Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-02-28
The Poor Debtors Law.

Senate Wednesday, and thereby became
a law. having previously passed sbe House
of Delegates:
Re 1t enacted By the General Assembly,
That the 33d section of chapter 10 of the
Code of Virginia Of 1850, be amended and
re-enacted SO as to read as follows:
Sec. 80. In the case of a husband, pa
rent Or other person who is housekeeper
and head of family there shall be exempt
from distress or levy the following articles.
or so much Or SO many thereof as the par
ty may have:
l. The family Bible.
2. Family pictures, school books and
library for the use of the family not ex-
cceding 500 in value.
3. A seat or pew in any house or place
of public worship.
4. A lot in any burial ground
5. All necessary wearing apparel of the
debtor and bis family. All beds, betlsteads
and bedding necessary for the use Of such
family. All stoves and appendages put
up and kept for the necessary use Of the
family, not to exceed three.
s. One COW, one horse, six chairs, one
table, six knives, six forks, six plates, one
dozen spoons, two dishes, two basins, one
pot, one oven, six pieces of wood or earth
enware, ONE loom and its appurtenances,
one safe or press one spinning wheel. one
set of cards, one axe, two hoes, five harfles Of
corn, five bushels of wheat or one barrel
of -four. two hundred pounds of bacon or
pork, three hogs, ten dollars in value Of
forage or hay, one cooking stove and uten
sis for cooking herewith, and one sewing
machine and in case Of mechanic, the
tools and utensils of his trade not exceed
800 in money
Sec 81 If the debtor be at the time &C
tually engaged in the business of agricul-
ture, then shall be exempt from such dis
tress or levy, while he is 50 engaged, one
yoke of oxen or pair Of horses or mules
III lieu thereof with necessary gearing. one
wagon Or cart two ploughs, one drag. one
cradle, one pitch fork, one rake, two iron
wedges. All of which articles intended to
be exempted by this act shall be chosen
by the head of the family. his agent Or
sions of this act shall not extend to distress
made for taxes or county and parish levies:
And, provided further, That upon all con-
tracts made and entered into before the
passage of this act only 50 much of the
aforementioned property shall be exempt
from distress or levy as are hereby exempt
ed under the provisions Of the said thirty
third and thirty fourth sections of the chap
ter forty-nine Of the Code of 1860
2. This aet shall be in force from it's
passage.
Relative to Church Property.
The following is a copy of an act, pass
ed by tie General Assembly on the l4th
instant, to amend chapter II of the Code
of Virginia, in relation to church property,
which will no doubt interest many of our
readers:
/. Be it enacted, &C., That the ninth
sec&ion of chapter seventy-seven of the
Code, edition Of 1869 be amended aud
re-enacted so as TO read as follows:
80. The circuit court of the county of
corporation wherein there may be any par
eel ofsuch land or the greater part thereof,
may on application of the proper autlsori-
ties of such congregation, from time to-
time appoint trustees either where there
were or are none, or in place of former
trustees, and change those so appointed
whenever it may seem to the court proper,
to effect Or promote the purpose of the con-
veyance, devise Or dedication And The
legal title to such land for that purpose be
vested in the said trustees, for the time be-
ing, and their successors. And whereas
divisions have occurred in some churches
or religious societies to which such relig-
ious congregations have been attached,
and such divisions may hereafter occur, it
shall in any such case be lawful for the
communicates and pewholders and pew
owners over q years Of age, by vote or a
majoriy Of the whole number as soon as
practicable after the passage of this act. Or
wherever such divisions shall occur, to de-
termine to which branch Of the church or
society such congregation shall thereafter
belong, and which determination shall be
to the said court, and ifapproyed
shall be entered on the minutes, and shall
be conclusive as to the title to and control of
any property held III trust for such congre-
cation, and shall be respected and enforced
accordingly i'll all the courts of this Com
nonwealth And whereas there are
churches or religious societies, which are
entirely independent in their organization
of any other church or any general society,
in which divisions have occurred or may
occur in case Of division in any such indie
pendent church Or society, majority of
the members thereof entitled to vote by its
constitution, as existing at the time of such
DIVISION or where such church or society
has no written constitution, entitled to
vote by the ordinary practice or custom of
such church or society shall decide the
right, title and control of all property held
in trust for such church or society, or the
religious congregation connected Herewith.