Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-04-10

OF land titles, within whose district the
land may be notice, in writing. stating the
nature and extent of his claims, together
with plat of the tractor tracts claimed ;
ana shall also, on or before that day, deli
yer to the said Register or Recorder, for
the purpose of being recorded, every
grant, order of survey, deed, conveyance
or other written evidence of his claim ;
ana the same shall be recorded by the Re-
gis'er or Recorder, or by the translator
herein alter mentioned, in books to be kept
10y them for that purpose, on receiving
rom the parties al the rate of twelve and
hall cents for every hundred words con
| ,,'nea III .sucf written evidence of their
claim Provided however, That where
lands are claimed by virtue of complete
French or Spanish grant as aforesaid, il
shai' not be necessary for the claimant to
nave any other evidence of his claim re
corded,except the original grant or patent.
| 'oge'her with the warrant or order OF sur
vsy and the plat; but all the other con-
veyances ordeeds shall be deposited with
the Register or Recorder 10 be bv them
' ,. before the commissioners hereinafter
directed to be appointed, when they shall
take the claim into consideration. And
sucn person shall neglect to deliver such
nc,ice IN writing Of his claim, together
WIN plat as aforesaid, or cause to be
| recorded such written evidence of the
same, all his right so far as the same is
derived from tie two first sections ofthis
act, snail become void, and forever there
aiter De barred; nor shall any incomplete
grant, warrant, order or survey, deed of
conveyance, or other written evidence
which shall not be recorded, as above di-
rected, ever aft-rte considered, or admit,
ted aseyidence in any court of the United
o,ates. against any grant derived from the
United States. The said Register AID
, Recorder shall! commence the duties here
by enIpined on them. on or before the, FIRST
day OF September next. and continue 10
discharge the same, at such place in their
respective districts, as tho President Of
the United States shall direct.
Sec. S. A'ia Be IL further enacted, That
TWO persons to be appointed. by the Pre-
sident alone, for the district of louisiana.
ana TWO persons, to be in the zame man.
ner appointed for each Of the districts di-
rected by this ACT to be laid off in the ter
riiory ofOrleans, shall together wi,k The
Register or Recorder of the district for
which they may be appointed, be commis.
s'oHers for the purpose of asccrta:nine
WITHIN their respective districts the rights
OF persons claiming under any French or
spanish grant az aforesaid, or under the
two lirst sections of this act. The said
commissioning shall previous to their en-
ter'ng on the duties OF their appointments,
respectively take and subscribe the fol-
lowing oath or affirmation before sam.
person qualified to administer the some :
do soIemnly swear Cor affirm)
that ! will impartially exercise and dis
charge the duties imposed on me bv en-
act of Congress, entitled, An acs fnc as
certaing and adjusting the titles and claims
TO land within the territory OF Orleans and
the district of louisiana to the best ofmv
skill and Judgment" Il shall be the doiy OF
the said commissioners TO meet in their re-
sPectiye districts, at such place as the Pre-
sident shall have direetedtberein, for the re.
s'dencc ofthe Register or Recorder on or
before the first day of December next,
and they shall mot adjourn to any other
place, nor for longer time than three
days until the first day ofMarch. one thou.
sand eight hundred and six, and until they
shall have completed the business of their
appointment. Each board, or MAORI.
~ of each board, shall in their respective
districts, have power to hear and decide
IN summary manner all matters respect
ing such claims, also tn administer oa,hs
to compel the attendance Of, and examine
witnesses, and such other testimony a.
may be adduced, to demand and obtain
from the proper officer and officers, all
public records in which grants Of land
warrants, or orders OF survey, or any o.
ther evidence of claims to land, derivee
from either the French or Spanish govern
ments may have been recorded; to TAX,
transcripts Of such record or records, o.
OF any part thereof, to have access to al
other records Of public nature, rela,iv,
70 the granting, sale, transfer, or titles O
lands, within their respective districts
and to decide in summary way, accord
ing to Justice and equity, on all claim
HE'D with the register or recorder in con
formity with the provisions of this as,
and on all complete French or Spanis
grants, the evidence OF which though ne
49, -