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Towns having incurred ex

porting pauper.

committed to the house of correction, to be supported at the expense of the town, in which he has a settlement; and when not an inhabitant within the State, at the expense of the county, till discharged by the joint order of the Overseers of the town in which such house of correction is situated, and two Justices of the Peace, unus quorum.

SEC. 19. Be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of pense in sup- any town within this State, who have incurred expense for &c. may recov. the support of any pauper, whether he was legally chargeaer the same ble to them by means of his settlement or not, may recover his representa- the same against such person, his executors or administrators, in an action of assumpsit, for money paid, laid out, and expended for his use.

against him or

tives.

On death of pauper over.

seers may take

his effects.

If there be no

such effects

SEC. 20. Be it further enacted, That upon the death of any possession of pauper, who at the time of his decease shall be actually chargeable to any town within this State, the Overseers of the poor of such town may take into their possession all the administration personal property belonging to such pauper. And if no adwithin 30 days ministration shall be taken upon the estate of such pauper, may be sold to within thirty days after his decease, said Overseers may sell so &c. by over much of such property, as may be necessary to repay the expenses incurred for such pauper. And if any part of such have same rem- property shall be withheld from said Overseers, they shall edy to recover have the same remedy for the recovery of such property, or held as admin the value thereof, that an administrator of the estate of said pauper might have in like case.

pay expenses,

seers.

Overseers may

effects with

istrators.

In all actions, &c. by complaint, &c.

overseers may themselves or

appear by

attorney, &c.

Penalty for bringing or

per in any

SEC. 21. Be it further enacted, That in all actions and prosecutions by complaint founded on this Act, for or against any town, or against any individual, the Overseers of the poor thereof, or any person, by writing, under their hands, appointed, shall and may appear, prosecute or defend the same to final judgment and execution, in behalf of such town; and every act or thing required or authorized by them to be done by this Act, may be done by them, or the major part of them.

SEC. 22. Be it further enacted, That if any person shall leaving a pau- bring and leave any poor and indigent person in any town in town where he this State, wherein such pauper is not lawfully settled, knowhas ro settle ing him to be poor and indigent; he shall forfeit and pay the sum of sixty dollars for every such offence; to be sued for and recovered by, and to the use of such town, by action of debt, in any Court proper to try the same.

meat.

Plantations

ey for support

of

SEC. 23. Be it further enacted, That the plantations in may raise mon- this State, be and they hereby are, empowered to raise money poor, and re- for the relief and support of the poor therein; to be applied by the Assessors thereof; and all monies accruing for licenses as aforesaid, in plantations, shall be paid into the respective treasuries thereof for this purpose.

ceive duty on licenses.

[Approved March 21, 1821.]

CHAPTER CXXIII.

An Act to prevent the introduction of Paupers from foreign ports or places.

passengers with

bond before

town.

BE E it enacted by the Senate and House of Represent- Master to leave atives, in Legislature assembled, That when any ship or vessel the names of having any passengers on board, who have no settlement with- the overseers, in this State, shall arrive at any port or harbor within the State, the master of such ship or vessel shall, before such passengers come on shore, leave a list of their names and places of residence with the Selectmen or Overseers of the poor of the town where such passengers shall arrive. And the mas- and to give ter of such ship or vessel shall not land any such persons, landing them without the permission of the Selectmen unless he shall enter to indemnify into bonds with sufficient sureties, to the satisfaction of said Selectmen, in a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars for each passenger, to indemnify and save harmless such town as well as the State from all manner of charge and expense, which may arise from such passengers, for and during the term of three years; and if the master of any such ship or Penalty of negvessel shall land any such passengers, without entering their names and giving bonds as aforesaid, he shall forfeit and pay the sum of two hundred dollars for each passenger so landed, to be recovered by action of debt, by any person who shall sue for the same, one moiety thereof to the use of the State, and the other moiety to the prosecutor: Provided, That this Act shall not take effect, until the first day of October next, and that nothing in this Act shall be construed to extend to the master of any ship or vessel, in any voyage, on which such ship or vessel, may now be employed.

