CAP. I.
An ACT for the better ascertaining and confirming the Boundaries of the Several Counties within this Province, and for subdividing them into Towns or Parishes.
Preamble describing the several Counties in the Province, viz.
Saint John.
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WHEREAS his most gracious Majesty, by his Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of this Province, bearing date the 18th day of May, 1785, was pleased to erect and constitute into one distinct and separate County, all that tract or district of Land situate in this Province, bounded southerly on the Bay of Fundy, easterly by Hopewell Township, and a line running from the north-west corner of said Township, due north into the Country, northerly by a line running east-north-east, and west-south-west, from the southern-most point of the Kennebeckacis Island, lying at the mouth of the river Kennebeckacis, where it joins the river Saint John, and westerly by a due north line from point Le Proe, in the Bay of Fundy aforesaid. And did thereby ordain, establish and declare that all and singular the Lands and Waters comprised within the limits aforesaid, should forever thereafter be, continue and remain a distinct and separate County, and including the City of Saint John, should be called, known and distinguished by the name of the City and County of Saint John. |
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And whereas by like Letters Patent since passed, his Majesty was further pleased to erect and constitute into one distinct and separate County, all that tract or district of Land situate in this Province, bounded easterly by the Province of Nova-Scotia, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, northerly by a due west line running into the Country from the northernmost point of the large Island in the mouth or entrance of Chediac bay or harbour, westerly by a line beginning at a point in the north boundary line of Saint John's County, due north from Quaco Head in the Bay of Fundy, and running north into the Country until it meets said west line, and southerly by the County of Saint John aforesaid, and the Bay of Chignecto, and did thereby ordain, establish and declare, that all and singular the Lands and Waters comprised within the limits aforesaid, should forever thereafter be, continue and remain a distinct and separate County, to be called, known and distinguished by the name of the County of Westmorland.
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And whereas by like Letters Patent since passed, his Majesty was pleased to erect and constitute into one distinct and separate County, another tract or district of Land, situate in the western part of this Province, bounded on the south by the Bay of Fundy, on the west by the river Scudiac or St. Croix, and the western shore of the Bay of Passamaquoddy, including the Island of Grand Manan, on the east by a due north line from point Le Proe in said Bay of Fundy, running into the Country, and on the north by a due west line commencing in the said north line thirty miles distant from point Le Proe aforesaid. And did thereby ordain, establish and declare that all and singular the Lands and Waters comprised within the limits aforesaid, should forever thereafter be, and continue and remain a distinct and separate County, to be called, known and distinguished by the name of the County of Charlotte.
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And whereas by like Letters Patent since passed, another tract or district of Land lying within this Province, bounded southerly by the County of Westmorland, easterly by the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the Baie des Chaleurs, northerly by the said Bay and the southern boundary of the Province of Quebec, and westerly by a continuation of the western boundary line of the said County of Westmorland, was also erected into one distinct and separate County, to be called and known by the name of the County of Northumberland.
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And whereas by like Letters Patent in like manner since passed, another tract or district of Land, lying within this Province, on both sides the river Saint John, bounded on the south by the County of Saint John, on the west by Charlotte County, on the east by the Counties of Westmorland and Northumberland, and on the north by a line running south-west and north-east from the south point of Spoon-Island, lying in Saint John's river, was also erected into one distinct and separate County, to be called and known by the name of King's County.
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And whereas by like Letters Patent in like manner since passed, another tract or district of Land, lying within this Province, on both sides the river Saint John, bounded on the south-east by King's County, on the south-west by Charlotte County, on the north-east by the County of Northumberland, and on the north-west by the south boundary line of Burton Township, and by a continuation of the said line to the north-east and south-west until it meets the Counties of Northumberland and Charlotte respectively; was also erected into one distinct and separate County, to be called and known by the name of Queen's County.
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And whereas by like Letters Patent, in like manner since passed, another tract or district of Land, lying within this Province on both sides the river Saint John, bounded on the south-west by Charlotte County, on the north-east by the County of Northumberland, on the north-west by the Province of Quebec, and on the south-east by the north boundary line of the Township of Maugerville, and by the said line continued to the north-east till it meets the western bounds of Northumberland County, and south-west to the eastern bounds of the County of Charlotte, was also erected into one distinct and separate County, to be called and known by the name of the County of York.
