# Forgery Act 1830

The Forgery Act 1830 (11 Geo. 4 & 1 Will. 4. c. 66) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that consolidated for England and Wales all legislation imposing the death penalty for forgery (except for counterfeiting coins) into one act. Two years later, the Forgery, Abolition of Punishment of Death Act 1832 (2 & 3 Will. 4. c. 123) abolished the death penalty for most of these offences. The Forgery Act 1837 (7 Will. 4. & 1 Vict. c 84) abolished the death penalty for the remaining offences.

## Background

In the United Kingdom, acts of Parliament remain in force until expressly repealed. Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England, published in the late 18th-century, raised questions about the system and structure of the common law and the poor drafting and disorder of the existing statute book.
In 1806, the Commission on Public Records passed a resolution requesting the production of a report on the best mode of reducing the volume of the statute book. From 1810 to 1825, The Statutes of the Realm was published, providing for the first time the authoritative collection of acts. In 1816, both Houses of Parliament, passed resolutions that an eminent lawyer with 20 clerks be commissioned to make a digest of the statutes, which was declared "very expedient to be done." However, this was never done.
In 1812, William Booth was the last person to be hanged for forgery in England. A public outcry at the harshness of his sentence resulted in the death penalty in England and Wales being reserved for capital crimes, making Booth the last person in England hanged for a non-capital crime.
In 1822, Sir Robert Peel entered the cabinet as home secretary and in 1826 introduced a number of reforms to the English criminal law, which became known as Peel's Acts. This included efforts to modernise, consolidate and repeal provisions from a large number of earlier statutes, including:
* Benefit of Clergy
* Larceny and other Offences of Stealing
* Burglary, Robbery and Threats for the Purpose of Robbery or of Extortion
* Embezzlement, False Pretences, and the Receipt of Stolen Property
* Malicious Injuries to Property
* Remedies against the Hundred
In 1827, several acts were passed for this purpose, territorially limited to England and Wales and Scotland, including:
* Criminal Statutes Repeal Act 1827 (7 & 8 Geo. 4. c. 27), which repealed for England and Wales over 140 enactments relating to the criminal law.
* Criminal Law Act 1827 (7 & 8 Geo. 4. c. 28), which modernised the administration of criminal justice.
* Larceny Act 1827 (7 & 8 Geo. 4. c. 29), which consolidated provisions in the law relating to larceny.
* Malicious Injuries to Property Act 1827 (7 & 8 Geo. 4. c. 30), which consolidated provisions in the law relating to malicious injuries to property.
In 1828, parallel bills for Ireland to Peel's Acts were introduced, becoming:
* Criminal Statutes (Ireland) Repeal Act 1828 (9 Geo. 4. 54), which repealed for Ireland over 140 enactments relating to the criminal law.
* Criminal Law (Ireland) Act 1828 (9 Geo. 4. 54), which modernised the administration of criminal justice.
* Larceny (Ireland) Act 1828 (9 Geo. 4. c. 55) which consolidated provisions in the law relating to larceny.
* Malicious Injuries to Property (Ireland) Act 1828 (9 Geo. 4. c. 56), which consolidated provisions in the law relating to malicious injuries to property.
In 1828, the Offences Against the Person Act 1828 (9 Geo. 4. c. 31) was passed, which consolidated provisions in the law relating to offences against the person and repealed for England and Wales almost 60 enactments relating to the Criminal law. In 1829, the Offences Against the Person (Ireland) Act 1829 (10 Geo. 4. c. 34) was passed, which consolidated provisions in the law relating to offences against the person and repealed for Ireland almost 60 enactments relating to the Criminal law.
In 1828, the Criminal Law (India) Act 1828 (9 Geo. 4. c. 74) was passed, which repealed for India offences repealed by the Criminal Statutes Repeal Act 1827 (7 & 8 Geo. 4. c. 27) the Offences Against the Person Act 1828 (9 Geo. 4. c. 31).

