3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 307-19 (1980)
| dc.coverage.spatial | New Jersey | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-06-03T22:20:36Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1755 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Authorized New Jersey to raise 500 free men and allied Native Americans for a military expedition against French encroachments. Volunteers received enlistment bonuses, military pay, and temporary protection from most civil debt collection, while safeguards prevented them from using enlistment to defraud creditors. Further, prohibited enlisting men under 21, slaves, servants, or apprentices without written permission from their parents, guardians, or masters. Justices could order their release, and officers who unlawfully enlisted or detained them faced substantial fines: £500 for minors, £100 for slaves, and £20 for servants or apprentices. | |
| dc.description.lawtext | WHEREAS the Subjects of the French King have made Encroachments, and built several Forts, within the Bounds of his Majesty's Northern Colonies in America, and have committed Acts of Hostility upon many of his Majesty's Subjects within the same; and whereas a Scheme hath been proposed to the Governor, Council and General Assembly of this Province, for the better secur- ing of his Majesty's Territories from any further Encroachments of the French, and for recovering those which have been already made; by erecting a strong Fort near Crown Point, which may be so situated, as not only to secure his Majesty's Subjects, against any future Depredations that may be made against them, but may also greatly contribute towards the retaining in the English Interest, such Indian Castles as are not yet gone over to the French, and the Reclaiming those that are, which would be an unspeakable advantage to his Majesty's Service in the present Conjuncture. And whereas it hath been represented to us, that for the effectual accomplishing this well approved Scheme, and for the repelling any insults that may be offered during the Execution of the same, an Army of at least Five Thousand Men will be wanting, the greatest Part of which the Provinces of New England, and New York, have already agreed to raise; and application hath been made to us, to raise such a number of Men for the said Service, as shall be adequate to the Abilities of the People of this Colony, and we having been always ready and willing to contribute to the utmost of our Power to the promoting and effectual carrying into Execution, any Scheme or Expedition which may be for his Majesty's Service, as well as for our own Preservation and Defence. THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED by the Governor, Council, and General Assembly of this Colony; and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same, that Five Hundred able bodied free Men, or well effected Indians shall be raised by this Colony, exclusive of the Commission Officers, to be employ'd inthe Expedition before mentioned; which Forces shall be form'd into five Companies, namely One Hundred Men in each Company, the whole to be Commanded by a Colonel; and each Company by a Captain, a Lieutenant and an Ensign, which said Officers shall be appointed by Commissions from the Gov- ernor or Commander in Chief for the Time being; and that four Serjeants, four Corporals, and two Drummers shall be appointed by each Captain out of each of the said respective Companies, for the service of the said Company. And for the Encouragement of Five Hundred able bodied Volunteers, free Men or well affected Indians, to inlist as Soldiers for the said Service; BE IT FURTHER ENACTED by the Authority aforesaid, that there shall be paid to every able bodied free Man or well affected Indian, who shall Inlist either as Serjeant, Corporal, Drummer, or private Soldier, the Sum of Thirty Shillings Proclamation Money, over and above the pay herein after fixed and ordered to be paid them. And for a further Encouragement to Five Hundred free Men or well affected Indians, Voluntarily to inlist into the said Service, IT IS HEREBY ENACTED by the Authority aforesaid, that if any Person or Persons so In- listing, doth not owe upwards of Ten Pounds Proclamation Money to any one Person or Creditor, or upwards of the Sum of Fifty Pounds Proclamation Money in the whole to all his Creditors; then the Persons of the Inlisted, who have not beert arrested by their Creditor or Creditors, shall be free from all arrests in civil Actions: And those that are in Custody either on mean Process or Execution, and do not owe as aforesaid, shall be discharged by the Sheriff or other Officer in whose Custody they are, and the Goods and Effects of all such Debtors shall be free from Attachments, Execution, and other legal Process during their Service in the said Expedition. PROVIDED ALWAYS, that such Goods and Effects, shall not be removed out of the City, Town or Precinct, where the Persons Inlisting resided when they did Inlist, during the absence or Time of Service of the said Person so Inlisting; and upon full Proof of any attempt to remove the said Goods and Effects out of the City, Town or Precinct as aforesaid, then the said Goods, and Effects, shall be liable to the same Process, as the Laws have already provided for: And in case the said Person or Per- sons so Inlisting, shall or do, after the Publication of this Act, or after the Time of such Inlisting, by any Deed or Deeds, Power or Powers of Attorney make Sale of, or impower others in his or their absence, or after his or their Departure from this Colony, to make Sale of his or their Goods and Chattles, Lands and Tenements, to any Person or Persons whatsoever, whereby the Creditor or Creditors, of such Person or Persons so Inlisting as aforesaid, shall or may be defrauded or deprived of their just Debts, all and every such Deed or Deeds, and Sales made by any such Person or Persons, or by virtue of his or their Power or Powers of Attorney as aforesaid shall be void and of none effect; and such Goods and Chattles, Lands and Tenements, shall nevertheless be liable to be proceeded against by Attachment or any other legal Process, at the suit of any Creditor or Creditors of such Person or Persons; any thing in this Act to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. . . . AND BE IT ENACTED by the Authority aforesaid, that it shall not be lawful to Inlist any young Men under the Age of Twenty One Years, or any Slaves, who are so for Term of Life, bought Servants or Apprentices, without the express leave in writing of their Parents or Guardians, Masters or Mis- tresses, first had and obtained. And if any Officer or others shall lnlist any such young Men, Slaves, bought Servants or Apprentices as aforesaid, and upon Application and due·Proof made thereof, before any one Justice of the Peace in this Colony, shall refuse to discharge him or them so unlawfully Inlisted; then the said Justice of the Peace is hereby empower'd and required to issue his Warrant to any Constable, commanding him to take the Body of such young Man, Slave, Servant, or Apprentice, and deliver him to his Parent or Guardian, Master or Mistress: And if the Officer or other Person with whom such Person is lnlisted, shall notwithstanding, secret, detain, or carry away such Person, then such Officer or other Person so Offending, shall Forfeit and Pay for every such Young Man under the Age of Twenty One Years, so inlisting, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this Act, the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds; for every Slave so Inlisted, the Sum of One Hundred Pounds; and for every such bought Servant or Apprentice, the Sum of Twenty Pounds; to be recovered in any Court of Record, where the same is Cognizable in this Colony, with full Costs of Suit | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.firearmsresearchcenter.org/id/frc0001/5910 | |
| dc.rights | CC0 1.0 Universal | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ | |
| dc.subject | MILITIAS | |
| dc.subject | MILITIAS - MINORS | |
| dc.subject | MILITIAS - ENSLAVED PERSONS & OTHER MINORITIES | |
| dc.title | 3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 307-19 (1980) |
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