Thames Watermen Act 1698

IV. Rulers and Assistants yearly to appoint Watermen at Places of plying, between Gravesend and Windsor.

Watermen and Lightermen to choose Assistants; The Duty and Powers of such Assistants; Rulers and Assistants to choose Auditors; The Duty and Powers of such Auditors; Accounts to be entered; Inspection thereof; Rulers, &c. refusing to execute or negligently executing Office; Penalty £5; May make Rules and Orders; to be laid before the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen, and afterwards confirmed by Lord Chief Justice of either Bench.

And in regard the Numbers of Wherrymen [X1 Watermen] and Lightermen are more numerous and disorderly than heretofore Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid That for the better Order and Government of the said Society and Company the said Rulers and Assistants for the Time being shall and are hereby required on the First Court Day after the First Day of June next and soe Yearly and every Yeare by their Order appoint the Watermen of the Principall Townes Stairs and Places of plying or the major Part of them respectively betweene Gravesend and Windsor And such Watermen shall and are hereby required to choose One Free Watermen being an Householder to be of their Assistants soe as they exceed not Sixty nor be lesse than the Number of Fourty Watermen And on the First Day of June next the Lightermen which shall meet at the Hall of the said Company betweene the Houres of Eight and Twelve in the Morning or the Major Part of them then present and soe Yearly and every Yeare shall choose Nine Lightermen who together with the said Watermen shall be and be called the Assistants of the said Society and Company to advise and assist the Rulers of the said Company for the Time being in the Discovery and Regulation of Miscarriages from Time to Time done on the said River of Thames for putting the former Laws and this present Act in due and full Execution and in preserving good Rule and Government amongst the said Society and Company And the said Rulers and Assistants or the major Part of them shall Yearely and every Yeare on the First Day of July present to the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen for the Time being for their Approbation Five Persons able and fitt Watermen and Two Persons able and fitt Lightermen to be called Auditors of the said Society and Company who shall or the major Part of them auditt the Accounts of the Rulers and others of the said Society and Company for the Time being And that upon auditting and true stating of the said Accounts the same shall be fairly entred in a Booke to be kept for that Purpose and signed by the said Auditors or the major Part of them to be sett in some Publick Place of the Company's Hall aforesaid to be inspected by any Person concerned at Times convenient And if any Person or Persons which at any Time hereafter shall be elected or appointed Ruler Assistant or Auditor of the said Company doe after Notice given him or them obstinately refuse to take upon him or them the Place or Places to which he or they shall be soe elected or shall negligently exercize or use such his or their Place or Places that then every such Offender or Offenders shall forfeite and pay Five Pounds And the said Rulers Auditors and Assistants or the major Part of them present being all duely summoned by Summons in Writing left at the Place of their usuall Aboad shall and may and they are hereby impowered and authorized from Time to Time for the better and more effectuall keeping and maintaining good Order and Obedience amongst the said Society and Company to make ordaine and provide such reasonable and lawfull Rules Orders and Constitutions as in their Discretion they shall thinke fitt with reasonable Pains and Penalties to the same annexed Which said Rules Orders and Constitutions shall from Time to Time be laid before the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London for the Time being to be by them examined altered or approved and afterwards confirmed or altered by the Lord Chiefe Justice of either Bench for the Common Good and Profitt of His Majesties Subjects And all such Rules Orders and Constitutions soe made and examined approved ratified and confirmed shall from Time to Time and at all Times be well and duely observed and putt in Execution

Editorial Information

X1 interlined on the Roll; omitted in King's Printer's Copy.