River Lark Act 1698

XIX.

Lightermen, &c. answerable for Damage done by their Servants; Watermen unduly placing their Boats and refusing to remove the same, the said Henry Ashley may enter Boats, &c. and remove the same; Persons opposing such Entry, may be taken before a Justice and put in the Stocks.

And for the preventing of Damages and Mischiefs that may be done and committed by rude and disorderly Persons manageing or imployed in the said Boats Lighters and other Vessells and that the Owners and Masters of the said Boats Lighters and Vessells may be more carefull to prevent the same Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every Boat-master and Owner of any Lighter or Vessell that shall passe up or downe the said River shall be and is hereby made answerable and responsible for any Damage or Mischiefe that shall be done by his Boat Lighter or other Vessell or Vessells or the whole or any of the Crew of his Boat Lighter or Lighters Vessell or Vessells to any of the Sluces Locks Stanches Dams or other Works that shall be made or erected as aforesaid or for any Trespasse or Damage done to the Owner or Possessor of any Lands or Tenements neare adjoyning to the said River otherwise than is provided for or authorized by this Act and contrary to the true Intent and Meaning thereof And the said Boat-master and Owner as aforesaid shall and may be sued and prosecuted for the same and if found guilty the Plaintiffs shall not only recover the Damages thereby sustained but full Costs of Suite And in case any Waterman or Watermen shall place or lay any Boat or Boats Vessell or Vessells in any of the said Sluces Weares Stanches Cutts Trenches or Passages or in the said River soe as to obstruct the Passages of other Boats or Vessells and upon Request shall refuse to remove the said Vessell or Vessells into some other Place higher or lower on the Water where there may be no such Obstructions that then it shall and may be lawfull for the said Henry Ashley his Heires and Asssignes his or their Agents or Servants and all and every other Person and Persons authorized or appointed by him or them to enter into all and every the Boats or Vessells causing such Obstruction and to remove them higher or lower on the Water as they shall see cause to such Place where they shall not cause such Obstruction as aforesaid And in case of opposeing or refuseing to permitt the said Henry Ashley his Heires or Assignes his or their Servant or Servants Agents or Agents or other Person or Persons appointed as aforesaid to enter into such Vessell or Vessells soe obstructing or to remove the same as aforesaid that then every Person soe opposeing or refuseing shall and may by the Authority of this Act and without any other Warrant be apprehended by the Constable of the Parish within which such Obstruction shall be and by the said Constable be had before the next Justice of the Peace within the County where the said Parish is who upon Proofe of the said Matter by one or more credible Witnesses upon Oath (which Oath the said Justice shall administer) is hereby authorized and required to order such Person and Persons to be putt into the Common Stocks within the same Parish where the said Matter or Offence shall be committed by the Space of Two Hours as a Punishment for such his or their Obstinacy and Perversnesse