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Provincial Archives of New Brunswick

Fort Havoc (Wallace Hale)

Info The language of the text is the original used by Wallace Hale. Records acquired by the Provincial Archives are not translated from the language in which they originate.

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CAP. XXV.

An ACT to provide for the erection of an Alms House and Work House within the County of York, and for making rules and regulations for the management of the same.

Passed the 21st of March, 1822.

Preamble.

 

 

 
WHEREAS by the modes generally pursued to provide for the support of the Poor in this Province, many persons who might under proper regulations contribute to their own maintenance, have nevertheless become chargeable to, and are entirely maintained by, the Inhabitants of the Parishes in which such persons reside, to the very great burthen of such inhabitants:   And whereas the establishment of suitable Alms Houses and Work Houses in proper situations within this Province, would not only enable many poor persons who are now chargeable to the Parishes in which they reside, to contribute materially to their own support, but would also afford the means of checking the disorderly behaviour of divers persons, who by drunkenness and idleness disqualify themselves from earning a proper support;

Justices in General Sessions may agree for erecting a proper building, and fix upon a sum for defraying the expense,

 
to be assessed upon the Parishes of Fredericton, Saint Mary's, &c.

 

 
I.   Be it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant Governor, Council, and Assembly, That the Justices of the Peace for the County of York, in their General Sessions, be, and they are hereby authorised and empowered, to agree for the erecting and finishing of a proper building for an Alms House and Work House, in the Town or Parish of Fredericton, and to fix upon a certain sum of money for defraying the expence thereof, which sum of money shall be raised by an assessment upon the Inhabitants of the Parishes of Fredericton, Saint Mary's, Kingsclear, Prince William, and Queensbury, in the said County, in the manner prescribed by the Laws now in force for assessing, collecting, and levying County rates, or by any other Law which may be passed during the present Session of the General Assembly:   Provided, that such assessment shall not exceed the sum of seven hundred pounds.

The Governor to appoint Commissioners for superintending the Alms House.

 
Commissioners to provide materials for employing the Poor.

 

May compel idle people seking relief to dwell in the Alms House, and have power to bind out poor children as Apprentices.

 
II.   And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the Governor or Commander in Chief of this Province, by warrant under his hand and seal, to be issued with the advice of His Majesty's Council, from time to time, to appoint so many fit persons, not exceeding seven nor less than five, and of whom two shall be Justices of the Peace for the said County, as he shall think fit, to be Commissioners for superintending and managing the said building, so to be erected for the purposes aforesaid, and that it shall and may be lawful the the said Commissioners from time to time, to provide such materials and things as they shall judge necessary, for the setting to work and employing such poor persons, of what age or sex soever they be, who may apply for relief and shall be capable to work, and shall have power and authority at their discretion, to compel such idle or poor people begging or seeking relief, as do not betake themselves to some lawful employment, or who do or shall hereafter seek and receive alms of any of the said Parishes herein before mentioned, within the said County, or who may stand in need of relief from any of the said Parishes, to dwell, inhabit, and to work in the said Work House, and to do all such work as they shall think them able and fit for, and shall have the same powers to bind out poor children Apprentices, as are by the Laws of this Province given to the Overseers of the Poor in the several Towns or Parishes.

Commissioners to make rules and regulations for the government of the Houses, to be approved by the Justices in Sessions, and may inflict reasonable correction and punishment.

 
III.   And be it further enacted, That the said Commissioners to be appointed as aforesaid, shall have power to make such rules, orders, and regulations, for the good government and management of the said Alms House and Work House, as they shall find necessary (such rules and regulations to be approved of by the Justices in their General Sessions) and to inflict such correction and punishment, by solitary confinement or otherwise, from time to time, as to them shall seem reasonable, on any person or persons within the said Alms House or Work House, who shall be so set to work and shall not conform to such rules, orders, and regulations, to be made as aforesaid, or shall misbehave in the same.

Commissioners to account annually to the General Sessions.

Estimate to be made of amount requisite for the maintenance of the Poor for the current year, with the proportion that each Parish is to pay.

 

 

 

 
IV.   And be it further enacted, That the said Commissioners shall at the first General Sessions of the Peace to be holden for the said County, annually lay before the Justices in their said Sessions, an account, to be audited by the said Justices, of the expences incurred by them for the support and maintenance of the Poor of the said Alms House and Work House for the past year, together with an estimate of what sum or sums of money will be needful for the maintenance or employment of the Poor of the said House for the current year, in which estimate shall be stated, the proportion that each Town or Parish within the said County, ought to pay, according to the number of poor persons that such Town or Parish shall have in the said Alms House, or committed to the care of the said Commissioners, to the intent that no other levy or assessment may be made for any other maintenance or allowance to or for any such Poor, which sum or sums of money shall be asessed, levied, and raised, in such manner and form as by the Laws of this Province is or shall be appointed and directed, and when raised and received, shall be paid to the said Commissioners, for the use aforesaid, and for no other.

Commissioners may agree with the Overseers of the Poor of other Parishes for the maintenance of the Poor.

Overseers of such Parish shall pay or secure such sum as shall be agreed on, &c.

 
V.   And be it further enacted, That the Commissioners to be appointed in pursuance of this Act, shall have full power and authority to contract and agree with the Overseers of the Poor of any Parish in the said County, or of any adjoining County of this Province, for the maintenance of any poor persons belonging to such Parishes respectively, which contract and agreement such Overseers are hereby authorised and empowered to make.   Provided always, that such Overseers shall first pay or secure to be paid to the said Commissioners, such sum or sums of money as shall be so agreed for, and shall also report to the said Commissioners, the names, character, and condition, of all such poor persons within the said Towns or Parishes respectively, in whose behalf such application shall be made.

Profits of work to be applied towards support of the Poor.

 
VI.   And be it further enacted, That the profits of any work or labour to be performed under the direction of the said Commissioners, shall be duly accounted for by them, and shall be applied towards the support and maintenance of the persons inhabiting within the said Alms House and Work house.

 
 
VII.   [Obsolete.]

________________

C. 25. Anno III. Geo. IV.   A. D. 1822.


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