Plantation Trade Act 1695

V. Ships coming into and going out of Plantations, &c. subject to like Regulations as Ships in this Kingdom under 14 (13 & 14) Car. II. c. 11.

Power of Officers of Plantation Trade to visit and search Ships, take Entries, make Seizures, &c. as Powers of Officers of Customs in England under 14 (13 & 14) Car. II. c. 11; Wharfingers, &c. assisting in the rescue of Goods or in resisting Officers; Penalty; Assistance to be given to Officers; Officers subject to Penalties as Officers of Customs in England under 14 (13 & 14) Car. II. c. 11; In Actions against Officers, General Issue may be pleaded.

And for the more effectuall preventing of Frauds and regulating Abuses in the Plantation Trade in America Bee itt further enacted by the Authority [X1 aforesaid] That all Shipps comeing into or goeing out of any of the said Plantations and ladeing or unladeing any Goods or Commodities whether the same bee His Majesties Shipps of Warr or Merchants Shipps and the Masters and Commanders thereof and their Ladings shall bee subject and lyable to the same Rules Visitations Searches Penalties and Forfeitures as to the entring lading or dischargeing theire respective Shipps and Ladings as Shipps and their Ladings and the Commanders and Masters of Shipps are subject and lyable unto in this Kingdome by vertue of an Act of Parliament made in the Fourteenth Yeare of the Reigne of King Charles the Second intituled An Act for preventing Frauds and regulating Abuses in His Majesties Customes And that the Officers for collecting and manageing His Majesties Revenue and inspecting the Plantation Trade in any of the said Plantations shall have the same Powers and Authorities for visiting and searching of Shipps and takeing their Entries and for seizing and secureing or bringing on Shoare any of the Goods prohibited to bee imported or exported into or out of any the said Plantac[i]ons or for which any Duties are payable or ought to have beene paid by any of the before menc[i]oned Acts as are provided for the Officers of the Customes in England by the said last mentioned Act made in the Fourteenth Yeare of the Reigne of King Charles the Second and alsoe to enter Houses or Warehouses to search for and seize any such Goods And that all the Wharfingers and Owners of Keys and Wharfes or any Lightermen Bargemen Watermen Porters or other Persons assisting in the Conveyance Concealement or Rescue of any of the said Goods or in the hindering or resistance of any of the said Officers in the performance of their Duty and the Boates Barges Lighters or other Vessells imployed in the Conveyance of such Goods shall bee subject to the like Paines and Penalties as are provided by the same Act made in the Fourteenth Yeare of the Reigne of King Charles the Second in relation to prohibited or uncustomed Goods in this Kingdome And that the like Assistance shall bee given to the said Officers in the Execution of their Office as by the said last mentioned Act is provided for the Officers in England And alsoe that the said Officers shall bee subject to the same Penalties and Forfeitures for any Corruptions Frauds Connivances or Concealements in violation of any the before mentioned Lawes as any Officers of the Customes in England are lyable to by vertue of the said last mentioned Act And also that in case any Officer or Officers in the Plantations shall bee sued or molested for any thing done in the Execution of their Office the said Officer shall and may plead the Generall Issue and shall give this or other Custome Acts in Evidence and the Judge to allow thereof, have and enjoy the like Priviledges and Advantages as are allowed by Law to the Officers of His Majesties Customes in England.

Editorial Information

X1 interlined on the Roll.