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And whereas by like Letters Patent, in like manner since passed, the County of Sunbury was limited and bounded on the north-west by the County of York, on the north-east by the County of Northumberland, on the south-east by Queen's County, and on the south-west by the County of Charlotte.
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Court-Houses & Gaols to be erected as follows, viz.—
At the City of Saint John;
At Westmorland;
At St. Andrews;
At Kingston;
At Gagetown;
At Fredericton.
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And whereas his Majesty did further grant and declare in the said Letters Patent respectively, that his loving subjects then residing and who thereafter should inhabit within the said Counties respectively, might at their own charge erect a Court-House and Gaol in each of the said Counties, viz. at the City of Saint John, in the County of Saint John; at Westmorland, in the County of Westmorland; at Saint Andrews, in the County of Charlotte; at Kingston, in King's County; at Gagetown, in Queen's County; and at Fredericton, in the County of York; which said several Towns were thereby declared to be the county Towns of the said Counties respectively.
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Counties subdivided into Towns and Parishes.
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And whereas the said several lines limiting and bounding the said respective Counties, cannot in the present condition of the Province by surveyed and finally ascertained, notwithstanding which it is at present necessary that the said several Counties be subdivided into Towns or Parishes, for the more convenient and orderly distributions of the respective Inhabitants, to enable them in their respective districts to fulfil the several duties incumbent on them, and for the better administration of Justice through the same.
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I. Be it therefore enacted by the Governor, Council and Assembly, That the said several Counties so bounded and limited as aforesaid, shall be, continue and for ever remain distinct and separate Counties, to be called, known and distinguished by their respective names as aforesaid, and that they shall be, and are hereby respectively subdivided into Towns or Parishes as follows, viz.—
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Names and descriptions of Towns or Parishes in the County of St. John, viz.
Portland.
St. Martin's.
Lancaster.
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II. The said County called the County of Saint John, exclusive of the City of Saint John, shall be divided into three Towns or Parishes, as follows, viz. the first Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Portland, bounded on the south by the Bay of Fundy, the eastern shore of the harbour of Saint John, and the several northern bounds and limits of the said City of Saint John, on the east by the eastern boundary line of Lot No. 1, granted to Samuel Hughes, continued to the northern boundary line of the County, said eastern boundary line running from the shore of the Bay of Fundy — north fifteen degrees west — on the north by the northern boundary line of said County, and on the west by the eastern shore of the river Saint John, to the limits of the said City. — The second Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Saint Martin's, bounded on the south by the Bay of Fundy, on the east by the eastern boundary line of the County, on the north by the northern boundary line of the County, and on the west by the eastern boundary line of the said Town or Parish of Portland. — The third Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Lancaster, bounded on the south by the Bay of Fundy, on the east by the western limits of the said City of Saint John, on the north by the northern boundary line of the County, and on the west by the western boundary line of the same.
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Towns or Parishes in the County of Westmorland, viz.—
Westmorland,
Sackville,
Hopewell,
Hillsborough,
Moncton.
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III. The said County called the County of Westmorland, shall be divided into five Towns or Parishes, to be called, known and distinguished by the following names, viz. the Town or Parish of Westmorland, the Town or Parish of Sackville, the Town or Parish of Hopewell,, the Town or Parish of Hillsborough, and the Town or Parish of Moncton; the same Towns or Parishes to be bounded as in and by the several Letters Patent or Grants of the said Towns, under the Great Seal of the Province of Nova-Scotia, the said Towns are bounded and described, which bounds and descriptions are hereby ratified and confirmed as fully and effectually as if the same were in this Act particularly repeated and expressed.
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Towns or Parishes in Charlotte County, viz.—
St. Stephen.
St. David.
