The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-12-04
NDNOIR OF R. ISLAND.
TOUCHING rnx GENERAL RECORD Es.

Touching rHx GENERAL RECORDER.
Be i, enacted, by this present Assem-
bly that the General Recorders Office
,hall be in the General to keep copy
of all the Records or acts Of the General
Assembly, General aud particular courts
Of Judicature. Rolls of the freemen of
the coloay, records, evidences, sales and
bargains oflands. Wills and tsstaments
Of rhe testators, and orders of the towns
men touching the intestate. Records of
the limits and bounds of towns their
highways. drift ways, commons and fenc-
ings, privileges and liberties, and for as
much as matters Of greatest cernmeDt
ought to be kept and preserved with the
greatest vigilance.
Be it enacted, that the general pur-
chases, which are all we can show for
our right to our lands, and tho charter
which is that winch gives US who are
subjects right TO exercise authority one
over another be kept in a streng chest
having four several locks annexed there
TO, and that each town keep a key there
Of that so as there is a common right and
interest therein, there may be no access
unto them in divided way, (loast also
they be divided) but with common con-
sent, and let it be further enacted, that
this chest be placed in the safest place of
the colony, anu the general recorder al
so, shall have the key TO the room in
which it is placed.
Be il also enacted, that he that is Cen
eral Recorder shall supply the room Of
the Clerk Of ihs peace or assises in the
General Court of trial as it is court Of
assisc or gaol delivery, and as Clerk of
assise his Office shall be to receive ex-
animation, information, recognizanc es
and bailments presented by the officer
who committed the felon to prison, he
shall also receive the bill of Indictment, ),
presented by him who was bound to
prosecute the prisoner, he shall read the
indictments enroll the acts Of the Court,
the court itself, the inducements the
process, to answer the traverse itself, the
verdict, the judgement ,hercnpon and the
execution. And as this court is a court
of Common Pleas so he shall supply the
room of the master Of the Office and in
that regard his Office shall he upon the
request Of the plaintiff or his Attorney,
lin matters that clearly appertain unto
that court) to direct writ to the Gener-
al Sergean, to arrest the defendant in
such an action Of such man, and to
take bail for his appearance by such n
day as the writs make mention tn he re-
turnablc and in case the General Ser
geant return the defendants bond 10y
the day appointed, then shall he enter
his appearance and in case they proceed
his Office shall be to file declarations and
answers, but in case after a declaration
is filed in expectation Of an answer or to
make his defence, and he doth not, then
the plaintiff taketh him by default, which
is called confessing the action, and then
the Recorders office shall be TO enter
and record nihill dciu lid est) he saith
nothing thereon, and so shall he send
out a writ of enquiry Of damages unto
the town where the defendan, lives, and
the head officer Of the town at the next
town court shall enquire of damages, and
by writ of distringes to the Sergean
shall cause the defendant for that pur-
pose TO come to the court and in case he
appear not, he shall forfeit the distraint
and the head officer of the town may dis
train again and again, the matter being
issued in the town it shall be- returned in-
to the Office and the recorder shall then
enter the pos,ia return and give forth
to the General Sergeant writ of execu-
ton.