Act for Naturalization of Mathias De Costa, (Oct 1671); St. Mary’s County, 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 *********************************************************************** [October 1671] To the Right Honble. the Lord and Proprietary of the Prouinces of Maryland & Avalon Lord Baron of Baltemore The humble Peticon of Mathias Decosta of St Maryes County in this Province of Maryland Humbly sheweth Vnto your Lordship that your Peticoner Mathias De Costa was born in fiall under the Dominion of the King of Portu- gall and your peticoner being now Removed into this Prouince hath for long time therein Inhabitted being Invited to come & dwell within this Prouince by and vppon Confidence of your Lordships Declaracon of the second of July one thousand six hundred forty Nyne weherby your Lordship did Impower your Lordships Gouernour of this Prouince from time to time to grant lands to any persons of Dutch french or other forreigne discent in the same in as ample manner vppon the same tearmes and Provisoes as he was thereby Impowered to grant Lands to any person or persons of Brittish or Irish discent and dureing his abode within this Prouince your Petconer hath been alwayes faithfull and Obedient to your Lordships Lawes & Customes of this Prouince as other the good people of this Prouince of Brittish or Irish discent may to their great Losse prejudice & Hinderance as also to the deterring of divers others of the forreigne Nacons aforesaid from comeing into this Prouince and by Consequence foreslowing the peopleing of this Pro- uince with useful Artificers & Handycrafts men may itt there- fore please your Lordship of your Abundant goodnesse and wonted Care of and over this Prouince that itt may be En- acted and Ordeined And Bee itt ordeined & Enacted by the Right Honble. the Lord Proprietary of the Prouince by & with the aduice & Consent of the upper and lower houses of this present Generall Assembly And the Authority of the same That your Lordships humble Peticoner Mathias Decosta shall and may from henceforth be adjudged Reputed and taken as a natureall borne person within this Prouince of Maryland and alsoe that he shall and may from henceforth be the same Au- thority be Enabled and adjudged to all intents and purposes able to demand Challenge aske have hold & Enjoy any Lands Tenements Hereditaments & Rents within this Prouince as Heire or Heires to any of his Ancestors by Reason of any dis- cent fee simple ffee taile Generall or speciall or Remainder vpon any Estabe Tayle or come to him by any discent in fee simple fee tayle Generally or speciall or Remainder vpon any Estate tayle as aforesaid or by any other Lawfull Conveyance or Conveyances or meanes whatsoeuer as if he had been borne within this Prouince or were of Brittish or Irish discent as aforesaid And alsoe that he from henceforth may and shall be Enabled to prosecute maintaine & avow Justify & defend all manner of accons suites plaints and other demands whatsoever as Liberally franckly freely fully Lawfully and securely as if he had been Natureally borne within this Prouince or of Brittish or Irish discent may any waies Lawfully doe any Lawe Pro- visoe Act or Custome of this Prouince or other thing whatso- ever had made ordeined and done within this Prouince to the Contrary thereof in any wise Notwithstanding.