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IV. The said County called Charlotte County, shall be divided into seven Towns or Parishes, as follows, viz. the first Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of St. Stephen, beginning at the southerly bounds of Lot number one hundred and thirteen, on the west side of Oak Point Bay, thence bounded northerly and easterly by the southerly line of the said Lot, and of Lot number one in the back location, the easterly lines of the grant to Nehemiah Marks and others, to the most northerly angle of said grant, and by the continuation of the northerly line of said grant to the river St. Croix, thence westerly and southerly by the bank or shore of said river, and the westerly shore of Oak Point Bay, to the first bounds — the second Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of St. David, bounded westerly by the said Town of St. Stephen, and the westerly lines of a grant to the Cape Ann Association, northerly and easterly by the lines of said grant, and the back line of the Lots laid out on the east side of Oak Point Bay, and the continuation of that line 'till it meets the southerly line of the Cape Ann Association, southerly by the west side of the Waughweig, from the back line of Lot number eighty-two, and round Oak Point to the beginning of said Town of St. Stephen.
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The third Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of St. Andrews, bounded westerly by the back line of Lots on the east side of Oak Point Bay, (from whence its continuation meets the southerly line of the Cape Ann Association and the Waughweig) and by the shores of Waughweig and St. Croix Bay, including St. Andrew's Island, southerly by the shores of Passamaquoddy Bay, to the division line between Lot number twenty and Lands reserved for a Glebe, Minister and School, including Champcook Island, easterly by a line running from the rear line of said Lot number twenty, to the southerly line of the Cape Ann Association, the said line dividing in its extent two ranges of Lots laid out in the back location, and northerly by a part of the southerly line of Cape Ann Association.
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The fourth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of St. Patrick, bounded westerly by the said Town of St. Andrews, northerly by the southerly line of the Cape Ann Association, and the continuation thereof until it meets the line bounding the surveys, allotments and grants, on the western side the Maggaugaudavick, to the rear or westward, easterly by the continuation of the last described line, following its several courses until it meets the Bay of Passamaquoddy, there forming the western bounds of Lands granted Philip Bailey and others, southerly by the shores of Passamaquoddy Bay, from the last bounds to the eastern bounds of said Town of St. Andrews, including all the Islands within two miles of the shore in this extent.
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The fifth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of St. George, bounded westerly by the said Town of St. Patrick, northerly by the continuation of the northerly line of the same Town of St. Patrick, crossing the Maggaugaudavick, to the rear or easterly line of the surveys, allotments and grants on the east side of that river, easterly by the said line and by the northerly and easterly lines of Capt. Clinch's grant to Etang river, thence by the easterly shore of that river and the southerly shore of the coast to the Bay of Passamaquoddy, and by the easterly shore of that Bay crossing the mouth of the Maggaugaudavick, and running by the said easterly shore to the eastern limits of the said Town of St. Patrick, including all Islands within two miles of the shore.
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The sixth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Pennfield, bounded westerly by the said Town of St. George, and the easterly shore of Etang river, southerly by the shore of the Bay of Fundy from Etang river to point Le Proe, easterly by the County line, northerly by the continuation of the northerly line of the said Town of St. George, until it meets the County line including Wolf Islands, and the Islands in Maise's Bay.
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The seventh Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of West-Isles, to contain Deer Island, Campo-Bello Island, Grand Manan Island, Moose Island, Frederick Island amd Dudley Island, with all the lesser Islands contiguous to them, not included in the Towns before-mentioned.
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Towns or Parishes in King's County, viz.—
Westfield.
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V. The said County called King's County, shall be divided into four Towns or Parishes, as follows, viz. the first Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Westfield, bounded by a line running from the mouth of a Creek which discharges into the Long Reach at Devil's Head, north-west to the County line, and south-east to the north-west shore of Kennebeckacis Bay, and thence crossing the said Bay to the point where the County line strikes the south-east shore of said Bay.
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The second Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Sussex, beginning at the point where the County line strikes the south-east shore of Kennebeckacis Bay, and continuing along the same to the lower boundary line of a grant to Studholme, Baxter, and others, thence north to the north-west angle of the said grant, and thence north sixty-five degrees east, to the boundary line of the County.
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The third Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Springfield, beginning on the County line six miles north-east from its commencement at the lower point of Spoon Island, and running thence to the rear of the Lots laid out on the north-east side of Belisle Bay, at the division line betwen numbers nineteen and twenty, thence crossing the Bay to a designed Road between numbers one and eight of the Lots on the south-east side of said Bay, thence along said Road and the rear of the same Lots to the division line between numbers sixteen and seventeen in the back Settlements, and along that line to the rear of the Kingston Lots, and along the rear of the Kingston Lots to the Town of Sussex.