## Passage

In 1830, several petitions were made to Parliament of the United Kingdom to abolish the death penalty in relation to offences of forgery:
* 12 March 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Stockton-upon-Tees.
* 16 March 1830 (House of Commons): supported by petitions from residents of Falmouth and Cirencester.
* 17 March 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Colchester, Poole, Plymouth, Kingston-upon-Hull, Malton and Norwich.
* 19 March 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Wellingborough and Bury Saint Edmund's.
* 25 March 1830 (House of Commons): Protestant dissenters assembling at the Chapel in Worship-street, near Finsbury Square, London and residents of Bridport.
* 29 March 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Exeter and Madeley.
* 31 March 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Wisbech.
* 5 April 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Chelsea, Bristol, Braintree, Bocking and Warrington.
* 6 April 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Truro and Hoddesdon.
* 7 April 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Chipping Norton and Kelvedon.
* 8 April 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Woodbridge, the Tower of London, Portsmouth, Portsea and Witham.
* 26 April 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Cirencester, Axbridge, Royston, Derby, Kingston-upon-Thames, Plymouth, Bolton, Exeter, Walworth, Uxbridge, Saint Mary Newington, Lambeth, Bishopsgate, Bluntisham-cum-Earith, Boston, Lincolnshire and Great Yarmouth.
* 27 April 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Sudbury, Luton, Walworth, Poole, York, Reigate, Madeley and Maidenhead.
* 29 April 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Uxbridge, Durham and Appleby.
* 30 April 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Saffron Walden, Braintree, Bocking, Wandsworth, Leeds and Newport.
* 3 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of North Shields, Stroud, Nailsworth and Leominster.
* 4 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Liverpool, Great Bardfield, Darlington, Kirkby Kendal and Kingsbridge.
* 6 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Shaftesbury, Henley-upon-Thames, Godalming, Doncaster and Haworth.
* 10 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Manchester, Salford, Nottingham and Gloucester.
* 11 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Sheffield, Reading and Huddersfield.
* 12 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Malmsbury, Isle of Ely, Stourbridge, Exeter, Milford, Bristol, Dorking, Ashburton, Falmouth, Clonmel, Swansea, Sunderland, Bishop Wearmouth and Monk Wearmouth.
* 13 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of South Brent, Winscombe, Moretonhampstead, Collumpton, Edinburgh, Leith, Belfast and Tavistock.
* 14 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of King's Lynn, Hawick, Cork, Limerick and Sligo, and bankers from N. M. Rothschild, Overend, Gurney & Co. and Sanderson & Co.
* 17 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Manchester and Leicester.
* 18 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Evesham, Exeter, Ipswich, Margate, Ashford and Tewkesbury.
* 19 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Chudleigh, Teignmouth, Kilkenny, Leeds, Galway, Coleraine, Ballina and Armagh.
* 20 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Shaftesbury.
* 24 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Redruth, Salford, Modbury, Basingstoke, Rochdale, Farringdon, Great Yarmouth, Clonmel, Westminster, Nottingham, Reigate, Kingswood, Dorking, Crawley, Ifield, Slaugham, Worth, London and Chudleigh.
* 24 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Glastonbury, Athlone, Crediton, Chesham, Canterbury, Camberwell, Glasgow, Saint Mary Axe, Salford, Newport, Stockton-upon-Tees, Wakefield, Craven, Reading, Haverhill, Spalding, Bristol, Horsham, Kirkby Kendal, Halsted, Woburn, Farringdon, Stockport, Macclesfield, Maldon, Coggeshall, Wellington, Manchester, Halstead, Charlbury, Exeter, Neath and Bridgewater.
* 24 May 1830 (House of Commons): bankers from Edinburgh, Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Belfast, Birmingham, Litchfield, Wednesbury, Bilston, Dudley, Wolverhampton, Bristol, Bath, Leith, Huddersfield, Murfield, Wakefield, Dewsbury, Leeds, Plymouth, Devonport, Tavistock, Portsmouth, Norwich, Sheffield, Rotherham, Nottingham, Sunderland, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Durham, Darlington, Stockton, Richmond, Leyburn, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Thirsk, Aberdeen, Paisley, Tiverton, Collumpton, Honiton, Barnstaple, Ilfracombe, Bideford, Torrington, Totness, Newton Abbott, Exeter, York, Yarmouth, Beccles, Stockport, Wigan, Worcester, Evesham, Ipswich, Needham Market, Woodbridge, Hadleigh, Manningtree, Banbury, Shipston, Bicester, Oxford, Carlisle, Brighton, Lewes, Reading, Maidenhead, Henley, Windsor, Lynn Regis, Canterbury, Lancaster, Chelmsford, Winchester, Southampton, Bury Saint Edmund's, Guildford, Kendal, Chippenham, Salisbury, Ringwood, Poole, Bradford, Halifax, Wakefield, Pontefract, Doncaster, Barnsley, Derby, Inverness, Burton-on-Trent, Leighton Buzzard, Newport Pagnell, Burslem, Hitchin, Bedford, Newbury, Abingdon, Wallingford, Uxbridge, Fakenham, Faringdon, Wisbech, Truro, Falmouth, Penzance, Helston, Penrith, Kirkby Thuce, Workington, Chesterfield, Teignmouth, Kingsbridge, Dartmouth, Bridport, Yeovil, Dorchester, Blandford, Harwich, Tewkesbury, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Tetbury, Burford, Dursley, Romsey, Basingstoke, Odiham, Hereford, Ross, Dickenfield, Leominster, Ledbury, Royston, Hemel Hempstead, Gloucester, Stroud, Dartford, Ramsgate, Margate, Deal, Boston, Spalding, South Spilsby, Horncastle, Staines, Newport, Monmouth, Chepstow, Diss, Northampton, Towcester, Wellingborough, Daventry, Wellington, Shropshire, Shiffnal, Coalbrookdale, Bridgnorth, Wenlock, Trowbridge, Wells, Frome, Wiveliscombe, Wellington, Somerset, Taunton, Leek, Congleton, Halesworth, Sudbury, Stow Market, Reigate, Croydon, Dorking, Rye, Hastings, Kirkby Lonsdale, Swindon, Malmsbury, Marlborough, Melksham, Devizes, Stourbridge, Skipton, Settle, Selby, Howden, Scarborough, Malton, Whitby, Pontypool, Abergavenny, Brecon, Carmarthen, Swansea, Neath, Haverfordwest, Annan, Cupar, Auchtermuchty, Dumbarton, Elgin, Forfar, Galashiels, Jedburgh, Kirkcaldy and Wigtown.
* 25 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Honiton.
* 26 May 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Rugby.
* 3 June 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Hull.
* 4 June 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Norwich.
* 7 June 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Lowestoft, Halesworth, Hadleigh, Leighton Buzzard, Croydon and Hackney.
* 7 June 1830 (House of Commons): the City of London.
* 8 June 1830 (House of Commons): residents of Brighthelmston.
* 8 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Leominster.
