248 Assembly Proceedings, May 26-June 22, 1741.

Liber
B. L. C.

Assignes for Ever any Devise Entail limitation or other matter or
thing heretofore made or done to the Contrary notwithstanding and
that he the same Benjamin and his Heirs be and are hereby fully
enabled authorized & Impowered to grant bargain and Convey the
same parcell of Land called Ropers neck to the aforesaid Thomas
Rutland his Heirs or Assignes in fee Simple as if the same never had
been Entailed and that he the said Thomas Rutland his Heirs or
Assignes by Virtue of such Grant Bargain and Conveyance and this
Act shall and may have hold possess and Enjoy the same Land to
him or them his or their Heirs or Assignes respectively for ever free
and Clear of and from all Limitations Conditions and Entails what-
soever of the aforesaid Thomas Roper or of any other person or
persons whatsoever Claiming under the said Thomas Roper
Provided Always that the aforesaid Benjamin Howard or his
Heirs before the making of any such Grant or Conveyance as afore-
said by Good and Effectual Deed or Deeds by him or them to be
duly Executed shall Grant and settle the aforesaid Parcells of Land
called Oven Wood Thickett Howards Addition and Deval's Range
with the Appurtenances in Fee tail upon himself the same Benjamin
Howard and the Heirs of his Body lawfully to be begotten according
to the true Intent and Meaning of the last Will and Testament of the
aforesaid Thomas Roper Saving to his Most Sacred Majesty his
Heirs and Successors the Right Honourable the Lord Proprietary
his Heirs and Successors and all Bodies Politick and Corporate and
all others not mentioned in this Act their Severall and respective
Rights.

Session
Laws

p. 3

Chapter IV
Preamble.

An Act for the Relief of John Blandford and Hannah Ratcliffe.

Whereas John Blandford of Prince George's County, and Hannah
Ratcliffe of Queen-Anne's County, Executrix of the Testament, and
Last Will of William Ratcliffe Deceased, have by their respective
Petitions severally set forth, that a Negro Man Slave belonging to
the said John was Committed to the Custody of the Sheriff of Prince
George's County, on Suspicion of Conspiring the Death of sundry
White People, and that during the Time of his Imprisonment he
Died: And that a Negro Man Slave of the aforesaid William Rat-
cliffe in his Life Time, voluntarily Murdered one of his Fellow
Slaves, and being Apprehended and Committed for that Fact Died
in Prison before any Court happened wherein he could be Tried;
wherefore the said Petitioners severally Pray to be Allowed from

Justices of
Pr. George's
County to
determine
the value of
John Bland-
ford's Slave
at the Time
of his com-
mitment.

the Publick, for the Value of the aforesaid Slaves.
Be it therefore Enacted by the Right Honourable the Lord Pro-
prietary, by and with the Advice and Consent of his Lordship's
Governor, and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly, and the
Authority of the same, That the Justices of Prince George's County
Court, shall, at the next Court to be held for that County after the
End of this present Session of Assembly, or at the Court succeeding