[Approved June 27, 1820.]

:00:

CHAPTER CXXIV.

An Act for erecting Work Houses for the reception and employment of the

Idle and Indigent.

lect.

houses;

SEC. 1. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Represent- Towns may – atives, in Legislature assembled, That when any town in this erect work State shall see meet to erect or provide a house for the reception, support, and employment of the idle and indigent, such town shall be, and hereby is fully authorized and empowered thus to do; and the towns aforesaid, as well as those who have already erected such houses, are hereby empowered, at their annual meeting, for the choice of town officers, to choose three, five, seven, or more Overseers of the said house; who shall have the inspection and government thereof, with and duties. full power of appointing a master, and needful assistants for the more immediate care and oversight of the persons received into or employed in the said house; which Overseers, once in every month, and at other times as occasion shall require,

and choose overseers.

Their powers

Several towns may join in

house, &c.

shall assemble together for the purpose of determining the most eligible method of discharging the duties of their office: and at their stated monthly meetings shall have power to make needful orders and regulations for such house, which orders shall be binding until the next public meeting of the inhabitants of such town, to whom such orders shall be presented for approbation; and when by them approved, shall be obligatory, until revoked by the town.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That when any number of building work towns shall agree, (at their joint charge, and for their common benefit,) to erect or provide a work house for the employment of persons residing in such towns that are indigent or idle; or to purchase land whereon to erect such house, or for the accommodation thereof, they shall be and hereby are vested with power and authority thus to do; and the ordering and governing the same, making the necessary repairs thereof, appointing a master and other assistants, and the power of removing him or them from their respective offices or trusts for irregular behaviour, incapacity, or for other sufficient cause, shall be vested in Overseers, to be from year to year specially chosen by the several towns, at their annual meeting for the choice of town officers; each town to choose three, unless Mode of choos all the towns engaged in the undertaking shall agree upon a and managing different number: and in case of the death of an Overseer, or his removal from the town for which he was appointed, the vacancy made thereby may be supplied by such town, at any other public meeting and if any town concerned shall neglect to choose such Overseers, in such case the person or persons, chosen in the other towns may proceed in all affairs of the said house, any such neglect notwithstanding.

ing the officers

the concerns of

such work

bouses.

Overseers to meet quarterly

Intermediate meetings.

Their powers

ings.

SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That there shall be stated at work houses. quarterly meetings of all the Overseers, on the first Tuesday of the months of January, April, July and October, annually, to be held at the work house, in order to inspect the management, and for directing the business thereof; and besides those stated meetings intermediate ones, to be held at the work and proceed house, may be called by the Overseers of any town concerned; due notice of the time and occasion thereof being given to the rest in such way and manner as shall be agreed upon by the Overseers, at any general stated meeting and the moderator and said Overseers, when duly assembled, may choose a Moderator; and at their first general meeting annually, after their appointment, they shall likewise choose a Clerk, to enter and record all votes and orders that shall be made and passed by the Overseers, who shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of his trust.

May choose a clerk.

Overseers may

make bye

SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That the Overseers for the laws, pay mas-time being at a general quarterly meeting, provided one half, at the least, of the whole number chosen are present, shall have full power and authority to make all reasonable orders

ters, &c. &c.

and bye-laws, not repugnant to the laws of this State, for the ordering and regulating the said house, and the affairs thereof: which orders and bye-laws shall continue and be in force, until altered, annulled or reversed by them or their successors in office, and may likewise agree with the master or other assistants, and order meet allowance for their care and service: and all other matters of less importance, relating to the said house, may be transacted at any other meeting duly notified, when only one third part of the Overseers are present; subject nevertheless to be altered or reversed at any general stated meeting.

of master and

borne by towns

SEC. 5. Bet further enacted, That the yearly stipend, Compensation or allowance, to the master and assistants, over and above assistants to be what is provided for by this Act, for their care and trouble, concerned. together with charge of keeping the house in repair, shall be paid by the several towns concerned, in proportion as they are taxed to the State, at the time the expense is incurred; or in such other proportion as all the towns concerned shall agree upon: And, if any town or towns shall refuse or neglect to Payment may advance, or reimburse their respective proportions of such al- by action. lowance or other charges before mentioned, after they shall have been stated and adjusted by the Overseers, the same may be recovered of such delinquent town or towns, in any Court proper to try the same, by action to be brought by such person or persons, as the Overseers shall in writing appoint for that purpose.

shall

be compelled

seers may com

rant, such persons as are liable to be sent.

SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That any two or more of Any two overthe Overseers in any town, already provided with such house, mit to work and any two or more of the Overseers in any town that, house, by wareither by themselves or in conjunction with other towns, hereafter erect a work house, be, and they are hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to commit to such house. by writing, under the hands of the said Overseers, to be employed and governed, according to the rules and orders of the house, any person or persons, residing in such town that are in this Act declared liable to be sent thither: Provided, That no greater number of persons belonging to any town, more than its be received into the house, than such town's proportion of the proper share. said house to be allotted them, can accommodate, when the receiving them will exclude or incommode such as belong to other towns; and an order of commitment from two or more Overseers, directed to a Constable of the same town, shall, by such Constable, be obeyed and executed.

No town to send

persons liable

in work houses.

SEC. 7. Be it further enacted, That the persons who shall Description of be liable to be sent unto, employed and governed in any to be sent to, work house erected or to be erected by one or more towns, and governed and employed in pursuance of this Act, are, all poor and indigent persons that are maintained by, or receive alms from, the town; also all persons able of body to work and not having estate or means otherwise to maintain themselves who refuse or neglect

Idle or indigent foreigners may

ployed there.

so to do; live a dissolute, vagrant life, and exercise no ordinary calling or lawful business, sufficient to gain an honest livelihood; and all such as having some ratable estate, but not sufficient to render them liable to pay any tax for such property equal to two thirds of a poll tax, do neglect the due care and improvement thereof; and such as spend their time and property in public houses, to the neglect of their proper business; or by otherwise mis-spending what they earn, to the impoverishment of themselves and their families, are likely to become chargeable to the town or to the State.

SEC. 8. Be it further enacted, That when any foreigner be sent to such or other person, not a legal inhabitant of any town within this house and em State, shall become idle or indigent, it shall be the duty of the Overseers of the town in which such person resides, or any two of them to commit such idle or indigent person to the work house belonging to the same town, or in which such town is interested; and the person or persons so committed, shall be under the care of the keeper of such house, and be employed, if capable of labor, in the same way and manner as is herein before directed, and shall be subject to the same rules and regulations as others committed to said house. And such count to be laid Overseers shall keep a fair account of the charge of supportbefore the Leging such idle or indigent person from time to time, and shall exhibit the same once in every year, at the least, to the Legislature, for allowance and payment, deducting therefrom the amount of such person's earnings.

Overseers to

keep a fair ac

islature for

lowance.

Penalty for towns neglect

SEC. 9. Be it further enacted, That if any town shall reing to furnish fuse or neglect to provide its proportion of the needful furniits proportion of furniture. ture for such house, or the materials, implements or other materials, &c. necessary apparatus for carrying on the work there to be

Towns may furnish more

tion of materi

distinct ac.

performed, according to their agreement, or as shall be directed by the Overseers, such town shall be deprived of the privilege of sending any person thither, until they shall comply with such agreement or direction.

SEC. 10. Be it further enacted, That beside the aforethan its propor- said proportion of materials and other things to be found by als and tools in the towns concerned, each town may likewise provide such certain cases. other materials and tools for work, as the Overseers for such town shall determine, any person by them committed to the said house, can be employed about, more advantageously; Master to keep and the master of the house shall receive such materials and count, and be tools, and keep them separate and apart from those sent from prime costs, as any other town, and shall be accountable to the Overseers of well as profits each town concerned, as well for the prime costs, as for all profits and earnings that shall be made by the labor of those And shall keep belonging to such town under his care; and shall keep a rega register, &c. ister of the names of the persons committed to such work house, and of the towns to which they respectively belong, with the time of their being received into, and discharged therefrom, and of their earnings, that the same may appear

accountable for

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