SEC. 2. Such commissioner shall continue in office until his successor is qualified to act; he shall be commissioned and engaged, and shall receive out of the general treasury as compensation for his services such sums as may from time to time be allowed by the general assembly. SEC. 3. The commissioner may bring, in his name, all actions in behalf of said tribe which might formerly have been brought by the treasurer of said tribe. SEC. 4. It shall be his duty to enforce all laws heretofore made for the protection and security of said tribe, and for preventing the sale of spirituous liquors among them. An Act confirming the Grants heretofore made by the inhabitants of the towns of Newport, Providence, Portsmouth, Warwick and Westerly. 1. Indian grants of lands in Newport, 2. Proprietors to choose clerk and surProvidence, &c., confirmed-common veyor. lands how divided. Whereas in the fifteenth year of the reign of Charles the second there was a charter granted to this state of RhodeIsland and Providence Plantations, in which were contained many privileges to the free inhabitants thereof; and among other of the said privileges there was granted to the general assembly of said state full power and authority to make and ordain laws suiting to the nature and constitution of the place, and in particular to direct, rule and order all matters relating to the purchases of land of the native Indians; and whereas the lands of the several towns of Newport, Providence, Portsmouth, Warwick and Westerly, were purchased by the several inhabitants thereof of the native Indians, chief sachems of the country before the granting of the said charter, so that an order or direction from the said assembly could not be obtained therein; and it being thought necessary and convenient for the reasons aforesaid that the lands of the said towns be by an act of the general assembly of this state confirmed to the inhabitants thereof, according to their several and respective rights and interests therein: SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, That all the lands lying and being within the limits of each and every of the aforesaid towns of Newport, Providence, Portsmouth, Warwick and Westerly, according to their several respective purchases thereof made and obtained of the Indian sachems, be and are hereby allowed of, ratified and confirmed to the proprietors of each of the aforesaid towns, and to each and every of the said proprietors the several and respective rights and interests therein, by virtue of any such purchase or purchases as aforesaid; to have and to hold all the aforesaid lands by virtue of the several purchases thereof, with all the appurtenances, privileges and commodities thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining to them, the aforesaid proprietors, their heirs and assigns forever, in as full, lawful, large and ample manner, to all intents, constructions and purposes whatsoever, as if the said lands and every part thereof had been purchased of the Indian sachems, by virtue of any grants or allowances obtained from the general assembly of this state after the granting the aforesaid charter: and whereas there is within several of the towns within this state considerable of lands lying yet common or undivided, and for the more orderly way and manner of the several proprietors, their managing the prudential affairs thereof, and for the more effectual making of just and equal division or divisions of the same, so that each and every of the proprietors may have their true and equal part or proportion of land, according to his or their proportion of right; and that the exact boundaries of each man's allotment when laid to him may be kept in perpetuum : SEC. 2. It is further ordained and enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful for the proprietors of each and every such town within this state, being convened by a warrant from under the hand and seal of an assistant or justice of the peace in such town, the occasion thereof being specified in the warrant, for them or the major part of them so met to choose and appoint a clerk and a surveyor or surveyors, and such and so many other officers as they shall judge needful and convenient for the orderly carrying on and management of the whole affairs of such community, and in like manner to proceed from time to time as often as need shall require. Passed May, 1682. Re-enacted 1822. An Act quieting Possessions and establishing Titles of Land within the towns of Bristol, Tiverton, Little Compton, Warren and Cumberland. SECTION 1. Grants of New-Plymouth, &c., confirmed. SECTION 2. Distribution of intestate estates. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, That all grants and conveyances of land heretofore made by the general assemblies of the late colony of New-Plymouth, the late colony of the Massachusetts, or by the province of the Massachusetts Bay, or by any commissioners, agents or persons by them or any of them duly appointed and authorized, or by any other authority derived from them or any of them, lying within any of the towns aforesaid, shall be as good, valid and effectual, to all intents and purposes whatsoever, to the grantees, their heirs or assigns, as if the lands so granted had really been situated in the colony or province by whom or by whose authority the same were made, and shall forever hereafter be so adjudged and construed in all courts of judicature in this state. