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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Acts of the North Carolina General Assembly, 1750
North Carolina. General Assembly
March 28, 1750 - April 09, 1750
Volume 25, Pages 240-242

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LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA--1749.
SECOND SESSION.

CHAPTER V.
An Act, to encourage Michael Higgins to build a Bridge over Trent River, near Wicliff's Ferry, in Craven County.

I. Whereas a Bridge over Trent River, near the Place called Wicliff's Ferry, would be much for the Conveniency of all Travellers and Michael Higgins being desirous of building one there at his own expence, on Condition of having the Benefit thereof for the Space of Twenty Five Years:

II. Be it Enacted, by his Excellency Gabriel Johnston, Esq; Governor, by and with the Advice and Consent of His Majesty's Council and the General Assembly of this Province, and by the Authority of the same, That it shall and may be lawful for the said Michael Higgins, his Heirs or Assigns, to erect and build a good substantial Bridge over Trent River, as near as he conveniently can to the Place where the Main Road crosseth the said River, near the Place commonly called Wicliff's Ferry; and after building the said Bridge as aforesaid, it shall and may be lawful for the said Michael Higgins his Heirs, Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, to keep a sufficient Gate thereon, and take and receive from all Persons that shall pass over the same, the following Rates; that is to say, For every man and Horse, Four Pence; for every Carriage drawn by One or Two Horses or Oxen, One Shilling; and for every Horse or Ox more, Four Pence each; and for every Head of Neat Cattle, One Penny; and for every Twenty Hogs or Sheep, One Shilling, and so in Proportion, for a greater or lesser Number of Hogs or Sheep; for and during the space of Twenty Five Years, and no Longer.

III. And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That after the said Bridge is so built and Compleated as aforesaid, it shall not be lawful, during the Time the said Bridge shall be kept in Repair, and fit for Travellers and Carriages to pass and repass over the same, for any Person whatsoever, to keep any Ferry, build any Bridge, or set any Person or Persons, Carriage or Carriages, Cattle, Hogs, or Sheep, over the said River, for Fee or Reward, within Six Miles of the same, during the Time aforesaid; under the Penalty of Twenty Shillings, Proclamation Money, for each and every offence: To be recovered before any Magistrate of the County of Craven; to be applied to the use of the Proprietor of the Bridge built by the said Michael Higgins; and, during the said Time, the Right and Property of the said Bridge is hereby invested in the said Michael Higgins, his Heirs, Executors, Administrators, or Assigns.

CHAPTER VI.
An Act for appointing and laying out a town on the Plantation of Mr. Samuel Jordan, on the north side of Roanoke, in Northampton County; and for establishing two fairs to be held annually therein.

I. Whereas the inhabitants of Northampton county have petitioned for an act, for appointing a town on the plantation of Mr. Samuel Jordan, on the north side of Roanoke river, in Northampton county:

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II. We pray that it may be enacted, And be it enacted, by His Excellency Gabriel Johnston, Esq; Governor, by and with the advice and consent of his Majesty's Council, and the General Assembly of this Province, and by the authority of the same, that as soon as the proprietors of the said land shall acknowledge his consent and concurrence, in open court of the said county, to have such part of the said land laid out for a town as is hereafter directed, Samuel Jordan, William Short, William Kinchen, Francis Corbin, and John Dawson, are hereby nominated and appointed commissioners, and they, or the majority of them, are hereby invested with full power and authority, to lay out thirty-six acres of land, on the said Plantation for a town, by the name of Hawns; and to lay out the said thirty six acres into lots, of half an acre each with convenient streets and squares.

III. And be it further enacted, that when the commissioners or the majority of them, have laid out the said town into lots and streets, as aforesaid, every person whatsoever who is willing to be an inhabitant of the said town, shall have liberty to take up any lot or lots so laid out as aforesaid, and not taken before; which lot or lots the commissioners before appointed or the majority of them, are hereby impowered to grant, convey and acknowledge, to the person or persons so taking up the same, his heirs and assigns, for ever, in fee, upon the payment of five pounds, proclamation money, or the value thereof, to the treasurer hereinafter mentioned.

IV. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that William Short is hereby appointed treasurer and receiver of all such sum or sums of money as shall arise by the sale of such lots, for the use hereafter mentioned; and on the death, or departure out of the government of the said treasurer, the said commissioners, or the major part of them shall appoint some other person treasurer, in the place of the said treasurer so dying, or departing the government.

V. And be it enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that the treasurer that shall or may be hereafter appointed by the commissioners as aforesaid, shall give security to the county court, that he shall and will account with, and pay in all the monies he shall receive, for the sale of all and every the lot or lots that shall be sold, yearly, on the twenty fifth day of March, to Mr. Samuel Jordan, or the proprietor of the said lands.

VI. Provided always, that if any lot or lots shall be granted or conveyed by the said commissioners, to any person or persons whatsoever, who shall not within two years, build a good substantial habitable framed house, not of less dimensions than twenty feet in length, and sixteen feet wide, besides sheds and leantoes, or maks such preparation for so doing as the commissioners or the majority of them, shall on view, think reasonable, such grant or conveyance shall be void, and it is hereby declared void, and of none effect, as if the same had never been made; and the commissioners may grant and convey such lot or lots, which shall not be built on within the time, and in the manner as is herein before directed, to any other person or persons applying for the same, and paying the money for the said lot, as in this act is before directed, for the use of the said Samuel Jordan, or other proprietor, as aforesaid.

VII. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that the commissioners or the majority of them, shall be, and they are hereby impowered and authorized, to remove all nuisances within the limits of the said town.

VIII. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that no person inhabitant of the said town, or holding a lot or lots therein, shall inclose the

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same, or keep the same inclosed, under a common stake fence; but every lot therein shall be paled, or inclosed with posts and rails set up.

IX. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that all persons, possessors or owners of any lot or lots in the said town, shall, within two years from the date of their grant or conveyance, clear, and keep constantly clear, their lot or lots, from all manner of wood, underwood, brush and grubs; under the penalty of one shilling, proclamation money, for every month such owner or owners of any lot or lots shall neglect to clear and keep the same clear; to be recovered by a warrant from any justice of the peace, and applied, by the said commissioners, for and towards clearing the streets in the said town.

X. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that it shall and may be lawful for the inhabitants of the said town, to hold two fairs annually, in the said town of Hawns, to wit; one on the second Tuesday in the month of October, and the other on the first Tuesday in the month of January during the space of three days at each time; under such rules and regulations, and as near as may be, agreeable to the rules and regulations that fairs are usually held and kept in the kingdom of Great Britain.