Whereas the power given by Law to Overseers of Roads is found in some Counties to be inconvenient and oppressive for Remedy Whereof

Be it enacted by the Governor Council and Assembly and by the Authority of the same, That from and after passing this Act the County of Brunswick shall stand divided into three districts, that is to say the North West district Bounded by Bladen County to the North, the North West River to the East, Darby Eggin’s ferry cross North West River and the Seventeen Mile post standing on the North West Road to Brunswick to the South, and the Waggamaw Lake to the West, and that John Roan, Samuel Waters, Thomas Neale, Samuel Neale and William Davis Esquires be and are hereby Appointed Commissioners of the Roads in the said district. And that the Brunswick District be bounded to the North by the North West district, to the East by Cape Fear River, to the West by the Head of Lockwoods Folly River from thence to the Head of Elizabeth River, and to the South by Fort Johnston at the mouth of Cape Fear and Elizabeth Rivers, and that Robert Howe, John Davis, Richard Quince Junior, William Hill, and Robert Ellis Esquires be and are hereby appointed Commissioners of the Roads for the said district of Brunswick And that Lockwoods Folly district be bounded to the North by the upper part of Town Creek and the Waggamaw Swamp to the West by the province Line, to the East by the Bounds of Brunswick district and to the South by the Sea. And that Schinckingh Moore, William Lord, Isaac Marian, Edward Wingate and John Bell Esquires be and are hereby appointed Commissioners for Lockwoods Folly district And the said Commissioners of the Respective Districts, or the Majority of them are hereby Vested, with all powers, respecting Boads Bridges and clearing of Rivers and Creeks within their districts and they shall be subject to the same pains and penalties for neglect of duty as the Commissioners of Roads then being were Vested with and were liable to by an Act of Assembly of this province since repealed Intitled An Act for impowering the several Commissioners herein after named to make, mend and Repair all Roads, Bridges, Cuts and Water Courses already laid out in the Several Counties and districts herein after appointed in such manner as they judge most useful to the public. Provided nevertheless, That no person who by Law is liable to work on the Roads in any of the said districts shall be worked on any Road, River, and Creek more than twelve days in one Year, and in case the Commissioners of any of the said districts shall be sued or indicted on account of any Road River or Creek, and shall be able to prove that they have worked all the persons in their district liable thereto, twelve days in each Year on the Roads, Rivers and Creeks within their district such Commissioners so making proof as aforesaid shall be exempt from any recovery, Fine, or penalty whatsoever.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That in Case any Commissioner appointed by this Act, shall refuse to take upon him such office, or having accepted thereof shall die, and Remove himself out of his district, the remaining or Surviving Commissioner or Commissioners of such district are hereby required, impowered and directed to appoint another in his room, who shall have the same powers and shall be liable to the same pains and penalties as the Commissioners have and are liable to who are Appointed by this Act.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That this Act shall be and Continue in Force for one Year and from thence to the End of the Next Session of Assembly.

CO 5/340, fs. 102-104