* 9 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Hull.
* 10 June 1830 (House of Commons): bankers in Waterford.
* 10 June 1830 (House of Lords: bankers in Kilkenny, Ballina and Coleraine.
* 11 June 1830 (House of Commons): residents in Hackney.
* 11 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Winscombe.
* 11 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Dorking.
* 14 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Hertford.
* 14 June 1830 (House of Lords): Provincial Banks of Ireland at Galway.
* 14 June 1830 (House of Lords): Local Directors and Manager of the Provincial Bank of Ireland, at Armagh.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Royston.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Great Dunmow.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Shaftesbury.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Gillingham.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Redruth.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Kendal.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Reading.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Margate.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Princess St. Chapel, Devonport.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Mount St. Chapel, Devonport.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Morice Square Chapel, Devonport.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Kenwyn St. Chapel, Devonport.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): Protestant dissenters of the independent denomination from Truro.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): Protestant dissenters of the independent denomination from Ipswich.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): Wesleyan congregation of Protestant dissenters Ipswich.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the independent congregation from Maidenhead.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): Protestant dissenters of the Baptist persuasion from Ipswich.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): Protestant dissenters from Sudbury.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): Protestant dissenters assembling in the independent chapel at St. Nicholas Street Ipswich.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): unitarian dissenters from Bury St. Edmunds.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): congregation of Protestant dissenters commonly called independents, assembling for religious worship in Castle Street Chapel, Exeter.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): Protestant dissenters from Woodbridge.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): Protestant dissenters from Nayland.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the united congregation of independents and Baptists from Maulden and Ampthill.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): dissenting congregation assembled at the Baptists Chapel, Lower Baxter Street, Bury St. Edmunds.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of a congregation of Protestant dissenters called Baptists, meeting for divine worship in How Street, Plymouth.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Edinburgh.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): Minister and Society of Protestant Dissenters assembling for religious worship at the Old Meeting House in Saint Nicholas Street, Ipswich.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of different religious congregations meeting for worship in the West Row and other places, Stockton on Tees.
* 15 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Pontefract
* 16 June 1830 (House of Commons): William Stewart Morgan and John Joseph Stockdale.
* 16 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Croydon.
* 16 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Plymouth.
* 16 June 1830 (House of Lords): dissenters of the Independent Denomination usually worshipping at the New Tabernacle in Plymouth.
* 17 June 1830 (House of Lords): Protestant dissenters of the Independent Denomination residing in Bury Saint Edmunds.
* 17 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents from Ampthill.
* 17 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents from Burford.
* 17 June 1830 (House of Lords): Protestant dissenters from Southwold.
* 17 June 1830 (House of Lords): Protestant dissenters from the Denomination of Baptists meeting in Hosiers Street, Reading.
* 17 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the congregation of Protestants meeting in Castle Street, Reading.
* 17 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Exeter.
* 17 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the congregation of Protestants meeting for worship at the Independent Meeting House in the Lion Walk, Colchester.
* 18 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Chester.
* 18 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Ashford.
* 18 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Darlington.
* 18 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Reading.
* 18 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Worcester.
* 18 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Moretonhamsptead.
* 18 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Staines.
* 18 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Poole.
* 18 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Godalming.
* 18 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Honiton.
* 18 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the congregation of Protestant Dissenters of the Baptist denomination meeting in Counterslip, Bristol.
* 18 June 1830 (House of Lords): Wesleyan Methodist congregation assembling for religious worship at Mint Lane Chapel, Exeter.
* 18 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Wellington
* 18 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Spalding
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Leicester.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Ipswich.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Braintree and Bocking.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of a congregation of Protestant dissenters assembling for worship at the Unitarian Chapel, Kingshead Lane, Northampton.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): ministers and members of the Methodist, Independent and Baptist congregations in Falmouth.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Chesham.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): Protestant dissenters from Halsted.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Maidenhead.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Wakefield.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the congregation of Wesleyan Methodists in Settle.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): Persons whose Names are thereunto subscribed; praying, "That their Lordships will not withhold from them that Protection to their Property which they would derive from a Punishment for Forgery more lenient than that of Death, which the Public and the Petitioners would then think it their Duty to enforce"..
