1691 Articles filed Against Lord Baltimore and Deputies upon which Thomas Stacy was a signatory. (Colonist did not like the unfair rule of Lord Baltimore and the Deputies he appointed who abused power.

 

 

Additionall Articles to the preceeding charge P. R. O. Maryland against the Lord  Baltemore and his Deputies B. I. Vol. 2,V1Zt B.E.



1. The erecting and setting up of new Offices and Officers and granting unreasonable and excessive Fees without Act of Assembly: such as are the examiner Generall Attorney General in Provinciall and the County Courts the Clerke of the Councill and doorkeeper to the same with many others.

2. The granting and giveing away of Lands as Escheats before found so to be by inquisition.

3. The fineing of men absent without giveing day in Court to answer by sci: fac: or otherwise often times without Juryes where matter of Fact ought to be enquired of and found

 

4. The Judges for Probate of Wills and granting of Administrations refuseing oftentimes to do the same att their Office but by way of comicon into the Countyes thereby to augment and in a manner double their Fees, to the great burthen and charge of the Inhabitants.

5. Not observeing the Rules appointed them by Act of Assembly for keeping and holding their said Courts to the great disappointment charge and hazard of the Inhabitants and Suitors thereunto.

6. The disposeing and arbitrary selling of places and offices of Trust to persons incapable to manage the same for mony or otherwise at extraordinary rates whereby the same are unduely managed and the persons themselves forced to extort from the Inhabitants Illegall exhorbitant and excessive Fees for their support and maintenance.

7. That by such undue proceedings the records of the Provll and County Courts especially of the Provinciall Court are omitted to be entered but in the loose papers and minutes of the Clarkes who making way for others that give or offer most, are removed before such time as they could make due entry thereof and their minutes not understood by their succeeding Officers by which means such Judgements are reversible by writt of Error.

8. All the Judges att Comon Law Chancery Probate of Wills &c: and of the upper house of Assembly erected by the said Lord Baltemore being one and the self same persons and neerely allied that little Justice is to be expected when any of them are sued as often happens or as little redress upon any just appeale from them in one capacity to the same persons in another.

9. For the same reason the penall Laws made against Officers for extorting unjust and illegall Fees can take little or noe effect the said persons being actually possessed themselves or by their mercenary deputies of all Offices of profltt within P. R. this Province and they the said persons themselves the Judges B. therein.B. E. 10. Writt of Error granted or denyed at the Arbritrary will and pleasure of the said Judges as they assert or disassert the cause or persons sueing for the same.

P. E. B. Jowles, Henry Trippe, Nea Blakiston, John Thomas, Rich: Gassaway, Tho: Stacy, Nicholas Greenberry, Edward Jones, John Edmondson, Jno Coode, Geo: Robotham, Kenelm Cheseldyn, David Browne, Rob: King, John Courts, Ninion Beale, John Brooke.

(Endorsed)

Articles against My Lord Baltemore.

Recd 22 Nov: 1691.