Assembly Proceedings, Sept. — Oct. 1663. 487

An Act Concerning Proceedings att Law

Whereas Severall differences doe, arrise within this Province
wherein there is noe Rule or Law provided in the Province
whereby to determine such differences and to leave much to
discretion is to open a Gapp to Corruption for the avoyding
such Inconveniencyes Bee itt Enacted by the Lord Proprietary
by and with the Consent of the upper and Lower house of
this present Generall Assembly that in case where the Lawe of
this Province is Silent lustice shall be administred according to
the Lawes of England This acte to endure for three yeares or
to the end of the next Generall Assembly.

Liber

W H & L

p. 28

An Act for the Quietting of possess?
of Lands and establishing the manner
of Conveyances of Lands for the future.

The Burgesses of this present Generall Assembly takeing
into their serious consideracon the great neglects of most
persons in the infancy of this Plantacon who either through
the innocence or ignorance of the time have neglected to ob-
serve due order or legall course for the confirmacon of such
sales & alienacons of howses and lands as have passed from
man to man of which negligence some evill disposed persons
takeing advantage have already raised divers suits at law and
obteyned judgments to the disherison of the Heires and
Orphans of divers purchasers who have deerly and bona fide
bought and paid for the same for the said lands and many
more by the successe of the former are encouraged to attempte
the like doe humbly pray that itt may be enacted And be
enacted by the R^t Honno^bles the Lords Proprietary by and w^th the
consent of the upper & lower howse of this present genall
Assembly th^t all persons whatsoev^r th^t either by th^mselves or by
their Grantees or Assignes have held possessed occupied or
Enjoyed as in his or their propper Right in Fee simple any
howse or Lands within this province, whether by purchase and
payment bona fide made Donacon Copartn^rshipp or bequest
Whether by will written or vnwritten, by vertue of Lres of
Adm^con haveing as Adm^rs paid beyond Assettes and appraised
the Lands of the deceased & deliv^red itt in the Inventory of the
de^cd his Estate att or before the first day of this p^rsent genall As-
sembly w^thout disturbance, Lett, Suite or denyall legally made &
psented to Judgm^t in Some Co^rt of this p vince shall for eve^r
after Enjoy the same w^thout any lawfull Lett suite trouble or
denyall by any after Claime of any p son or p sons whatsoever
for or by reason of want of Formality in the Conveyance only or
want of any Conveyance att all any Lawe Custome or vsage

P. R. O.

Colonial En-
try Book
No. 53