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the congregation of Protestant dissenters of the Independent Denomination assembling at North Gate Street Chapel, Bury St. Edmunds.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Halesworth.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): Wesleyan Methodists assembled at the Chapel, St. Mary's Square Bury St. Edmunds.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the congregation of Protestant dissenters assembling in the Chapel of Saint Thomas's Square, Hackney.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the congregation of Protestant dissenters of the Independent Denomination meeting at Broad Street, Reading.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of The Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion in Maidenhead.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): William Alexander of Great Yarmouth.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Stowmarket.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Newport and Monmouth.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Minching-Hampton, Horsley and Avening.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Darlington.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Reigate and Dorking, the parish of Betchworth and Liberty of Kingswood, in Surrey, and the parishes of Crawley, Ifield, Haugham and Worth, in Sussex.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Reigate.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): jurors of the Old Bailey.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Redruth.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Carlisle.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Evesham.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Lowestoft.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): Ralph Wedgwood.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): Common Council Men, Norwich.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Tavistock.
* 21 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Stockton upon Tees.
* 23 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of New Woodstock.
* 23 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the Society and Congregation of Wesleyan Methodists resident in Canterbury.
* 24 June 1830 (House of Lords): Protestant dissenters of the Independent or Congregational Denomination, residing at Ashburton.
* 25 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Camberwell.
* 25 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Wandsworth.
* 25 June 1830 (House of Lords): Minister and certain of the congregation assembling for divine worship in Lewisham Street Chapel, Westminster.
* 25 June 1830 (House of Lords): Minister and certain of the congregation assembling for divine worship in Lion Street Chapel, Newington.
* 25 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Ross.
* 25 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Horsham.
* 25 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Huddersfield.
* 25 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Stourbridge.
* 25 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Axbridge.
* 25 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Witney.
* 28 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Kettering.
* 29 June 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Brighton.
* 29 June 1830 (House of Lords): Bankers of London.
* 29 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the Congregation of Protestant Dissenters of the Baptist Denomination meeting for divine worship in Pembroke Street, Devonport.
* 1 July 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Bristol.
* 1 July 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Swansea.
* 3 July 1830 (House of Commons): resident of Cricklade.
* 5 July 1830 (House of Lords): Protestant dissenters assembling at the Independent Chapel, Truro.
* 7 July 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Bishopsgate
* 7 July 1830 (House of Lords): Minister and certain of the congregation assembling for divine worship in Beresford Street Chapel, Walworth.
* 7 July 1830 (House of Lords): John Joseph Stockdale.
* 9 July 1830 (House of Lords): residents of St Mary, Newington.
* 9 July 1830 (House of Lords): Ministers and certain of the congregation assembling for divine worship in China Terrace Chapel, Lambeth.
* 9 July 1830 (House of Lords): Minister and certain of the congregation assembling for divine worship in York Street Chapel, Walworth.
* 9 July 1830 (House of Lords): Ministers and deputies from the dissenting congregations of the three denominations in the County of Suffolk, assembled at Stowmarket.
* 9 July 1830 (House of Lords): Protestant dissenters residing at or near East Bergholt.
* 12 July 1830 (House of Lords): John Joseph Stockdale.
* 13 July 1830 (House of Lords): residents of Olney, Weston Underwood, and Emberton, Bucks.
Leave to bring in the Forgeries Punishment Bill was granted to the home secretary Sir Robert Peel MP, the Attorney General, James Scarlett MP, and the Solicitor General, Sir Edward Sugden MP, and the Bill had its first reading in the House of Commons on 1 April 1830. On 8 April 1830, the House of Commons ordered that an address be presented to King George IV by the Privy Council providing the number of people executed for forgery in the previous ten years and the nature of their offences. This address was reported on 11 May 1830 and was presented by Sir William Peel MP on 17 May 1830. A similar address for Ireland was ordered on 18 May 1830, for the Bank of England was returned on 21 May 1830 and for Scotland on 26 May 1830, presented by Sir William Peel MP. The Bill had its second reading in the House of Commons on 26 April 1830 and was committed to a Committee of the Whole House, which met on 24 May 1830. The debate centred around the abolition of the death penalty for the offence of forgery and an amendment to do so was defeated by a majority of 16. The Committee reported on 25 May 1830, with amendments. The Bill had its third reading in the House of Commons on 8 June 1830.
The Bill had its first reading in the House of Lords on 10 June 1830. The Bill had its second reading in the House of Lords on 1 July 1830 and was committed to a Committee of the Whole House, which met on 1 July 1830 and reported on 2 July 1830, with amendments. The amended Bill was considered by the House of Lords on 5 July 1830 and was re-committed to a Committee of the Whole House, which met on 5 July 1830 and reported on 9 July 1830, with amendments. A Motion to re-commit the Bill due to the continuation of the death penalty for offences of forgery was rejected on 13 July 1830 and the Bill had its third reading in the House of Lords on 13 July 1830.
The amended Bill was considered and agreed to by the House of Commons on 20 July 1830.
The Bill was granted royal assent on 23 July 1830.

