FRC Jurisdictions Portal
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This top community organizes Firearms Research Center holdings by jurisdiction. It provides separate collections for U.S. states, territories, the District of Columbia, and the federal jurisdiction, spanning the territorial period to the present.
Scope of Content
- Legal sources: statutes and session laws, administrative code, attorney general opinions, appellate decisions, and selected municipal ordinances.
- Historical materials: newspapers, photographs, maps, catalogs, company records, and oral histories tied to specific places and periods.
- Research outputs: FRC reports, datasets, and interpretive materials that contextualize legal and technical developments.
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- Browse: open a jurisdiction collection to view items for that state, territory, DC, or the federal jurisdiction.
- Search: use keywords and filter by Jurisdiction, Date Issued, and Category. Record any Exceptions noted for applicability.
- Cite: use the item’s identifier and provided links (Original Source and Duke reference) when available.
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Items are described using Dublin Core with standardized fields for Jurisdiction, Date Issued, Category, and Exceptions to support precise discovery and comparison.
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Item type:Item, 3 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 335-38 (1823)(1705)The militia included "all male persons whatsoever, from sixteen to sixty years of age ... to serve in horse or foot." An infantryman needed "a firelock, muskett or fusee well fixed, a good sword," cartridge box, and ammunition. He had to bring six rounds of ammunition to muster. Additionally, he had to "have at his place of abode two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shott, and bring the same into the field with him when thereunto specially required." A horseman needed the usual tack and ammunition accoutrements along with a pair of pistols and a sword. He had to bring eight rounds of ammunition to muster. At his usual place of abode, he also had to keep a well fixed carabine, two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shot. The act made it unlawful for creditors to seize a militiaman's arms as payment for debts. If a creditor nevertheless took someone's militia equipment, the seizure would "be unlawful and void." Any "officer or person that presumes to make or serve the same" (e.g., a sheriff serving a writ of attachment) would "be lyable to the suit of the party grieved, wherein double damages shall be given upon recovery."Item type:Item, 3 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 205-07 (1823)(1701)Provided 500-acre land grants, with the proviso that the grantee keep "upon the said land one christian man between sixteen and sixty years of age perfect of limb, able and fitt for service." Such men should be "continually provided with a well fixt musquett or fuzee, a good pistoll, sharp simeter, tomahauk and five pounds of good clean pistoll powder and twenty pounds of sizable leaden bulletts or swan or goose shott to be kept within the fort directed by this act besides the powder and shott for his necessary or usefull shooting at game..."Item type:Item, Laws and Acts of Her Majesties Colony of Rhode Island, and Province-Plantations Made from the First Settlement in 1636 to 1705, at 48 (1896)(1700)Persons subject to militia service also had to serve on watch and ward (day and night guard duty in towns). Mandatied that each militiaman appear with a "Good & Sufficient muskett or Fuze a Sword or Bayenet, Catooch box or Bandelers wth twelve Bulets fit for his Piece half a Pound of Powder & Six good Flints."Item type:Item, 9 Stat. at Large of South Carolina: Containing the Acts Relating to Roads, Bridges and Ferries, With an Appendix, Containing the Militia Acts Prior to 1794, at 617-19 (David J. McCord ed., 1841)(1703)Included "all and every the inhabitants from the age of sixteen years to sixty." It required "each person or soldier" to appear "with a good sufficient gun, well fixed, a good cover for their lock, one good cartridge box, with at least twenty cartridges of good powder and ball, and one good belt or girdle, one ball of wax sticking at the end of the cartridge box, to defend the arms in rain, one worm, one wier and four good spare flints, also a sword, bayonet or hatchet.Item type:Item, 1 The Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution 231-32 (1896)(1691)Lowered the minimum militia age, so that "noe person whatsoever from fiftieen to Sixty years of Age remaine unlisted." For every foot soldier, "a well fixed muskett or fuzee" for officers, "a good pike or Sword or lance and pistoll." At home, every foot soldier was to have "one pound of good powder and three pound of Sizeable bulletts," and every Trooper (horseman) had to "have at his usuall place of abode a well fixed Carabine with belt and Swivell and two pounds of fine powder with Six pounds of Sizeable bulletts."Item type:Item, 1699 N.H. Laws ch. 1: An Act for Restraining and Punishing Privateers and Pirates: Penalty for Nonappearance in Armes, in 1 Laws of New Hampshire: Province Period 656 (1904)(1699)"And all and every person and persons that upon orders given him or them shall refuse to repair immediately with his or their Arms well fixed and Ammunition, to such place or places as shall be appointed