Plus Lands Act 1703
PLUS LANDS ACT 1703 | ||
CHAP. VIII. | ||
An Act for quieting possessions, and disposing of the undisposed and plus acres. | ||
Plus acres (lands undisposed of, residue whereof granted by patent) vested in persons in possession thereof first October 1702, and their heirs. | ||
Liable to quit-rent only, pro raid. | ||
Chief governors and six of privy council may in three years summarily hear and determine claims to said possession: | ||
their decree (which shall ascertain the quit-rent final, and as sufficient as if the lands granted by patent. | ||
WHEREAS it will very much tend to the prosperity of this kingdom, which hath been almost ruined by the frequent rebellions of Irish papists, and to the increase of your Majesty’s revenue, that your good subjects be quieted in their possessions, and incouraged to plant and improve the country; her Majesty at the humble sute of her subjects is graciously pleased that it may be enacted, be it enacted by the Queen’s most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal and commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the lands called plus lands or plus acres, which are parcels of denominations of lands undisposed of, where the residue of such denominations have been granted to one or more by patent, shall be vested in such person or persons, who on the first day of October one thousand seven hundred and two were in possession of such plus acres by themselves, their tenants or undertenants, or those deriving by, from, or under them, in their right, or under pretence or colour thereof, which said person or persons shall and may hold and enjoy such plus acres to them and their heirs for ever; liable nevertheless to such quit-rent, from the said first day of October for the same, pro ratn. as is payable out of the other part of such denominations, and to no other rent whatsoever: and to the end the same may the better be put in charge, and that all controversics and disputes about the possession of such plus acres may be prevented, or soon determined, the chief governor or governors of this kingdom for the time being, and fix or more of the privy council, are hereby impowered and authorized within three years summarily to hear and determine the respective claims of the several pretenders to the possession of the said plus acres on the said first day of October one thousand seven hundred and two, and to swear and examine witnesses to ascertain the fees in all offices relating to such claims, and the inrolment thereof, and to do whatever else shall be necessary to a judicial determination of such possession; and their decree, which shall always ascertain the quit-rent, and be entered and inrolled in the auditor general’s office, shall be final and conclusive to all parties, and shall be as good and sufficient in all courts and places, as if the said lands had been granted by letters patents. |