The Charter Granted by Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary to the Inhabitants of the Providence of the Massachussets Bay in New England 272-73 (1726)
Abstract
An Act in Further Addition to an Act for Erecting a Powder House in Boston: That, from and after the publication of this Act, no gunpowder shall be kept on board any ship, or other vessel, lying to or grounded at any wharf within the port of Boston. And if any gunpowder shall be found on board such ship or vessel lying aground, as aforesaid, such powder shall be liable to confiscation, and under the same penalty, as if it were found lying in any house or warehouse. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that no powder be carried through any town upon trucks, under the penalty of ten shillings per barrel for every barrel of powder so conveyed, and so proportionally for smaller cask.
Summary
This act prohibits keeping gunpowder on board any ship or vessel docked or grounded at a Boston wharf, making violators subject to confiscation and standard storage penalties. Additionally, carrying gunpowder through any town on trucks is banned under a penalty of ten shillings per barrel, with proportional fines for smaller casks. Finally, retail shops are strictly required to store allowed quantities of gunpowder exclusively in brass or tin tunnels, or face forfeiture of the powder to benefit both the town's poor and the informant.
Law Text
[...] That, from and after the publication of this Act, no gunpowder shall be kept on board any ship, or other vessel, lying to or grounded at any wharf within the port of Boston. And if any gunpowder shall be found on board such ship or vessel lying aground, as aforesaid, such powder shall be liable to confiscation, and under the same penalty, as if it were found lying in any house or warehouse.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that no powder be carried through any town upon trucks, under the penalty of ten shillings per barrel for every barrel of powder so conveyed, and so proportionally for smaller cask.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that such quantity of gun-powder, as by law is permitted and allowed to be kept in shops for retail, shall hereafter be kept in Brass or Tin Tunnels, and no otherwise, under the penalty of forfeiting all such gun-powder; one Moiety thereof to be to the use of the Poor of the Town where such Powder shall be found, and the other Moiety to them that shall inform and sue for the same: And that the Fire-Wards of the Town of Boston for the Time being, be and hereby are directed strictly to observe and put this Law in Execution; any Law, Usage or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding.
Description
Categories
GUNPOWDER - TRANSPORTATION