## Provisions
### Section 2 – Forging the Great Seal, Privy Seal, Privy Signet, Royal Sign Manual etc., treason and capital

This section replaced the corresponding provisions in the Treason Act 1351 and the Treason (No. 2) Act 1553 (1 Mar. Sess. 2. c. 6). (This form of treason was reduced to felony when section 2 was replaced by the Forgery Act 1861.)

### Section 21 – Rector etc. not liable to any penalty for correcting, in the mode prescribed, accidental errors in the register

This section read:
Nothing contained in the Criminal Statutes Repeal Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict. c. 95) in any manner altered or affected any power or authority given by this section to alter or amend any register of births, baptisms, marriages, deaths or burials.
The words "and be it enacted" were repealed by section 1 of, and the Schedule to, the Statute Law Revision (No. 2) Act 1888 (51 & 52 Vict. c. 57).
This section was repealed by section 26(2) of, and Schedule 4 to, the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978 (No. 2). It is replaced by section 4 of that Measure.

## Legacy
### Subsequent developments

At the start of the parliamentary session in 1853, Lord Cranworth announced his intention to the improvement of the statute law and in March 1853, appointed the Board for the Revision of the Statute Law to repeal expired statutes and continue consolidation, with a wider remit that included civil law. The Board issued three reports, recommending the creation of a permanent body for statute law reform.
In 1854, Lord Cranworth appointed the Royal Commission for Consolidating the Statute Law to consolidate existing statutes and enactments of English law. The Commission made four reports. Recommendations made by the Commission were implemented by the Repeal of Obsolete Statutes Act 1856 (19 & 20 Vict. c. 64).
On 17 February 1860, the Attorney General, Sir Richard Bethell told the House of Commons that he had engaged Sir Francis Reilly and A. J. Wood to expurgate the statute book of all acts which, though not expressly repealed, were not in force, working backwards from the present time.
In 1861, bills were introduced to consolidate and modernise the criminal law, drafted by Charles Sprengel Greaves across:
* Offences Against the Person
* Malicious Injuries to Property
* Larceny
* Forgery
* Coining
* Accessories and Abettors
In 1861, the Criminal Law Consolidation Acts were passed:
* Accessories and Abettors Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict. c. 94)
* Criminal Statutes Repeal Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict. c. 95)
* Larceny Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict. c. 96)
* Malicious Damage Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict. c. 97)
* Forgery Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict. c. 98)
* Coinage Offences Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict. c. 99)
* Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict. c. 100)