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Kingston.
Altered by 35 Geo. 3d, C. 3, S. 1.
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The fourth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Kingston, beginning at the point where the first described line of the Town of Westfield strikes the north-west shore of Kennebeckacis Bay, and bounded on the south-west by said line, on the north-west by the upper line of the County, to the commencement of the Town of Springfield, thence along the boundary of the same Town 'till it strikes the line of the Town of Sussex, at the said grant to Studholme, Baxter, and others, and thence along the boundary line of the same Town of Sussex, to the place of beginning, including Darling's Island, and Long Island.
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Towns or Parishes in Queen's County, viz.
Wickham.
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VI. The said County called Queen's County, shall be divided into four Towns or Parishes, as follows, to wit: the first Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Wickham, on the east side the river Saint John, bounded southerly by the lower County line, westerly by the river Saint John, to the lower bounds of Lieut. Col. Spry's Lands, northerly by a line running from the said lower bounds of said Land north fifty-four degrees east, thirty miles, easterly by a line running from said extent south, thirty degrees east, until it strikes the lower County line, including the lower Musquash Island.
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The second Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Waterborough, on the east side the river Saint John, bounded southerly by the said Town of Wickham, easterly by the continuation of the back line of the same Town of Wickham, north thirty degrees west, until it strikes the upper County line, northerly by said County line, and westerly by the river Saint John.
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The third Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Hampstead, on the west side the river Saint John, bounded southerly by the lower County line, easterly by the river Saint John, to the division line between Nathaniel Jarvis's Lot number thirty-eight, and George Sweet's Lot number thirty-seven in the Gage-Town grant, northerly by said division line to the rear of said Lots, thence by a line running south fifty-two degrees west to the easterly line of Charlotte County, and westerly by Charlotte County, including Long Island, Upper Musquash Island, and Spoon Island.
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The fourth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Gage-Town, on the west side the river Saint John, bounded southerly by the said Town of Hampstead, easterly by the river Saint John, northerly by the upper County line, and westerly by Charlotte County, including Grimross Island.
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Towns or Parishes in Sunbury, viz.
Burton
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VII. The said County called the County of Sunbury, shall be divided into four Towns or Parishes as follows, to wit: the first Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Burton, on the west side the river Saint John, bounded southerly by the lower County line, easterly by the river Saint John to the Oromocto, northerly by a line running up said River along the middle of its channel to the point of Land at its forks in Shearman's grant, thence by a line running south fifty-five degrees west, to the easterly line of Charlotte County, and westerly by Charlotte County, including Mager's and Ox Islands.
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The second Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Lincoln, on the west side the river Saint John, bounded southerly by the said Town of Burton, easterly by the river Saint John, to the lower line of York County, northerly by said County line, and westerly by Charlotte County.
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The third Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Sheffield, on the east side the river Saint John, bounded southerly by the lower County line, westerly by the river Saint John to the lower line of Nathaniel Underhill's Lot, northerly by said line of said Lot, and its continuation twenty-five miles easterly from the river Saint John, easterly by a line running from the extent of the last line south forty-five degrees east, until it meets the lower County line, including Middle Island.
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The fourth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Magerville, on the east side the river Saint John, bounded southerly by said Town of Sheffield, westerly by the river Saint John, to the lower line of York County, northerly by said County line until it meets the continuation of the easterly line of the said Town of Sheffield, running north forty-five degrees west, twenty-five miles from the river Saint John, on the continuation of Nathaniel Underhill's Lot, and easterly by the said continuation of the easterly line of the said Town of Sheffield, including Oromocto Island.
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Towns or Parishes in York County, viz.
Fredericton.
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VIII. The said County called York County, shall be divided into seven Towns or Parishes, as follows, to wit: the first Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Fredericton, bounded on the south-east by the lower line of the County of York, on the north-west by the lower line of the grant to Col. Isaac Allen and others, to its south angle, on the south-west by a line running from that angle south-east to the lower line of the County, on the north-east by the shore of the river Saint John.