by the said Officer, and not readily obey his Command in the premises, shall be Imprisoned without Bail or Mainprize, until the next General Session of the Peace within the same County, and by the Justices of the same Court fined, not exceeding Ten Pounds, or be corporally punished, not exceeding Ten Stripes, at the direction of the Justices."Item type:Item, 3 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 335-38 (1823)(1705)The militia included "all male persons whatsoever, from sixteen to sixty years of age . . . to serve in horse or foot." An infantryman needed "a firelock, muskett or fusee well fixed, a good sword," cartridge box, and ammunition. He had to bring six rounds of ammunition to muster. Additionally, he had to "have at his place of abode two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shott, and bring the same into the field with him when thereunto specially required." A horseman needed the usual tack and ammunition accoutrements along with a pair of pistols and a sword. He had to bring eight rounds of ammunition to muster. At his usual place of abode, he also had to keep a well fixed carabine, two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shot. The act made it unlawful for creditors to seize a militiaman's arms as payment for debts. If a creditor nevertheless took someone's militia equipment, the seizure would "be unlawful and void." Any "officer or person that presumes to make or serve the same" (e.g., a sheriff serving a writ of attachment) would "be lyable to the suit of the party grieved, wherein double damages shall be given upon recovery."Item type:Item, 3 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 205-07 (1823)(1701)Provided 500-acre land grants, with the proviso that the grantee keep "upon the said land one christian man between sixteen and sixty years of age perfect of limb, able and fitt for service." Such men should be "continually provided with a well fixt musquett or fuzee, a good pistoll, sharp simeter, tomahauk and five pounds of good clean pistoll powder and twenty pounds of sizable leaden bulletts or swan or goose shott to be kept within the fort directed by this act besides the powder and shott for his necessary or usefull shooting at game..."Item type:Item, 1 Laws of New Hampshire: Province Period 537 (Albert Stillman Batchellor ed., 1904)(1692)Changed the militia from all "persons" over sixteen to all males over 16. For arms, everyone had to be "well provided w'th a well fixed gun or fuse," plus "Sword or hatchet." Along with the typical colonial requirements for gunpowder and bullets, a knapsack, a cartridge box, a powder horn, and flints. Further, "every Soldier Shall have at his habitation & abode one pound of good pouder & twenty Sizable bullets."Item type:Item, 2 Laws of New Hampshire: Province Period 284-85 (Albert Stillman Batchellor ed., 1913)(1704)"All Male Persons from Sixteen Years of Age to Sixty [] shall bear Arms." The primary arms mandate applied to "every Listed Souldier and Housholder (except Troopers)." In other words, the head of a house was required to have the specified arms, even if the head were not militia-eligible. These arms were "a well fix'd, Firelock Musket, of Musket or Bastard-Musket bore, the Barrel not less than three foot and a half long; or other good Fire-Arms, to the satisfaction of the Commission Officers of the Company." Now, the mandatory equipment included gun cleaning tools: "a Worm and Priming Wire fit for his Gun." Mandatory edged arms were "a good Sword or Cutlash." As for horsemen, they needed "a Carbine, the Barrel not less than Two Foot and half long, with a Belt and Swivel, a Case of good Pistols with a Sword or Cutlash, a Flask or Cartouch Box, One Pound of good Powder, Three Pound of sizeable Bullets, Twenty Flints, and a good pair of Boots, and Spurs.Item type:Item, 9 The Statutes at Large of South Carolina: Containing the Acts Relating to Roads, Bridges and Ferries, With an Appendix, Containing the Militia Acts Prior to 1794, at 617 (David J. McCord ed., 1841)(1703)Included "all and every the inhabitants from the age of sixteen years to sixty." It required "each person or soldier" to appear "with a good sufficient gun, well fixed, a good cover for their lock, one good cartridge box, with at least twenty cartridges of good powder and ball, and one good belt or girdle, one ball of wax sticking at the end of the cartridge box, to defend the arms in rain, one worm, one wier and four good spare flints, also a sword, bayonet or hatchet.Item type:Item, 3 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 403 (1823)(1705)Ch. 49: An act concerning Servants and Slaves: Directed masters at completion of indenture to provide to male servants "one well fixed musket or fuzee, of the value of twenty shillings, at least"Item type:Item, 2 Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801 ch. 61 sec. 5 at 79 (1896)(1700)"And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any negro shall presume to carry any guns, swords, pistols, fowling-pieces, clubs or other arms or weapons whatsoever, without his master's special license for the same, and be convicted thereof before a magistrate, he shall be whipped with twenty-one lashes on his bare back." Passed November 27, 1700; repealed by the Queen in Council, February 7, 1705-6.Item type:Item, 2 Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801 ch. 144 sec. 5 at 235-236 (1896)(1705)"And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any