June, 1680--32d CHARLES II.

ACT IV.

An act for continuation of the severall ffortifications and garrisons at the heads of ffowre greate rivers.

WHEREAS the number of souldiers at the severall garrisons appointed by act of assembly made at James Citty the 25th Aprill 1679, is found too chargeable for the greate poverty of the inhabitants of this country any longer to lye under, and neverthelesse the holding up and maintaining the said garrisons and fortifications against the incursions of Indian enemies is deemed of an absolute necessity; Bee it therefore enacted, and it is hereby enacted by the kings* most excellent majestie by and with the consent of the general assembly that the clause in the said law appointing forty tythables to sett forth one souldier be from henceforth wholy repealed and made voyd, and that the said garrisons and fortifications be continued, and that from henceforward the number of souldiers at each garrison (over and besides the comander in cheife thereof) be twenty in number, out of which number two corporalls to be chosen by each respective comander in cheife, and that such twenty souldiers for each garrison as aforesaid be appointed and chosen (as alsoe their horses, armes and furniture out of those who now are there or ought to be there by each respective comander in cheife) proportionably out of their severall countyes to which they appertaine, And therefore for a supply of the said twenty souldiers, horses, armes, or furniture soe made choice of as aforesaid, and hapning to dye or any wayes become disabled by sickness or otherwise that then such diffitiency upon notice given by the comander in cheife to the justices or first in comission of such county court, to which county such souldier or souldiers as shall belong shall forthwith be supplyed according as the aforesaid act of assembly made the twenty ffifth of Aprill, 1679, directs, And it is further hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, that each officer and souldiers pay shalbe and continue as is sett downe in the said recyted act of assembly, which charge shalbe borne and allowed by the publique, And for the lessing the charge heretofore brought for transporting provisions and the better and more sure provideing the same, Bee it enacted by the authority aforesaid that each souldier be allowes such proportion of corne and meate as is sett downe in the before recited law, and that coll. William Bird as undertaker in this present assembly doth forth with begin and all a long continue from fowre months to fowre months to provide and furnish the provisions and corne for the garrison and souldiers at the head of James river, and deliver the same soe convenient to the garrison as that the same may conveniently be secured and fetched in by the souldiers thereof without further charge to the country, for which provisions soe delivered, he the said coll. William Bird shalbe paid and allowed by the publique after the rate of two thousand pounds of tobacco and caske per ann. for each souldier of the said fort, And that capt. John Langhorne (as undertaker in this present grand assembly) make like provision and delivery thereof for Yorke river fort and have like pay from the publique. And that Robert Beverley (as undertaker in this present grand assembly) make like provision and delivery thereof for Rappahanock river fort, and have like pay from the publique. And that the same rules in the former law be observed for provideing provisions for Potomack fort. And because by reason of the poverty of this country the number of souldiers appoynted for each garrison at the countryes charge is soe few, and that in all liklyhood there may be found emergent occasion to reinforce each garrison with more souldiers, his excellency is humbly requested (as he shall see cause) from tyme to tyme to place in each garrison such number of his majesties foote souldiers now in the country as from tyme to tyme shall be thought fitt and needfull, and for such souldiers soe placed, their allowance of provisions shall be from tyme to tyme made and provided at the country charge, as is proportioned and allowed for the other, all such souldiers being furnished and supplyed with his majesties armes and ammunition, and provided with their owne bedding to be carryed to such garrisons at the charge of the country. And to the end such provisions as aforesaid may be alwayes ready and at hand. It is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid that every undertaker hereby in this act nominated doe for the first fowre months, and soe for every succeeding fowre months provide and lay in for each garrison five months proportionable allowance, and alsoe from time to time furnish such other quantities proportionable for each such suprnumirary souldier as shalbe sent according to the time such souldiers shalbe continued there, and as he the said undertaker shall from tyme to tyme receive notice thereof and directions for the same from each respective comander in cheife for such garrisons as he hath undertaken for, and for such provisions as he shalbe paid by the publique according to the rates before mentioned. Provided alwaies, and his excellency is desired (if he se cause) to draw tenn of the souldiers from each garrison for the ease of the country, supplying the same with ten of his majesties souldiers att each garrison and such tenn to have the horses, armes and ffurniture of those which shalbe withdrawne.