An express arrived
last night from Maryland confirming the report of the repeal of the Stamp Act,
for which news the bells rang all day.
SOURCE: Jacob Cox
Parsons, Editor, Extracts from the Diary of Jacob Hiltzheimer, of
Philadelphia, 1765-1798, p. 11
This day received a
copy of the repeal of the Stamp Act on a half sheet paper from the printer, and
at night drank punch at Robert Erwin's with C. Gordon, James Pearson, and Mr.
Hutchins.
SOURCE: Jacob Cox
Parsons, Editor, Extracts from the Diary of Jacob Hiltzheimer, of
Philadelphia, 1765-1798, p. 11
To-night the
citizens in general illuminated their houses for the repeal of the Stamp Act.
SOURCE: Jacob Cox
Parsons, Editor, Extracts from the Diary of Jacob Hiltzheimer, of
Philadelphia, 1765-1798, p. 11
Have patience just to hear me out;
And I'll tell you what I've been about.
THE heroes of all Histories, Narratives, Adventures, Novels
and Romances, have, or are supposed to have ancestors, or some root from which
they sprang. I conclude, then, that it is not altogether inconsistent to
suppose that I had parents too. I shall not undertake to trace my pedigree
(like the Welsh) some thousand years beyond the creation; but just observe, that
my father was the son of a "substantial New-England farmer," (as we
Yankees say,) in the then Colony, but now State of Connecticut, and county of
Windham. When my father arrived at puberty he found his constitution too feeble
to endure manual labour, he therefore directed his views to gaining a
livelihood by some other means. He, accordingly, fitted himself for, and
entered as a student in Yale College, sometime between the years 1750 and '55.
My mother was likewise a "farmer's daughter;" her native place was in
the county of New-Haven, in the same State. She had a sister, married and
settled in the vicinity of the College, who often boarded the students when
sick. My father being once in that condition, and being at board at this
aunt's, my mother happened to be there on a visit: my father seeing her, it
seems, like a great many others in like circumstances, took a fancy to her,
followed up his courtship, and very possibly obtained her consent as well as
her parents—married her a year and a half before his collegial studies were
ended, which, (if known at the time,) would have been cause of his expulsion
from College; but it seems it never was known there, and he, of course, escaped
a keelhaling.
After my father left College, he studied divinity, had
"a call,” accepted it, and was settled in the county of Berkshire, in the
(now) Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as a gospel minister of the Congregational
order; in which county of Berkshire, I, the redoubtable hero of this Narrative,
first made my appearance in this crooked, fretful world, upon the twenty-first
day of November, in the year 1760. I have been told that the day on which I was
born was a thanksgiving day, which day is, generally, celebrated with good
cheer. One might have thought it a little ominous being born upon such a day,
but I can assure the reader it was no omen of good to me, especially for the
seven or eight years I was in the army—nor, indeed ever since.
My grandsire, on my mother's side, having at this time no
other daughter but my mother, (my aunt, mentioned above, being dead,) she of
course became the darling, for which reason, I suppose, I was his favourite
grandson, and received his christian and surnames as my given name.
I lived with my parents until I was upwards of seven years
old, when I went to live with this good old grandsire; for good he was,
particularly to me. He was wealthy, and I had every thing that was necessary
for life, and as many superfluities as was consistent with my age and station.
There were none belonging to the family, as constant residents, except the old
gentleman, lady and myself. It is true my grandsire kept me pretty busily
employed, but he was kind to me in every respect; always gave me a playday when
convenient, and was indulgent to me almost to a fault. Ah! I ought not to have
left him while he lived; I fouled my own nest most sadly when I did it; but
children "are full of notions."
I remember the stir in the country occasioned by the stamp
act, but I was so young that I did not understand the meaning of it; I likewise
remember the disturbances that followed the repeal of the stamp act, until the
destruction of the tea at Boston and elsewhere; I was then thirteen or fourteen
years old, and began to understand something of the works going on. I used,
about this time, to inquire a deal about the French war, as it was called,
which had not been long ended, my grandsire would talk with me about it while
working in the fields, perhaps as much to beguile his own time as to gratify my
curiosity. I thought then, nothing should induce me to get caught in the toils
of an army—“ I am well, so I'll keep," was my motto then, and it would
have been well for me if I had ever retained it.
Time passed smoothly on with me till the year 1774 arrived,
the smell of war began to be pretty strong, but I was determined to have no
hand in it, happen when it might; I felt myself to be a real coward. What—venture
my carcass where bullets fly! that will never do for me. Stay at home out of
harm's way, thought I, it will be as much to your health as credit to do so.
But the pinch of the game had not arrived yet; I had seen nothing of war
affairs, and consequently was but a poor judge in such matters.
