which horses & mares by you so taken, or to be taken up as aforesd, you are to have before some next magistrate of this County to take notice of, and before him to brand, or cause to be branded with the mark  ¥  every first and second horse or mare, and then turn the same upon Assateague Island or other Convenient place, for rainge, or othewise dispose thereof, as you shall be by me directed, and the third to reserve & keep to yourself  Also you are hereby impowered, your self of Deputy aforsd, to hunt for and take up or kill for meat, in any part of the said forest, all such wild catle & hoggs as by the said Act are considered strayes in manner aforesd, and the same to make use of, or otherwise dispose of as you shall think fitt, for the most benefit and advantage, the moiety or one half whereof you are to make good or be accountable for to me, or the Governor of this Province for the time being for the use appointed in the sd Act and the other remaining moiety to reserve and keep for yourself wholy & entire for your care pains & trouble therein. Provided that you the said Edward Green your Debuty or Deputies aforesd, shall not nor doe not at any time hereafter by vertue or under colour hereof presume willingly or wittingly to offer any violence or injury to any the Inhabitants of this Province in driveing or hunting away their stocks of catle horses & hoggs, but peaceably & quietly behave your self in the execution hereof. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said place & office of Rainger to you the said Edward Green, for and during pleasure.  GIVEN under my hand and seal this eighteenth day of October in th fourth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord & Lady King William & Queen Mary    Anno Domini 1692

 

                                                                                                ¤     L. Copley