Parish Officers Act, 1786
Statutes of New Brunswick. 26 George III, Chapter 28
(Assented to March 15, 1786)


 
 
 

Anno Regni GEORGII III. Regis Vicesimo Sexto.
AT the General Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick, begun and
holden at the City of Saint John, on the third day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty-six, and in the twenty-sixth
year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the grace of
God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and
so forth ; being the first Session of the first Assembly convened in the said Pro-
vince.
CAP. XXVIII.

An Act for the appointment of Town and Parish Officers, in the several Coun-
ties in this Province.

I. BE it enacted by the Governor, Council and Assembly, That the Justices
of the General Sessions of the Peace, for the several Counties in this
Province, shall hereafter annually at the first Sessions of the said Court, appoint
out of every Town or Parish in the said County, three fit persons to be Over-
seers of the Poor, of the said Town or Parish, and at the same time, in like man-
ner, appoint one fit person in every Town or Parish in said County to be Clerk
of said Town or Parish, who shall be sworn, truly to enter and record all such
matters and things, as shall relate to the said Town or Parish, and shall appertain
to his Office, and shall also appoint two or more as they shall see convenient, to
be Constables in said Town or Parish ; and shall also appoint two or more as they
shall see convenient to be Fence-viewers, in such Town or Parish ; and shall also
appoint, one Clerk of the Market, in said Town or Parish ; and shall also appoint
a sufficient number, in their discretion, to be Pound keepers, in said Town or
Parish ; and shall also appoint a sufficient number, in their discretion, to be Cul-
lers and Surveyors of Fish, in said Town or Parish ; and shall also appoint a suf-
ficient number in their discretion, to be Surveyors of Lumber, and of Cord Wood,
in said Town or Parish ; and shall also appoint one Sealer of Leather, in said Town
or Parish ; and shall also appoint a sufficient number, in their discretion, to be
Guagers of Casks, in  said Town or Parish ; and shall also appoint a sufficient
number, in their discretion, to be Hogreeves, in said Town or Parish ; and shall
also appoint three fit persons, to be Assessors, in said Town or Parish, of all such
Rates and Taxes as shall be payable by any Act or Acts of the Governor, Coun-
cil and Assembly of this Province ; and shall also appoint a sufficient number, in
their discretion, to be Surveyors and Weighers of Hay, in said Town or Parish ;
and shall and may also appoint a sufficient number, in their discretion, in each
Town or Parish to be Inspectors and Examiners of any staple commodity in such
Counties respectively, for market or exportation ; who shall be respectively sworn
in said Court, where they shall be so appointed, or within fourteen days after such
appointment, before one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace in the County
where such Town or Parish lies ; (which Court and Justices respectively are here-
by authorized to administer such Oaths,) to the faithful discharge of their duty ;
and also, shall conform to the Laws of this Province respecting or regulating the
same ; and upon their or any or either of their refusal to accept, or being guilty of
any neglect, or misbehaviour, in the execution of the duty, of their respective
offices they shall forfeit and pay, for the use of the Poor of the said Town or Parish,
the sum of Forty Shillings, for every such refusal, neglect or misbehaviour ; to be
recovered, upon proof of such refusal, neglect or misbehaviour, by the Oath of
one credible Witness, before any two of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for
the County, where such Town or Parish is; to be levied by warrant of distress
and sale of the offender's goods and chattels, rendering the overplus, if any, after
deducting the costs and charges of prosecution to the offender.    And if any per-
son so appointed, shall leave the Province, change the Town of his residence, or
happen to die within the period, for which he shall be appointed to serve in any
of the said offices ; in such case any two of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace
for the County, shall and may, appoint a fit person, who shall be sworn as afore-
said, to the faithful discharge of his duty, and shall serve in his vacant office,
until another shall be appointed, by such Court of General Sessions, at their
meeting, next ensuing such vacancy.

    II. Any be it further enacted, That the Surveyors and Weighers of Hay, shall
be paid for their trouble in viewing and weighing Hay, at the rate of One Pen-
ny per hundred weight, and Four Pence per mile travel, if such travel exceed
one mile ; to be paid by the seller.

    III. [ Obsolete.]


Transcriber's Remarks

The short title was not part of the original. It was added by the transcriber. Berton's marginal notes and footnotes have been omitted.

The "Obsolete" comment in square brackets for Section III was in Berton.

The date of royal assent, March 15, 1786, was not given in Berton. It was taken from the Royal Gazette and The New Brunswick Advertiser of March 21, 1786.

Transcribed by Craig Walsh.
September 2001.

Disclaimer: I have provided this transcription for its historical interest. It should not be considered an official or legal copy of the act.

Source
New Brunswick. Acts of the General Assembly of Her Majesty's Province of New Brunswick from the Twenty Sixth Year of the Reign of King George the Third to the Sixth Year of the Reign of King William the Fourth. Edited by George F. S. Berton. Printed by John Simpson, Queen's Printer, Fredericton. 1838. p. 47 - 48.

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This page was prepared by Craig Walsh.
First posted 3 September 2001.