### Repealed enactments

The territorial terms of the act led to several acts being for the avoidance of doubt for Scotland and Ireland repealed by later Statute Law Revision Acts, including:
* Statute Law Revision Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict. c. 101)
* Statute Law Revision Act 1870 (33 & 34 Vict. c. 69)
* Statute Law Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 63)

### Repeal

This act was adopted in New South Wales by section 1 of the act 4 Will. 4 No 4.
The whole act, except for section 21, was repealed on 1 November 1861 by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Criminal Statutes Repeal Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict. c. 95).
The whole act, except section 21, was repealed as to New Zealand by section 3 of, and the First Part of the Schedule to, the Repeals Act 1878 (42 Vict. c. 28).
The words " marriage " and " or of the parties married " in section 21 of the act were repealed by section 79(1) of, and the fifth schedule to, the Marriage Act 1949 (12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 76).
The whole act was repealed for the Republic of Ireland by sections 2 and 3 and Part 4 of Schedule 2 to the Statute Law Revision Act 2007.
As to trial of offences under this act at quarter sessions, see section 17 of the Central Criminal Court Act 1834 (4 & 5 Will 4. c 36).

## Repealed enactments

Section 31 of the act repealed 27 enactments, listed in that section, for England and Wales, to take effect on 20 July 1830. Section 31 of the act provided that for offenses and other matters committed or done before 20 July 1830, that were previously punishable by death, the new punishment options were transportation "beyond the Seas" (likely to colonies) for life or a term not less than 7 years, or Imprisonment with or without hard labor for between 2 and 4 years.
| Citation | Short title | Title | Extent of repeal |
| 25 Edw. 3. stat. 5. c. 2 | Treason Act 1351 | A Statute made in the Twenty-fifth Year of the Reign of King Edward the Third | As relates to counterfeiting the King's Great or Privy Seal. |
| 1 Mar. Sess. 2. c. 6 | Treason (No. 2) Act 1553 | An Act passed in the first Year of the Reign of Queen Mary, intituled An Act that the counterfeiting of strange Coins being current within this Realm, the Queen's Highness' Sign Manual, Signet, or Privy Seal, be adjudged Treason. | As relates to forging or counterfeiting the Queen's Sign Manual, Privy Signet, or Privy Seal. |
| 5 Eliz. 1. c. 14 | Forgery Act 1562 | An Act passed in the fifth Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, intituled An Act against Forgers of false Deeds and Writings. | The whole. |
| 21 Jas. 1. c. 26 | Fines and Recoveries Act 1623 | An Act passed in the Twenty-first Year of the Reign of King James the First, intituled An Act against such as shall levy any Fine, suffer any Recovery, acknowledge any Statute, Recognizance, Bail, or Judgment in the Name of any other Person or Persons not being privy and consenting thereto. | The whole. |
| 4 Will. & Mar. c. 4 | Special Bail Act 1692 | An Act passed in the Fourth Year of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary, intituled An Act for taking Special Bails in the Country upon Actions and Suits depending in the Courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer at Westminster. | As relates to any Offence thereby made Felony. I.e., section 4. |
| 8 & 9 Will. 3 | Bank of England Act 1696 | An Act passed in the Eighth and Ninth Years of the Reign of King William the Third, intituled An Act for making good the Deficiencies of several Funds therein mentioned, and for enlarging the Capital Stock of the Bank of England, and for raising the Public Credit. | As relates to forging or counterfeiting the Common Seal of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, or any sealed Bank Bill, or any Bank Note, or altering or raising any Indorsement on any Bank Bill or Note. I.e., section 36. |
| 7 Ann. c. 21 | Treason Act 1708 | An Act passed in the Seventh Year of the Reign of Queen Anne, intituled An Act for improving the Union of the Two Kingdoms. | As relates to counterfeiting Her Majesty's Seals, appointed by the Twenty-fourth Article of the Union to be kept, used, and continued in Scotland. I.e., section 9. |
| 8 Geo. 1. c. 22 | National Debt (No. 3) Act 1721 | An Act passed in the Eighth Year of the Reign of King George the First, intituled An Act to prevent the Mischiefs by forging Powers to transfer such Stocks or to receive such Annuities or Dividends as are therein mentioned, or by fraudulently personating the true Owners thereof; and to rectify Mistakes of the late Managers for taking Subscriptions for increasing the Capital Stock of the South Sea Company, and in the Instrument founded thereupon. | As relates to any Forgery or other capital Felony therein mentioned. I.e., section 1. |
