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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Act of the New Hampshire General Court concerning trade
New Hampshire. General Court
June 23, 1785
Volume 17, Pages 573-576

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ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR REGULATING TRADE.
[From Executive Letter Book.]


State of New Hampshire.

In the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eightyfive.

An Act for the regulation of Navigation and Commerce.

Whereas, it is become expedient and necessary for this State to make some Commercial regulations for the encouragement of their own Trade.

Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened that from and after the first day of August next and during the Continuance of this Act there shall not be exported from any Port, Harbour, Creek, Bay or inlet, River or shore or any other place within this State, any Goods, wares or Merchandise, the growth, manufacture or produce of this or any of the United States in any Vessel or Craft of any kind belonging, either in whole or in part, to or being the property of any of the subjects of the King of Great Britain.

And be it further enacted that from and after the first said day of August next that if any Ship, Vessel or Craft of any kind as aforesaid be found in any Port, Harbour, Creek or any other place within this State taking on Board, or having taken on Board, while in this State any of the Articles aforesaid contrary to the true intent and meaning of this Act, every such Ship, Vessel or Craft together with their lading be forfeited and shall and may be seized by any Naval Officer or by any other Citizen or Citizens of the United States and the same may be sued for and recovered in any Court of Record within this State proper to Try the same and after deducting the Charges of prosecuting the same from the gross produce thereof the remainder shall be given, one moiety to the person or persons who have made the seizure and prosecuted the same and the other moiety to be paid into the Treasury of this State for the use of the same.

And be it further enacted that from and after the first day of August next when there shall not be taken out or landed from on board any Ship, Vessel or Craft not wholly belonging to or the

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property of the Citizens of the United States any goods, Wares or Merchandise in any Port, Harbour or Creek, or any other place within this State except the port or Harbour of Piscataqua and if any Ship, Vessel or Craft not wholly owned as aforesaid, shall be found in any Port, Harbour or Creek or any other place within this State except the port of Piscataqua aforesaid, discharging her lading or any part thereof or having discharged her lading or any part thereof otherwise than above mentinned the said Ship, Vessel of or Craft, together with her lading, shall be seized and forfeited to be recovered and appropriated as aforesaid.

And be it further enacted that from and after the said first day of August next there shall be paid by the Master, Owner or Consignee, of every Ship, Vessel or Craft, owned either in part or in whole by any Foreigner, at the time of entering said Ship, Vessel or Craft into the hands of the Naval Officer, for the port of Piscataqua aforesaid for the use and Benefit of this State a duty of Five Shillings per Ton for each and every Ton said Vessel may measure by Carpenters' measurement, and a further duty of two Shillings and eight pence per Ton as light money in addition to what by Law they are now subject to pay for the use and service of the light House and shall likewise pay unto the Naval officer double the duty on goods imported in said Vessel as is or may be paid at that time upon the like goods imported in a Vessel wholly belonging to the Citizens of the United States and a further duty of six pence on every Bushel of Salt imported in any Ship, Vessel or Craft, owned, either in whole or in part, by any of the subjects of the King of Great Britain and previous to their breaking bulk they shall give Bond to the said Naval Officer for the payment of the same.

And whereas some persons for the sake of enjoying more extensive privileges in Commerce have had double sets of papers for their Vessel in order that they might appear the property of one Nation or another as might best answer their purposes; for the prevention of such impositions.

Be it further enacted that from and after the first day of August next, any Vessel which may appear to have two setts of papers by the one of which she may appear to be the property of the Citizens of the United States, and by the other the property of Foreigners or if it shall be made to appear that any Vessell that is cleared at the

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Naval Office in this State as the property of the Citizens of these States shall afterwards enter and discharge her Cargo taken in and Cleared as aforesaid in any Foreign Port as the property of a Foreigner, said Vessel upon her return into this State shall be forfeited and may be seized by the Naval Officer of this State or by any Person or Persons who may prosecute for the same to be recovered and the money arising from such forfeiture to be applied as aforesaid, and the master of such Vessel so offending shall forfeit and pay for the use of this State the sum of one hundred pounds to be recovered as aforesaid.

And be it further enacted that the Naval Officer in this State, previous to his admitting any Vessel to an entry, shall administer the following oath or affirmation to the Master or one of the principal owners (provided said Vessel shall appear to be the property of the Citizens of these States, and certify it on the back of the Register if not done before in the following words) “Port of Piscataqua, then personally appeared before me one of the principal Owners (or the Commander as the case may be) of the       and made Solemn Oath (or affirmation) that the said       is the sole property of the Citizens of the United States and that no foreigner directly or indirectly hath any part or share therein.”

And be it further enacted that if the Naval Officer shall presume to enter or Clear any Vessel contrary to the true intent and meaning of this Act, or if the said Naval Officer shall neglect any of the duties required of him by this Act, he shall forfeit and pay the Sum of three hundred pounds, one moiety thereof for the use of the State and the other moiety thereof for the use of the person who may prosecute for the same, to be sued for, and recovered in any Court of Record in this State proper to try the same and furthermore shall be rendered incapable of Holding said Office. Provided nevertheless that nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent any Shipp or Vessell built in this State and owned, in whole or in part, by any of the subjects of the King of Great Britain from taking a Cargo upon her first departure from this State upon the same Terms and no further restrictions than if said Vessell was owned by Citizens of these States.

And be it further enacted that this Act shall continue in force until the United States in Congress assembled shall be vested with

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Competent power for the purpose, and shall have passed an Ordinance for the Regulation of the Commerce of these States, and untill the period shall arrive where such Ordinance is to take effect and no longer

Provided the aforesaid Clause of this Act Respecting double papers shall not extend to any Vessel belonging to any Citizen of the United States now absent from this State until their Return from their present Voyage and making applications to be cleared out for another Voyage.


State of New Hampshire,
In the House of Representatives, June 23d, 1785.

The foregoing bill having been read a Third Time. Voted. That it pass to be enacted. Sent up for concurrence.

CHRISTR. TOPPAN, Spr. P. T.

In Senate June 23d, 1785, this bill was read a third time. Voted. That the same be enacted.

JOHN LANGDON, Prest.