negro shall presume to carry any guns, swords, pistols, fowling-pieces, clubs or other arms or weapons whatsoever, without his master's special license for the same, and be convicted thereof before a magistrate, he shall be whipped with twenty-one lashes on his bare back." Passed January 12, 1705-6. Allowed to become a law by lapse of time in accordance with the proprietary charter, having been considered bythe Queen in Council, October 24, 1709, and not acted upon.Item type:Item, The Documentary History Of The State Of New York 222-223 (1849)(1690)Prohibited the discharge of pistols and firearms in AlbanyItem type:Item, 1702 N.H. Laws ch. 7: An Act for the Punishment of Criminall Offenders, in 1 Laws of New Hampshire: Province Period 679 (1904)(1702)Prohibited riding or going armed offensively to cause fear or affray of the people.Item type:Item, The Charters And General Laws Of The Colony And Province Of Massachusetts Bay 343 (1814)(1700)no person or persons whatsoever in any town or garrison, shall during the time of war, or of keeping a military watch in such town or garrison, presume to discharge or shoot off any gun or guns after the sun's setting or before the sun's rising, unless in case of alarm, approach of an enemy, or other necessary defense, on pain that every person, so offending, and being thereof convicted before one or more of his majesty's justices of the peace, shall forfeit and pay the sum of twenty shillings for each gun so discharged, on moiety thereof to and for the use of the poor of the town where the offence shall be committed, and the other moiety to him or them that shall inform or prosecute for the same...Item type:Item, 1692 Mass. Acts 11-12(1692)Prohibited riding or going armed offensively to cause fear or affray of the people.Item type:Item, The Acts And Resolves, Public And Private, of The Province Of The Massachusetts Bay 268 (1869)(1697)§ 3: That no person or persons whatsoever, in any town or garrison, shall presume to discharge or shoot off any gun or guns after the shutting in of the daylight in the evening, or before daylight in the morning, unless in case of alarm, approach of the enemy, or other necessary defense, on pain that every person so offending, and being thereof convicted before one or more of his majestie's justices of the peace, shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten shillings, one moiety thereof to and for the use of the poor of the town where the offence is committed, and the other moiety to him or them that shall inform or prosecute for the same. And in case such offender shall not have wherewith to answer the said fine, or shall refuse or neglect to pay the same, then to be set in the stocks, not exceeding two hours' time: provided, that this act shall remain and continue in force during the present war, and no longer.Item type:Item, 1694 Mass. Acts 12(1694)No. 6, An Act for the Punishing of Criminal Offenders: Further it is Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That every Justice of the Peace in the County where the Offence is committed , may cause to be staid and arrested all Affrayers, Rioters, Disturbers, or Breakers of the Peace, and such as shall ride or go armed Offensively before any of their Majesties Justices, or other Their Officers or Ministers doing their Office or elsewhere.Item type:Item, 1693 Mass. Acts 48(1693)An Act for Regulating of the Militia, ch. 3, §§ 1, 5: That all male persons from sixteen years of age to sixty, (other than such as are herein after excepted), shall bear arms, and duly attend all musters and military exercises of the respective troops and companies where they are listed . . . § 5 That every listed solider and other householder (except troopers) shall be always provided with a well fixed firelock musket, or musket or bastard musket bore . . .Item type:Item, 26 Archives of Maryland 256 (1906)(1704)An Act relating to Servants and Slaves: "that every Man Servant shall at such time of expiration of his as aforesaid have allowed and given him..one Ax and one Gunne of twenty shillings price not above four foot by the barrell nor less than three and an half which said Gunn shall by the Master or Mistress in the presence of the ext Justice of the peace be delivered to such ffreeman under the penalty of five hundred pounds of Tobacco on such Master or Mistress omitting so to do and the like penalty on the said ffreeman selling or disposing thereof within the Space of twelve months..."Item type:Item, 2 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 49 (1980)(1704)"T]hat every Captain within this Province ? make a true and perfect List of all the Men ? between the Age of Sixteen and Fifty years ? Every one of which so listed shall be sufficiently armed with one good sufficient Musquet or Fuzee well fixed, a Sword or Bagonet, a Cartouch-box or Powder-horn, a pound of Powder, and twelve sizeable Bullets."Item type:Item, The Laws and Acts of the General Assembly of His Majesties Province of Nova Caesarea or New-Jersey 139 (1717)(1703)required all men 16 to 150 "to be sufficiently armed with one good sufficient Musquet or Fuzee, well fixed, a Sword or Bagonet"Item type:Item, 2 Aaron Leaming & Jacob Spicer, The Grants, Concessions, and Original Constitutions of the Province of New Jersey 341-42 (1881)(1694)Ch 2, An Act concerning Slaves, &c.: Prohibited any slave from being permitted to carry any gun or pistol into the woods or plantations unless their owner accompanied them.