| 12 Geo. 1. c. 32 | Suitors of Court of Chancery Act 1725 | An Act passed in the Twelfth Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for better securing the Monies and Effects of the Suitors of the Court of Chancery, and to prevent the counterfeiting of East India Bonds and Indorsements thereon, as likewise Indorsements on South Sea Bonds. | As relates to any Person who shall forge or counterfeit, or procure to be forged or counterfeited, or wilfully act or assist in forging or counterfeiting, any Bond or Obligation of the East India Company, or any Indorsement or Assignment thereon, or on any Bond or Obligation of the South Sea Company, or shall utter or publish the same knowing the same to be forged or counterfeited. I.e., section 9. |
| 2 Geo. 2. c. 25 | Perjury Act 1728 | An Act passed in the Second Year of the Reign of King George the Second, intituled An Act for the more effectual preventing and further Punishment of Forgery, Perjury, and Subornation of Perjury, and to make it Felony to steal Bonds, Notes, or other Securities for Payment of Money. | Except so far as relates to Perjury and Subornation of Perjury. I.e., except section 2. |
| 7 Geo. 2. c. 22 | Bristol Roads Act 1730 | An Act passed in the Seventh Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for the more effectual preventing the forging the Acceptance of Bills of Exchange, or the Numbers or Principal Sums of accountable Receipts for Notes, Bills, or other Securities for Payment of Money, or Warrants or Orders for Payment of Money or Delivery of Goods. | The whole. |
| 15 Geo. 2. c. 13 | Bank of England Act 1741 | An Act passed in the Fifteenth Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for establishing an Agreement with the Governor and Company of the Bank of England for advancing the Sum of One million six hundred thousand Pounds towards the Supply for the Service of the Year One thousand seven hundred and forty-two. | As relates to any Person who shall forge, counterfeit, or alter any Bank Note or other Matter specified in the said Act, or shall knowingly offer, dispose of, or put away such forged, counterfeit, or altered Note or other Matter, or knowingly demand the Money therein contained or pretended to be due thereon, or any Part thereof, as in the said Act is mentioned. I.e., section 11. |
| 31 Geo. 2. c. 22 | Supply, etc. Act 1755 | An Act passed in the Thirty-first Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for granting to His Majesty several Rates and Duties upon Offices and Pensions, and upon Houses, and upon Windows or Lights; and for raising the Sum of Five Millions by Annuities and a Lottery, to be charged on the said Rates and Duties. | As relates to any Forgery or other capital Felony therein mentioned. I.e., sections 77 and 78. |
| 4 Geo. 3. c. 25 | National Debt (No. 2) Act 1763 | An Act passed in the Fourth Year of the Reign of King George the Third, intituled An Act for establishing an Agreement with the Governor and Company of the Bank of England for raising certain Sums of Money towards the Supply for the Service of the Year One thousand seven hundred and sixty -four; and for more effectually preventing the forging Powers to transfer such Stock or receive such Dividends or Annuities as are therein mentioned, and the fraudulent personating the Owners thereof. | As relates to any Forgery or other capital Felony therein mentioned. I.e., section 15. |
| 13 Geo. 3. c. 79 | Bank of England Notes Act 1773 | An Act passed in the Thirteenth Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for the more effectual preventing the forging of the Notes or Bills of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, and for the preventing the obtaining a false Credit by the Imitation of the Notes or Bills of the said Governor and Company. | The whole. |
| 18 Geo. 3. c. 18 | Forgery Act 1778 | An Act passed in the Eighteenth Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act to explain an Act passed in the Seventh Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Second, intituled An "Act for the more effectual preventing the forging the Acceptance of Bills of Exchange, or the Numbers or Principal Sums of accountable Receipts for Notes, Bills, or other Securities for Payment of Money, or Warrants or Orders for Payment of Money or Delivery of Goods". | The whole. |
| 27 Geo. 3. c. 43 | County Palatine of Chester Act 1787 | An Act passed in the Twenty-seventh Year of the Reign of King George the Third, intituled An Act for taking and swearing Affidavits to be made use of in the Court of Session of the County Palatine of Chester, and for taking of Special Bail in Actions and Suits depending in the same Court. | As relates any Offence thereby made Felony. I.e., section 4. |