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That all estates both real and personal left by persons who have died intestate before the publication of this act, and which lie or are within the bounds of the aforesaid towns, shall be distributed and settled among the children or legal representatives of such intestates, agreeably to the laws of the province of the Massachusetts Bay in force at the time of such intestates' death; which laws shall have the same force and effect in this state, in the trial of and settling and distributing such intestates' estates, as if the same were laws of this state duly made, and shall be so adjudged, construed and understood by all judges and ministers of justice in this state: and that the several town councils of the above mentioned towns be and they are hereby fully empowered and required to complete the distribution and settlement of such intestates' estates as aforesaid, which yet remain unsettled, in the same manner and as fully and effectually in all respects as the same could have been by the courts of probate had the said towns still remained within the province of the Massachusetts Bay. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That all grants, deeds, conveyances and land evidences whatsoever, that have heretofore been made of any lands within any of the aforesaid towns, and which were executed and registered according to the laws in force there at the time of making the same, shall be adjudged and deemed as good, valid and effectual, to all intents and purposes whatsoever, as if the same had been made, executed and recorded within and according to the laws of this state: and copies of all such grants, deeds, conveyances and land evidences, produced from and attested by such offices and officers where the same are registered, shall be received as lawful evidences by all courts in this state. Passed January, 1746. Re-enacted 1822. An Act to secure and appropriate the Touro Jewish Synagogue SECTION Fund. SECTION 3. Town council to recommend from time to time proper investment of fund.Town council to repair wall and bury. ing ground—may draw for interest of fund. Whereas it has been made to appear to this general assembly upon the representation of Titus Weeks, Esq., executor of the last will and testament of Abraham Touro, Esq., of the city of Boston, in the state of Massachusetts, that the said Abraham by his last will bequeathed a legacy in the following words, viz: Item. I give ten thousand dollars to the legislature of the state of Rhode-Island for the purpose of supporting the Jewish Synagogue in that state; in special trust to be appropriated to that object in such manner as the said legislature together with the municipal authority of the town of Newport may from time to time direct and appoint:" Therefore, SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, That said legacy and trust be and hereby are accepted by the general assembly; and the general treasurer is authorized and directed to apply for and receive from said executor the said legacy or donation of ten thousand dollars, to give all proper receipts and acquittances therefor upon receipt thereof, and as soon as possible to vest the same entire in the stock of some substantial bank or banks or in some of the United States stocks; and the certificates or evidences of such stock shall be carefully kept by said general treasurer in his office; and it shall be the duty of said general treasurer once in every year to report to the general assembly the state of said fund. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the town council of the town of Newport may, and it shall be their duty to cause all repairs to be made upon said synagogue, buildings and premises, which in their opinion may be necessary and proper; and whenever there shall be no person of the Jewish persuasion residing in Newport, and qualified and authorized to have the care and superintendence of said synagogue, said town council shall appoint some suitable person or persons for that purpose, with such compensation as said council with the approbation of the general assembly shall think reasonable: provided, that all accounts and charges for expenditures of every kind out of said fund shall be presented to the general assembly, and if approved of by them shall be paid by the general treasurer upon their order out of the interest or profits accruing on said fund: provided also, that nothing in this act shall be construed to authorize said town council or any other person whatever in any manner to interfere with or restrain the full and free exercise of the Jewish religion in said synagogue, by any individual of that faith residing in Newport, or to interrupt the possession, control and management with which the proprietors of said synagogue and premises, or any other persons according to the laws and customs of the Jews, may be invested. pro SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of said town council from time to time as occasion shall present, to recommend to the general assembly such disposition of the profits of said fund, and such measures and visions as in their opinion shall be best calculated to promote and fulfil the object and intention of the donor, the said Touro, as expressed in his said will, in supporting and advancing said Jewish institution. Passed June, 1823. An Act in addition to the act to secure and appropriate the Touro Jewish Synagogue Fund. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That it shall be the duty of the town council of the town of Newport from time to time as occasion may require, to cause all necessary repairs to be put upon the wall or fence enclosing the Jewish burying ground in Newport, appurtenant to said synagogue; and that said town council be authorized to draw upon the general treasurer for so much of the interest of said fund as may from time to time be necessary for that object. Passed June, 1827. |