1783 Mass. Acts 218-219

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That if any Person shall take into any Dwelling House, Stable, Barn, Out House, Ware House, Store, Shop, or other Building within the Town of Boston, any Cannon, Swivel, Mortar, Howitzer, Cohorn, or Fire Arm, loaded with, or having Gun Powder in the same, or shall receive into any Dwelling House, Stable, Barn, Out House, Store, Ware House, Shop, or other Building, within the said Town, any Bomb, Grenade, or other Iron Shell, charged with, or having Gun Powder in the same, such Person shall forfeit and pay the Sum of Ten Pounds, to be recovered at the Suit of the Firewards of the said Town, in an Action of Debt, before any Court proper to try the same; one Moiety thereof to the Use of the said Firewards, and the other Moiety to the Support of the Poor of the Town of Boston. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all Cannon, Swivels, Mortars, Howitzers, Cohorns, Fire Arms, Bombs, Granades, and Iron Shells of any Kind, that shall be found in any Dwelling House, Out House, Stable, Barn, Store, Ware House, Shop, or other Building, charged with, or having in them any Gun Powder, shall be liable to be seized by either of the Firewards of the said Town: And upon Complaint made by the said Firewards to the Court of Common Pleas, of such Cannon, Swivels, Mortars, or Howitzer, being so found, the Court shall proceed to try the Merits of such Complaint by a Jury; and if the Jury shall find such Complaint supported, such Cannon, Swivel, Mortar, or Howitzer, shall be adjudged forfeit, and be sold at public Auction; and one Half of the Proceeds thereof shall be disposed of to the Firewards, and the other Half to the Use of the Poor of the Town of Boston. And when any Fire Arms, or any Bomb, Granade, or other Shell, shall be found in any House, Out House, Barn, Stable, Store, Warehouse, Shop, or other Building, so charged, or having Gun Powder in the same, the same shall be liable to be seized in Manner aforesaid; and on Complaint thereof, made and supported before a Justice of the Peace, shall be sold and disposed of as is above provided for Cannon. Be it further enacted, That Appeals shall be allowed in Prosecutions upon this Act as is usual in other Cases.