One little circumstance that happened in the autumn of this
year, will exhibit my military prowess, at this time, in a high point of view.
In the afternoon, one Sabbath day, while the people were assembled at meeting,
word was brought that the British (regulars, as the good people then called
them) were advancing from Boston, spreading death and desolation in their route
in every direction. What was the intent of spreading this rumour, I know not,
unless it was to see how the people would stand affected; be it what it would,
it caused me a terrible fright. I went out of the house in the dusk of the
evening, when I heard the sound of a carriage on the road, in the direction of
Boston; I thought they were coming as sure as a gun; I shall be dead or a
captive before to-morrow morning; however, I went to bed late in the evening,
dreamed of "fire and sword," I suppose; waked in the morning, found
myself alive, and the house standing just where it did the evening before.
The winter of this year passed off without any very frightening alarms, and the spring of 1775 arrived. Expectation of some fatal event seemed to fill the minds of most of the considerate people throughout the country. I was ploughing in the field about half a mile from home, about the twenty-first day of April, when all of a sudden the bells fell to ringing, and three guns were repeatedly fired in succession down in the village; what the cause was we could not conjecture. I had some fearful forebodings that something more than the sound of a carriage wheel was in the wind. The regulars are coming in good earnest, thought I. My grandsire sighed, he "smelt the rat." He immediately turned out the team and repaired homeward. I sat off to see what the cause of the commotion was. I found most of the male kind of the people together; soldiers for Boston were in requisition. A dollar deposited upon the drum head was taken up by some one as soon as placed there, and the holder's name taken, and he enrolled, with orders to equip himself as quick as possible. My spirits began to revive at the sight of the money offered; the seeds of courage began to sprout; for, contrary to my knowledge, there was a scattering of them sowed, but they had not as yet germinated; I felt a strong inclination, when I found I had them, to cultivate them. O, thought I, if I were but old enough to put myself forward, I would be the possessor of one dollar, the dangers of war to the contrary notwithstanding; but I durst not put myself up for a soldier for fear of being refused, and that would have quite upset all the courage I had drawn forth.
The men that had engaged "to go to war" went as far as the next town, where they received orders to return, as there was a sufficiency of men already engaged, so that I should have had but a short campaign had I have gone.
This year there were troops raised both for Boston and New-York. Some from the back towns were billeted at my grandsire's; their company and conversation began to warm my courage to such a degree, that I resolved at all events to "go a sogering." Accordingly I used to pump my grandsire, in a roundabout manner, to know how he stood affected respecting it. For a long time he appeared to take but little notice of it. At length, one day, I pushed the matter so hard upon him, he was compelled to give me a direct answer, which was, that he should never give his consent for me to go into the army unless I had the previous consent of my parents. And now I was completely gravelled; my parents were too far off to obtain their consent before it would be too late for the present campaign. What was I to do? why, I must give up the idea, and that was hard; for I was as earnest now to call myself, and be called a soldier, as I had been a year before not to be called one. I thought over many things, and formed many plans, but they all fell through, and poor disconsolate I was forced to set down and gnaw my finger nails in silence.
I said but little more about "soldiering," until the troops raised in and near the town in which I resided, came to march off for New-York, then I felt bitterly again; I accompanied them as far as the town line, and it was hard parting with them then. Many of my young associates were with them, my heart and soul went with them, but my mortal part must stay behind. By and by they will come swaggering back, thought I, and tell me of all their exploits, all their "hairbreadth 'scapes," and poor Huff will not have a single sentence to advance. O, that was too much to be borne with by me.
The thoughts of the service still haunted me after the troops were gone, and the town clear of them; but what plan to form to get the consent of all, parents and grandparents, that I might procure thereby to myself, the (to me then) bewitching name of a soldier, I could not devise. Sometimes I thought I would enlist at all hazards, let the consequences be what they would; then again I would think how kind my grandparents were to me, and ever had been, my grandsire in particular: I could not bear to hurt their feelings so much. I did sincerely love my grandsire, my grandma'am I did not love so well, and I feared her less. At length a thought struck my mind: should they affront me grossly, I would make that a plea with my conscience to settle the controversy with. Accordingly, I wished nothing more than to have them, or either of them, give "His Honour" a high affront, that I might thereby form an excuse to engage in the service without their consent, leave or approbation.
It happened that in the early part of the autumn of this year, I was gratified in my wishes; for I thought I received provocation enough to justify me in engaging in the army during life; little thinking that I was inflicting the punishment on myself that I fancied I was laying on my grandparents for their (as I thought) wilful obstinacy. And as this affair was one, and the chief cause of my leaving those kind people and their hospitable house, and precipitating myself into an ocean of distress, I will minutely describe the affair.
