NOVEMBER 1711−−9th ANNE:

CHAP. I.

An Act for appointing Rangers.

WHEREAS a great number of barbarous, disorderly and lawless persons, of the Indian nations, have successively for many years last past, resided in and frequented the frontiers of this colony, and after the most horrid and notorious crimes by them committed, takeing the advantage of the large wast and uninhabited gronnds and woods, escape and avoid the hand of justice: For prevention whereof, and for the safeguard and secureing the said frontiers and the inhabitants thereof, from all injury, violence, spoyle and rapine of the said Indians.

Be it enacted, by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council, and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, and by the authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this act, the lieutenant governor, or the commander in chief of this colony and dominion, for the time being, is impowered and desired, with the advice of the council, to constitute and appoint such persons as he shall think fitt, to be lieutenants or commanders as he shall think fitt, to be lieutenants or commanders of the rangers for the said frontiers; each of which lieutenants, so constituted and appointed, shall choose out and list eleven able bodyed men, with horses and accoutrements, arms and ammunition, residing as near as conveniently as may be, to that frontier station for which he shall be lieutenant of the rangers, to serve under him as their commander. But if such lieutenant cannot find a sufficient number of able bodyed men, furnished and provided according to the directions of this act, to serve voluntarily under him, then and in such case it shall and may be lawfull for the commander in chief of the militia in the same county, and he is hereby impowered and required, upon the application of such lieutenant, to order and impress out of the militia of that county, so many able bodyed men, furnished as aforesaid, residing next to that frontier station, as shall make up the number of eleven. And such lieutenant and lieutenants, and the men under his and their respective commands, shall observe, perform and keep such orders and directions in their saverall rangings and marchings as such lieutenant and lieutenant-governor or the commander in chief of this colony and dominion, for the time being.

And be it further enacted, That if any lieutenant of the rangers, or any the men under his command, shall in their marching and ranging meet with or see any Indian or Indians whatsoever, such lieutenant and such men shall endeavour by all possible means to apprehend and seize such Indian and Indians. And if upon examination of such Indian or Indians, he or they see cause, shall seize such Indian and Indians and convey him and them before one of her Majesty's justices of the peace, which justice shall if he see cause upon further examination commit such Indian and Indians to the custody of the sheriff of his county, to be by him conveyed to the lieutenant-governor or the commander in chief of this dominion, for the time being, for further examination; and the said justice shall then also certify the cause of such Indian or Indians' committment.

And be it further enacted, That if any Indian or Indians so taken shall upon examination or tryal be found to belong to any of the nations in warr with this government, such Indian and Indians shall be transported and sold, and the benefitt of such sale shall intirely belong to that party of rangers by which he or they were apprehended. And if any Indian or Indians which shall be mett with or seen by such lieutenant or his men, shall resist, fly or run away, so as such Indian or Indians cannot be apprehended or taken, whereby it may happen that such Indian may be wounded or killed in the pursuit.

It is hereby enacted and declared, That the person or persons killing or wounding such Indian or Indians shall incurr no penalty or prosecution for the same.

And be it further enacted, That if at any time dureing the continuance of this act, any inhabitant of this colony shall be killed or wounded by an Indian, there shall be paid to any person or persons that shall upon fresh pursuit take and secure such Indian so as he may be brought to tryal for the said fact, a reward of twenty pounds, current money of Virginia, by the general assembly of this colony. And if such Indian shall resist so as he cannot be apprehended alive, any person or persons that shall in that case shoot or kill such Indian, shall receive the like reward of twenty pounds, current money, to be paid as aforesaid.

And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That there shall be levyed and paid to every lieutenant or commander of the rangers, for himself, his horse, with accoutrements, arms and ammunition, for his service fr one year, five thousand pounds of tobacco, with cask, and in proportion to that for a lesser time than a year. And to every man listed under such lieutenant or commander, for himself, his horse, with accoutrements, arms and ammunition, for his service for one year, three thousand pounds of tobacco, with cask, and in proportion to that for a lesser time than a year, out of the public levy, which tobacco, with cask, and in proportion to that for a lesser time than a year, out of the public levy, which tobacco shall be levyed and raised in the county where such lieutenant and rangers reside, or in some one or more of the next adjacent countys. And for the greater encouragement of the said rangers, every officer and other persons listed under him shall be and is hereby declared to be free and exempted from the payment of the said county and parish levys dureing their continuance in the said service. Such man so listed producing a certificate under the hand of his lieutenant or commander, setting forth the time such man shall have been in the said service, and making oath thereunto.

And be it also enacted, That if any lieutenant or commander of the rangers, or any man listed under such lieutenant or commander, by virtue of this act, shall refuse or wilfully neglect to observe, perform, or keep such orders and directions as shall from time to time be given by the lieut. governor or the commander in chief of this dominion, for the time being, to such lieutenant or commander relateing to the rangeing service, every person & persons so refusing or wilfully neglecting shall forfeit and loose all such pay as shall be then due and owing to him, or them, and shall suffer one month's imprisonment without bail or mainprize, such refusall or wilfull neglect being proved before the court of the county where such person & persons shall reside at the time of makeing the public claimes of the said county.

And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue and be in force for one year from the end of this session of assembly, and for no longer time.