| 33 Geo. 3. c. 30 | Forgeries and Frauds in Bank Transfers Act 1793 | An Act passed in the Thirty-third Year of the Reign of King George the Third, intituled An Act for the better preventing Forgeries and Frauds in the Transfers of the several Funds transferrable at the Bank of England. | The whole. |
| 37 Geo. 3. c. 122 | Forgery Act 1797 | An Act passed in the Thirty-seventh Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for the better preventing the forging or counterfeiting the Names of Witnesses to Letters of Attorney or other Authorities, or Instruments for the Transfer of Stocks or Funds which now are, or by any Act or Acts of Parliament shall hereafter be made transferrable at the Bank of England, or for the Transfer of any Part of the Capital Stock of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, called Bank Stock, or for the Transfer of any Part of the Capital Stock, or any Stocks or Funds under the Management of the South Sea Company, or for the Transfer of any Part of the Capital Stock of the East India Company, or for the Receipt of Dividends upon any of such Stocks or Funds. | The whole. |
| 41 Geo. 3. (U.K.). c. 39 | Forgery of Banknotes Act 1801 | An Act passed in the Forty-first Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for the more effectually preventing the Forgery of Bank Notes, Bank Bills of Exchange, and Bank Post Bills. | The whole. |
| 41 Geo. 3. c. 57 | Bank Notes Forgery Act 1801 | An Act passed in the same Year, intituled An Act for the better Prevention of the Forgery of the Notes and Bills of Exchange of Persons carrying on the Business of Bankers. | The whole. |
| 43 Geo. 3. c. 139 | Forgery of Foreign Bills Act 1803 | An Act passed in the Forty-third Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for preventing the forging and counterfeiting of Foreign Bills of Exchange, and of Foreign Promissory Notes and Orders for the Payment of Money; and for preventing the counterfeiting of Foreign Copper Money. | As in anywise relates to any Foreign Bill of Exchange, or Foreign Promissory Note, Undertaking, or Order for the Payment of Money. |
| 45 Geo. 3. c. 89 | Bank Notes (Forgery) Act 1805 | An Act passed in the Forty-fifth Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act to alter and extend the Provisions of the Laws now in force for the Punishment of the Forgery of Bank Notes, Bills of Exchange, and other Securities, to every Part of Great Britain. | The whole. |
| 48 Geo. 3. c. 1 | Issue and Payment of Exchequer Bills Act 1808 | An Act passed in the Forty-eighth Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for regulating the issuing and paying off of Exchequer Bills. | As relates to any Forgery or other capital Felony therein mentioned. |
| 52 Geo. 3. c. 138 | Counterfeiting Tokens, etc. Act 1812 | An Act passed in the Fifty-second Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for the further Prevention of the counterfeiting of Silver Tokens issued by the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, called Dollars, and of Silver Pieces issued and circulated by the said Governor and Company, called Tokens; and for the further Prevention of Frauds practised by the Imitation of the Notes or Bills of the said Governor and Company. | The whole. |
| 52 Geo. 3. c. 146 | Parochial Registers Act 1812 | An Act passed in the same Year, intituled An Act for the better regulating and preserving Parish and other Registers of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials in England. | As relates to any Felony therein mentioned. I.e. section 146 |
| 4 Geo. 4. c. 76 | Marriage Act 1823 | An Act passed in the Fourth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Fourth, intituled An Act for amending the Laws respecting the Solemnization of Marriages in England. | As relates to any Person who shall knowingly and wilfully insert in the Register Book any false Entry of any Matter relating to any Marriage, or shall falsely make, alter, forge, or counterfeit any such Entry in the Register, or any Licence of Marriage, or shall utter or publish as true any false, altered, forgered, or counterfeited Register of Marriage, or a Copy thereof, or any false, altered, forged, or counterfeited Licence of Marriage, knowing such Register or Licence of Marriage respectively to be false, altered, forged , or counterfeited, or shall wilfully destroy any Register Book of Marriages, or any Part thereof, or shall cause or procure or assist in the Commission of any of the said several Offences. |