Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-04-21

persons acquired his. her, or their title
thereto, whether legal or equitable
10. And whereas % 70 known Ia The Gene
raj Assembly. ihnt IN many cases, divers
large tracts Of land have been e.cheatsd 10
the commonwealth, Ter want Of sny kno~r
heirs OF the original grantee or grantee.
thereof, or or persons claiming under ihems
and such isnds, by reason vi such sschest,
have become vested. according to 'aw, in
me President aud Directors Of tho Literary
tuLd, while stihe very time OF The e.chest,
me same hnes. or paris or psteeIs thereof,
were bona 6de claimed. held and oc cupisd
by numerous other persons deriving little
thereto. from, or under other ersbts Of tho
commonwealth. and having actually settled
and improved the ssme, ard discharged oil
isxes charged against ihem, upon the lands
so claimed, held and occupied by the m; end
IL ~ reasonable and just, that The titles Of
such setuai holders and bona fics elsimsnis
OF isnds SO e.chssted. should be quoted and
perfected so Ser ~ the trsnsger TO them Of
the rights vested m tho said Pfesident and
Directors- and. therefore. subject TO tho
disposition OF the General Assembly may
accomplish that object.
BE u hsrsfore further enacted. Thst oil the
right, title. and interest Of The said Presi-
dent end Directors. in or tn any lands, tex
cept such ss shall he hereinafter excepted
which have hesn or shall hereafter be veu-
cd IN them, by rssson OF any eschest there
OF, Tor want OF known heirs Of the original
grantee or grantees. or Of persons claiming
from or under them. shall and NAV be, ia
the msnner hereinafter prescribed, trans
ferred 10, and vested in any and every per-
son or persons, who were or shall be, Of tho
time OF escbest, in scinsi possession and
occupation OF the said e.cbeaied lands, or
any part or parcel thereof, for 40 much
thereof, as such person or persons have just
title orcIaim 10. legal or eq'iits bIe, bonshds
claimed, held and derived, from or npder
fore the date Of The eschesi. and Who shsil
have discharged oil taxes duly assessed o.
gsinst him, her, ar them. upon such lands,
and all taxes that ought tn have been assess
ed ar charged thereon. from the time hen
he, she, or they, acquired has. her or their
title thereto, whe legal or equitable.
II. And TO the end, that a fit apd certain
remedy NAV be PROVIDE. for sseeriaining
The rights OF any such actual holders and
bona hde claimants, assforsssid, OF the said
forfeited lands, or Of sny part or parcel
thereof, and for vestibe in and assuring To
them, oil the right. tito and interest, in aud
to the sane, which have heretofore been
vested BY law, or which. by the provisions
OF this act, shall, or may be herssfier vested
in the President and Directors OF the Litsra-
~ Fund; AID also, for s.eertaininE the rights
OF such sctusi holders and bona hde claim
ants as Aforesaid, Of the said escbektsd
lands, or OF any part or parcel thereof, and
FOR vesiing IN and assuring To them, ell the
right, title, and interest az tho said Presi-
dent and Directors, in and to the said es.
cheated lands.
Re il. therefore. further fnaeisd, That any
such actual holder and bona hide e'aimsnt
OF any of the ssId FORTE fted isnds. or Of any
OF the said escheated lands, or o: anv part
or parcel OF either, may prefer his petition
TO the Superior Court ID Chsneery, having
jurisdiction over the county wherein the
said forfeited or esehested lands. CT the rsr-
eel OF ihe same. held and claimed bv tho
petitioner, or the greater part thereof. may
lie, setting forth, sPesioliy and precisely. alt
The facts, which, 10 the opinion Of such pe-
uiioner, entiile him, according TO the pro-
visions oi lhIs act, herein above contained,
TO have the right, title, and interest Of tho
ssid President and Directors. IN or 10 tho
SAID forfeited lands. or NE said esehestcd
lands, as the case ma, be, or any part or
parcel or either. transferred 10, aud vested
10 the ssid petitioner. in pursuance of tho
provisions OF this act, stating and dejucinE
his on right or title, legal or equitable, To
the land BY him claimed sbd held. exhibit.
ing the documentary evidence OF such his
right or title. and showing the local sIius.
ton and qusniiis Of the isnd by him cisim-
ed and held, 'peeifting also. 80 far as the
whose nnme or names. the lands held end
claimed by him. stand forfeited for non
Fsymen' OF tsxea, or eschented, in msnner
aforesaid, or, IL the lands shsii hare been
forfeited for more than one inqueney. or
sscheslsd IN more Than one right, The seve-
raj delinque neics for which forfeiiurss shall
have been incurred. or the several rights
esebcaied, Rs The case may be; finally set
ling forth any other matters which the Pc
tiiioDsr msJ deem mate rial TO his Ease sed
praying the court 10 decree thRi ell tbs
right, title end interest, Of the said Presi
dent end Directors. in or Ia the IsNdE
cIai'ned and held by him. shsIi be transfer
red to and vested IN the petitioner.
~. Such petition NAV be preferred Ir
court, or tiled ~ any time in the clerks Of
nee; end whenever u .hsiI he - rrsfsrred,
OF hlsd. hshsli BE- forthwith seI dove for
hearing, without Further Plesdings, END
without any proceedings 81 rules. b,st shsII
not be heard, tiil the ter o. next sflsF II shalt
be preferred or sled; nor shall sueh pstHiOn
be hesrd, "nfiI . copy thereof shalt hsss
beea served on the Attorney for TIRE Gem
moDweslth, for the Superior Court % Ls~
uf the cuuntg n bsTfiB thc petition she'll 30
preferred. pnd smother eOpy served on the
Secopd Anditor. sRd shidatH Of such service
shsil have bees returned srd 6lsd sHh the
petition, 81 least oBs mohih before ne besg~
ing.
-. Any sgsnt Or eounsel II the Presidents
and Directors Or The Library Pusd, msv
sppesr snd defend thsir interests IN snelp
lands; end q ihsrs be no such sgsRt o.
counsel employed BY ihsm foF ne Parposs,
Il shall be The duty % 'hs said suovney foe
tie commonSesllh 10 defend their interests.
-. Nben the petition shsH be thus regV-
isFiy prepared foF hssTiag. The eeari HsV
snd she'll proceed 60 sons,dsr the matter %
The petition, upon TIE sxhibiu Sled sifh ibs
same, snd suth evidence 81 wiinssses, Ia
kes snd 6lsd sseoSdirg 10 W course Of pro-
cssdinga IN ehaneery, 90 sAsH se sd5Vesd
ZOE ~ aGainst the psiifioBsr. SD msy order