is to say, they shall and may, on or before the first Monday of September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hun dred and twelve, procure two books and enter therein as follows Books to be "We whose names are hereunto subscribed, do promise to pay procured. to the president, managers and company, for erecting a bridge Entry therein. over the river Susquehanna, at the Great Bend, in the county district of Susquehanna, the sum of fifty dollars for every share of stock in the said company set opposite to our respective names, in such manner and proportions and at such times as shall be determined by the president and managers, in pursuance of an act of the general assembly, entitled "An act to authorize the governor to incorporate a company for erecting a bridge over the river Susquehanna, at the Great Bend, where the ferry is now kept, opposite the houses of Abraham Dubois and Sylvanus Hatch, in the district of Willingborough, and county district of Susquehanna. Witness our hands the day of in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and books. One of the " and thereupon shall give notice in one of the public news- Notice to be papers printed at Philadelphia, and one or more of the newspa- given of the pers printed in the borough of Wilkesbarre, for one calendar opening of the month at least, of the times and places in the city of Philadelphia, and in the borough of Wilkesbarre, when and where the said books shall be opened to receive subscriptions for the stock of said company; at which respective times and places some one of the said commissioners shall attend, and shall permit all per-ers to attend. sons who shall offer to subscribe in the said books, which shall Who may subfor that purpose be kept open at least six hours in every juridi- scribe, cal day, for the space of at least three juridical days, if three days be necessary, and in any of the said juridical days within the hours aforesaid, any person of the age of twenty-one years, shail have liberty to subscribe in his own name, or in the name or names of any other person or persons, by whom he shall be au commission. number of shares. thorized, for one share; on the second day, for one or two shares; and for what on the third day, for two or three shares; on any succeeding day while the said books shall remain open, for any number of shares in said stock; and if at the expiration of the said three first days, the said book opened at Philadelphia, shall not have subscribed fifty shares therein, or the book opened at the house of Abraham Dubois, at the Great Bend, shall not have one hundred and fifty shares therein subscribed, the said commissioners Commissioners may adrespectively, may adjourn from time to time, until the said numjourn. ber of shares shall be subscribed, of which adjournment public notice shall be given at each place; and when the said subscriptions in the said books shall amount to the respective numbers aforesaid, the same shall be closed; and if before the said sub- When the books shall be scription shall be declared to be full, application shall be made to closed. subscribe more shares than will fill the said books, or either of them, the said commissioners respectively, shall apportion the Shares may ed whole number of shares at such respective place, among all those be apportion- who shall have subscribed, or offer to subscribe as aforesaid, on that day, at such place, by deducting from the subscribers of more shares than one, such proportion of the shares by them respectively subscribed, as will leave every person one or more shares; but if after any one of the said books shall have been opened, at any one of the respective places aforesaid, for the space of ninety days, the whole number of shares to the said places herein before respectively allotted, shall not have been subscribed, the Books may be said book or books may be respectively transferred to any place transferred. in the county of Luzerne and there kept open as aforesaid until the said subscription shall be full as aforesaid, public notice being given thereof, at the places whence, and whereto, the said books shall be respectively transferred: Provided always, that every person offering to subscribe in the said books, in his own name, or in the name of any other person, shall previously pay to the attending commissioner, or commissioners, taking such subscrip tion, five dollars on each share, to be subscribed, which money shall go to defray the expenses of the commissioner or commissioners, and the residue thereof, if any there should be, shall be paid over to the treasurer of the corporation, as soon as the same shall be organized, and the officers chosen as hereinafter mentioned. Five dollars to be paid on subscribing. How appro priated. When subscriptions shall be cer tified to the governor. SECT. II. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That when twenty or more persons shall have subscribed one hundred shares in the said books, the said commissioners respectively may, and when the whole number of shares shall be subscribed, shall, certify under their hands and seals, the names of the subscribers, and the number of shares subscribed by, or apporwho shall tioned to each subscriber, to the governor, and thereupon it shall thereupon in- be lawful for the governor, by letters patent under his hand, and corporate the the seal of the state, to erect and create the subscribers, and if subscribers. the said subscriptions be not full at the time, then as well Style of the company. those who have already subscribed, as those who shall afterwards subscribe to the number aforesaid, into one body politic and corporate in deed and in law, by the name, style and title of, "The president, managers and company for erecting a bridge over the river Susquehanna, at the Great Bend, in the district of Willingborough, and county district of Susquehanna ;" and by the said name the subscribers shall have perpetual succession, and all the of the corpo- privileges and franchises incident to a corporation; and shall be Privileges and powers ration. capable of taking and holding their said capital stock, and the convenient to them in the prosecution of their works; and the same to sell and dispose of at their pleasure; and of suing and being sued; and of doing all and every other matter and thing, which a corporation or body politic, may lawfully do. Officers to be chosen. SECT. III. