[New] Virginia Ferry Operators, 1755 ------------ Transcribed from: Hening, William Waller 1819 The Statutes at Large; Being A Collection Of All the Laws Of Virginia, From The First Session Of the Legislature In The Year 1619. Volume VI. Franklin Press, Richmond, Virginia. --------------- MAY 1755 - 28th GEORGE II. CHAP. XII An Act for appointing several new Ferries. I. WHEREAS it is represented to this present General Assembly, that public ferries, at the places hereafter mentioned, will be of great service to travellers and others. II. BE it therefore enacted, by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council, and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted, by the authority of the same, That public ferries be constantly kept at the following places, and that the rates for passing the same, shall be as follows, to wit, from the land of Thomas Swearingen, in the county of Frederick, over Patomack river, to the land opposite thereto in the province of Maryland, the price for a man, three pence three farthings, and for an horse, the same. From the land of Lawrence Washington, in the county of Stafford, over the said river, to the land opposite thereto, in the province of Maryland, the price for a man two shillings and six pence, and for an horse the same. From Fort point, on Hog Island, over James river, to Higginson's landing, in the county of James City, the price for a man, one shilling and three pence, and for an horse the same. From the land of George Stovall, in the county of Albemarle, over the Fluvanna, to the land of George Stovall, in the county of Bedford, and from the land of the said George Stovall, in the county of Albemarle, the price for a man, three pence, and for an horse the same. From the land of Anne Fleet, in the county of King and Queen, across Mattapony river, to the land of Thomas Fox, in the county of King William, and from the land of the said Thomas Fox to the land of the said Anne Fleet, the price for a man, seven pence half penny, and for an horse the same. From the land of Anderson Doniphan, in King George county, to the land of Lawrence Battaile, in the county of Caroline, the price for a man, three pence, and for an horse the same. From the land of Field Jefferson, on the north side of Roanoke, in Luneneburg county, to the land opposite thereto, the price for a man, four pence, and for an horse the same. From the land of James Hunt, in the county of Lunenburg, over Stanton river, to the land of Abraham Abney, in the county of Halifax, the price for a man, four pence, and for an horse the same. From the land of Joseph Mayes, in the county of Halifax, over Stanton river, to the land opposite thereto, the price for a man, two pence, and for an horse the same. And for the transportation of wheel carriages, tobacco, cattle, and other beasts, at any of the places aforesaid, the ferry keepers may demand and take the following rates, to wit, For every coach, chariot, or waggon, and the driver thereof, the same as for six horses: For every cart, or four wheel chaise, and the driver thereof, as for four hoses: For every two wheeled chaise or chair, as for two horses: For every hogshead of tobacco, as for one horse: For every head of nett cattle, as for one horse: For every sheep, goat, or lamb, one fifth part of the ferriage of one horse: And for every hog, one fourth part of the ferriage of one horse; according to the prices herein before settled at such ferries, respectively, and no more. III. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That for the greater convenience of passing to and from the ferry, to be kept from Fort Point aforesaid, the justices of the county of Surry, shall, and they are hereby required, within six months after passing this act, at the charge of the said county, to cause the road leading to Fort Point aforesaid, crosses the same; and such bridge when erected, the said justices and their successors, shall, from time to time keep well and sufficiently repaired. IV. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That if the said justices shall neglect, or refuse to erect such bridge as aforesaid, or the same, (when erected) to keep in good and sufficient repair, every justice so neglecting, or refusing, shall forfeit and pay one thousand pounds of nett tobacco, to be recovered by action of debt to the use of the informer, in any court of record wherein no protection or essoign, shall be allowed. V. And whereas by an act of the General Assembly, made in the twenty second year of his present majesty's reign, intituled, An act for the settlement and regulation of ferries, and for dispatch of public expresses, a public ferry was established from the land of Littleton Eyre, on Hungar's river, in the county of Northampton, over the bay of Chesapeak, to the towns of York, Hampton, and Norfolk, but no provision was made in the said act for preventing other persons from setting over the said bay, for reward any person or persons, which is very prejudicial to the keeper of the said ferry, for remedy whereof: VI. Be it enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That no person whatsoever shall for reward, set any person or persons over the said bay, from the said county of Northampton, to the said towns of York, Hampton, or Norfolk, or any other place adjacent to the said towns; and if any person shall offend herein, he or she, so offending, shall forfeit and pay five pounds current money, for every offence, to be recovered by the keeper of the said ferry, for his own use, by action of debt or information, in any county court in this dominion. ----------------------------------------------- Submitted by Gwen Hurst **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. 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