Act for Naturalization of Several Individuals, (Apr 1671); Calvert, St. Mary’s and Dorchester Counties, MD Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Andrea K. Haga ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Below is the naturalization act dated April 1671 for the following individuals: 1. Bernard Johnson-Calvert County 2. William Nenfinger/Nengfinger (Cooper)-St. Mary's County 3. John Gotee/Gottee & wife Margaret of Dorchester County 4. Stephen Beson/Besson of Dorchester County ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- [April 1671] The Honble Charles Calvert Esq. Gouernour-- To the Right Honble. the Lord Proprietary of the Pro- vinces of Maryland and Avalon Lord Baron of Balte- more-- The humble peticon of Bernard Iohnson of Calvert County in the said Province of Maryland Cooper William Nenfinger of Saint Maries County Iohn Gotee and Margarett his wife of Dorchester County and Stephen Beson of the Same County all Inhabitants of this Prouince Humbly Shew vnto your Lordship that your Peticoners Bar- nard Iohnson and William Nengfinger were borne in holland and vnder the Dominion of the States Generall of the vnited Provinces John Gottee and Margarett his wife and Stephen Besson in the Kingdom of ffrance And your Peticoners being now Removed into this Province for long time therein In- habitted being Invited to Come and dwell within this Prouince by and upon Confidence of your Lordships Declaracon of the second of Iuly one thousand six hundred forty Nyne where- by your Lordship did impower Your Lordships Gouernour of this Province from time to time to grant lands to any persons of Dutch french or any other forreign discent in the same in as ample manner and vpon the same tearmes and Provisoes as he was thereby Impowred to grant lands to any person or persons of Brittish or Irish discent and dureing their abode within this Prouince Your Peticoners have been alwayes faith- full and obedient vnto your Lordships Lawes Yett further your Peticoners are not of Brittish or Irish discent they cannott take Benefitt of the Lawes and Customes of the this Province as other the good people of this Province of Brittish or Irish discent may to their great losse prejudice and hinderance as alsoe to the Deterring of divers others of the forreigne Nations afore- said from Coming into this Prouince and by Consequence foreslowing the peopling of this Prouince with vsefull Artificers and handicrafts men may itt therefore please your Lordship of your abundant goodnesse and wonted care of and over this Province That itt may be Enacted and ordeined. And Bee it Enacted and ordained by the Right Honble. the Lord Proprietary of this Province by and with the advice and Consent of the Upper and lower houses of this present Generall Assembly and the Authority of the same That your Lordships humble Peticoners Barnard Iohnson William Nengfinger Iohn Gottee and Margarett his wife and Stephen Besson and every of them Shall and may from henceforth by the same Authority be Enabled and adjudged to all intents and purposes able to demand Challenge aske haue hold and Enjoy any lands Tene- ments Hereditaments and Rents within the Prouince as heir or heires to any of the Ancesters by Reason of any descent in fee simple feetayle Generall or Speciall or Remainder vpon any Estate tayle or come to them or any of them by any discent in fee simple feetayle Gnerall or speciall or Remainder upon any estate tayle as aofresaid or by any other Lawfull Conveyance or Conveyances or meanes whatsoever as if they and every of them had been borne within this Province or were of Brittish or Irish discent as aforesaid And alsoe that they and every of them from henceforth may and shall be Enabled to prosecute maintaine and avow Iustifie and defend all manner of accons Suites plaints and other demands whatsoever as liberally frankly freely fully Lawfully and Securely as if they and every of them had been Natureally borne within this Pro- uince of Maryland of were of British or Irish discent and as any other person or persons Natureally borne within this Pro- uince or of Brittish or Irish discent may any wayes Lawfully doe Any law provisoes Act or Custome of this Prouince or other thing whatsoever had made ordeined or done within this Province to the Contrary thereof in any wayes Nothwith- standing.