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, Notice to be That the four persons first named in the letters patent, as soon given of oras conveniently may be, after sealing the same, shall give notice ganizing the in two or more of the public newspapers, in the city of Philadel- company. phia, and also in one or more of the newspapers in the borough of Wilkesbarrè, of a time and place by them to be appointed, not less than thirty days from the time of issuing the first notice; at which time and place, the said subscribers shall proceed to organize the said corporation, and shall choose by a majority of votes of the said subscribers, by ballot, to be delivered in person or by proxy, duly authorized, one president, six managers, one treasurer, and such other officers as they shall think necessary to conduct the business of said company, for one year; and until such other officers shall be chosen; and may make such by-laws, rules, orders and regulations, not inconsistent with the laws, and constitution of this state, or the United States, as shall be necessary for the well ordering the affairs of said company; and generally to have all the powers, authorities and privileges, necessary for erecting, completing, maintaining, and keeping in repair the said bridge; and be entitled to receive and collect the same rates of tolls; and be subject to all the duties, qualifications, restric, tions, penalties, fines and forfeitures, which are given and granted, or imposed upon the president, managers and company, incorporated to erect a bridge over the river Delaware, at the borough of Easton, in the county of Northampton, in virtue of an act of assembly passed on the thirteenth day of March, anno Domini, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five: Provided Who shall be that no toll shall be demanded, or taken from any person or per- frem exempted sons attending funerals; or going to or returning from church, or meeting on Sunday; from persons belonging to the militia in going to and returning from muster on days of training; or from children passing to and from school, JOHN TOD, Speaker of the House of Representatives. P. C. LANE, Speaker of the Senate. APPROVED the third day of February, one thousand eight hun dred and twelve. SIMON SNYDER, E of Eleanor Houltz and her husband, annulled, CHAPTER XXIV. An ACT dissolving the marriage of Eleanor Houltz, and Abraham WHEREAS it appears to the legislature, that Eleanor Donaldson was, on the seventh day of February, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, married to Abraham Houltz, with whom she lived eleven years and nine months, in which time they had seven children; and that about the sixteenth of August, eighteen hundred and eight, the said Abraham left the said Eleanor, his lawful wife, and five small children, to conflict with poverty and distress; and that some time in the month of October, in the same year, the said Abraham Houltz, who then called himself Abraham Woods, was married to another woman; and it further appears that the said Eleanor is a woman of good moral character: Therefore, SECT. I. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in general assembly The marriage met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the marriage contract entered into by the said Eleanor Houltz, and Abraham Houltz, her husband, be and the same is hereby declared to be null and void; and she is hereby set free, and discharged from the marriage contract, and all the duties arising unBut not to af der the same, as fully and absolutely, as if she had never been fect the legit joined in marriage; but nothing herein contained shall be conimacy of the children. strued to affect, or render illegitimate, any child or children, born of the body of the said Eleanor, during the coverture. JOHN TOD, Speaker of the House of Representatives. P. C. LANE, Speaker of the Senate. APPROVED the third day of February, one thousand eight hun dred and twelve. SIMON SNYDER. 40 dollars to be paid to Bridget Bru ton; and an annuity of 20 dollars. CHAPTER XXV. An ACT for the relief of the widow of Joseph Bruton, deceased, a soldier, who received a wound in the revolutionary war. SECT. I. BE it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in general assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the state treasurer be and he is hereby directed to pay Bridget Bruton, widow of Joseph Bruton, deceased, or her lawful attorney, the sum of forty dollars, out of any unappropriated money in the treasury; and an annuity of twenty dollars for the use of said Bridget Bruton, to be paid half yearly to Joseph Clunn of the borough of Bristol, his executor or executors, administrator or as trustee. administrators, his or their lawful attorney, to commence on To be paid to the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and Joseph Clunn twelve; which annuity shall be expended by the said Joseph Clunn, his executor or executors, administrator or administra. How to be tors, his or their lawful attorney, in providing comfortable appropriated. lodging, clothing and diet, for the said Bridget Bruton, and it shall be the duty of the said Joseph Clunn, his executor or Accounts of, executors, administrator or administrators, his or their lawful to be submit attorney, to make an annual return to the orphans' court of ted to the or Bucks county, on oath or affirmation, how, and in what manner phans' court, he or they have executed the trust, in him or them confided by this act; and any duty performed by the clerk of the said court, relative to the said return, shall be done without fee or reward. JOHN TOD, Speaker of the House of Representatives. P. C. LANE, Speaker of the Senate. APPROVED the third day of February, one thousand eight &c. hundred and twelve. SIMON SNYDER. CHAPTER XXVI. An ACT to regulate voting by proxy, in the several incorporated banks within this commonwealth. one year from SECT. I. BE it enacted by the senate and house of representa tives of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in general assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That Proxies shall from and after the passing of this act, all power to vote by not vote, after proxy for any bank directors, shall be obtained, and dated the date of within one year previous to the time of holding the election, their authori at which such proxy shall be presented; and no transfer, or ties, &c. extension thereof, to a third person shall be admitted; any law or usage to the contrary notwithstanding. JOHN TOD, Speaker of the House of Representatives. P. C. LANE, Speaker of the Senate. APPROVED the third day of February, one thousand eight hundred and twelve. SIMON SNYDER. CHAPTER XXVII. An act granting an annuity to John McGuire, a disabled revolutionary soldier. WHEREAS it satisfactorily appears to the legislature, that John M'Guire served in the army during the war; had |