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The second Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Kingsclear, bounded on the south-east by the Town of Fredericton and the lower line of the County, on the north-west by the lower line of the Town of Prince William, and a continuation thereof, twelve miles into the Country, on the south-west by a line running from thence south-east to the lower line of the County, and on the north-east by the shore of the river Saint John, including the Islands in front.
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The third Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Prince William, bounded on the south-east by the upper boundary line of the Town of Kingsclear, on the north-west by the lower line of block number four, on the upper boundary line of a grant to Edward Winslow, Esq. and by a continuation of the same south-west into the Country, on the south-west by a continuation of the south-west boundary line of the Town of Kingsclear, and on the north-east by the shore of the river Saint John, including the Islands in front.
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The fourth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Woodstock, bounded on the south-east by the northwest boundary line of the Town of Prince William, extended twelve miles into the Country, on the north by the upper boundary line of a grant to the second battalion of Delancey's, and a continuation thereof west into the Country twelve miles from the River, westerly and southerly by a line running from thence 'till it strikes the continuation of the upper boundary line of a grant to John Munroe, twelve miles from its commencement on the shore of the river Saint John, thence running south-easterly 'till it strikes the upper corner of the south-east boundary line, and easterly by the shore of the river Saint John, including all the Islands in front.
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The fifth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of St. Mary's, bounded on the south-east by the lower line of the County running thereon thirty miles, westerly and north-westerly by the river Madam Keswick, to the upper boundary line of Lands laid out for the New-York Volunteers, and by a continuation of the said line north-east into the Country, on the north-east by a line running from the upper corner of the south-east boundary line north-west, 'till it meets the north-west boundary line.
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The sixth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Queensbury, bounded by the river Madam Keswick, 'till it comes opposite the upper line of Lands laid out for the New-York Volunteers, thence by a line running west 'till it meets the continuation of the lower boundary line of a tract of Land laid out to Capt. Cunliffe and others, at the entrance of the Narcawegack Creek, thence by that line to the shore of the River and by the shore of the river Saint John to the Madam Keswick.
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The seventh Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Northampton, bounded on the south-east by the north-west boundary line of the Town of Queensbury, extended twelve miles into the Country, on the north-east by a line running from thence north-westerly to the mouth of a River which discharges into the river Saint John, at the upper boundary of block number seven, about two miles and a quarter above the upper end of Pine Island, on the north-west and south-west by the shore of the river Saint John.
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Towns or Parishes in Northumberland, viz.
New-Castle.
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IX. The said County of Northumberland, shall be divided into two Towns or Parishes as follows, viz. the first Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of New-Castle, bounded southerly by the north boundary of the County of Westmorland, easterly by the sea-coast, including the Islands in front to the northernmost point of Waltham Island, northerly by a due west line from said point extended 'till it meets a north line drawn from Okean river, a branch of the river Miramichi.
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Alnwick.
Lines of Towns run by the magnet.
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The second Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Alnwick, bounded southerly by the north line of said Town of New-Castle, easterly by the sea-shore, including the Islands in front, to the north side of the mouth of Trachady river, northerly by a due west line from the said north side of the mouth of said river 'till it meets the continuation of the western line of the said Town of New-Castle. All which said lines of the said Towns in the respective Counties herein before mentioned are intended and to be considered as lines run by the magnet and not otherwise.
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Shire or County Towns, viz.
Westmorland.
St. Andrews.
Kingston.
Gagetown.
Burton.
Fredericton.
New-Castle.
In Sunbury the Courts to be held at Magerville, until a Court-house and Gaol be erected at Burton.
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X. And be it further enacted, That the said Town of Westmorland in the County of Westmorland, the said Town of St. Andrews in the County of Charlotte, the said Town of Kingston in King's County, the said Town of Gage-Town in Queen's County, the said Town of Burton in the County of Sunbury, the said Town of Fredericton in the County of York, and the said Town of New-Castle in the County of Northumberland, shall be for ever hereafter the Shire or County Towns of the said Counties respectively. Provided, That in the County of Sunbury the Courts may be held in the Town of Magerville, until such time as a convenient Court-House and Gaol shall be erected in the said Town of Burton.
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26 Geo. III. C. 1..