My grandsire, as I have before observed, often gave me playdays, especially after the spring and fall sowing, when I went where I pleased, a gunning, or fishing, or to whatever recreation took my fancy. "This fall," said the old gentleman to me, one day,—"come, spring to it, and let us get the winter grain in as soon as possible, and you shall have a playday after the work is done." Accordingly, I did do the best I could to forward the business, and I believe I gave him satisfaction, for he repeated his promise to me often. Just before we had done sowing, I told him that all my young associates were going to New-Haven to commencement this season. "Well" said he, "you shall go too, if you chuse, and you shall have one of the horses, you shall have your choice of them, and I will give you some pocket money." Mighty well, thought I, I hope it will not prove delusive, I shall be happy indeed. Our young club often met in "caucus" to settle the mighty business of going to commencement, formed a thousand and one plans how we should enjoy ourselves-dropped them all successively, and formed as many more, until the time arrived for the consummation of our felicity. My grandsire had a piece of salt marsh about three miles from home, which he had mowed three or four days before the day arrived which was to make me completely happy, at least for a time. Two days previous he sent me to rake up the hay; I buffetted heat and mosquetoes, and got the hay all up; and as that sort of hay is not easily injured by the weather, I thought there was nothing to prevent my promised happiness.
Well, the day arrived; I got up early, did all the little
jobs about the place, that my grandsire might have nothing to accuse me of. He
had gone out during the morning and did not return till breakfast time. I was
waiting with impatience for his coming in, that I might prepare for my excursion,
when, lo, he did come, much to my sorrow; for the first words I heard, were,
'come, get up the team, I have gotten such a one,' naming a neighbour's boy,
somewhat older than myself, 'to go with us and cart home the salt hay.' Had
thunder and lightning fallen upon the four corners of the house, it would not
have struck me with worse feelings than these words of his did. Shame, grief,
spite, revenge, all took immediate possession of me. What could I do; go I
must, that was certain, there was no remedy; and go I did, but with a full
determination that the old gentleman should know that I had feelings of some
sort or other, let him think of me as he would. I, according to his orders,
prepared the team, he undertook to act teamster, and I sat off before them for
the marsh, alone, that I might indulge myself in my grief, without molestation.
The way to the marsh lay about a mile and a half on the highway to the college.
I had hardly got into the highway, before I was overtaken by a troop of my
young mates, all rigged off for commencement, swaggering like nabobs. The first
compliment was, "Hallo, where are you going; we thought you was one of the
foremost in the party; your grandsire never intended to let you go, and you was
a fool to believe him." I did not believe them; my grandsire had never
deceived me, in such circumstances before, and I was willing, even then, vexed
as I was, to attribute it to forgetfulness or to any thing but wilfulness.
However, I was baulked, no commencement for me; I considered myself as much
injured as though it had been done ever so designedly.
I, however, went to the marsh; my grandsire, team and boy
arrived soon after me; we put a load of hay upon the cart, and, as it was
getting rather late in the day, the old gentleman concluded to go home with the
team, and left the other youngster and me to pole the rest of the hay off the
marsh to the upland, as it was dangerous going upon the lower part of it, being
in many places soft and miry. He told us to go to some of the fences and cut a
pair of sassafras poles, those being light, and have the remainder of the hay
in readiness by his return.
And now comes the catastrophe of the play. I concluded, now
was the time for me to show my spunk; we went up to the upland, where was
plenty of fruit; I lay down under an apple tree and fell to eating, the other
boy eat too, but still urged me to obey my orders; I was resolved to disobey,
let the consequences be what they would. However, he, by his importunity, at
length got me down upon the marsh, we poled one cock of hay off the marsh, when
we saw the old gentleman coming, full drive, Jehu-like; down he came, when, lo
and behold, we had gotten one cock of hay only, in a condition to be taken upon
the cart; what was to be done to go on to the marsh was dangerous in the
extreme, to stop then to pole it off would not do, the time would not allow it.
O, my grandsire was in a woful passion. I stood aloof. Whose fault was it, he
inquired; the blame was quickly laid to my account, and justly too, for I was
the only culprit. The old gentleman came at me, hammer and tongs, with his six
feet cartwhip. Ah, thought I to myself, good legs, do your duty now, if ever; I
houghed the gravel, or rather the marsh, in good earnest. There were twenty
people, or more, near us at work; they all suspended their labour to see the
race. But I was too light-footed for the old gentleman, and the people on the
marsh setting up a laugh, it rather disconcerted him; he, however, chased me
about thirty or forty rods when he gave over the pursuit and returned, I ran as
much further before I dared to look back; but hearing no sound of footsteps
behind me, I at last ventured to look over my shoulder and saw him almost back
to his team; I followed him in my turn, but not quite so nimble as I went from
him. He endeavoured to spit a little of his spite upon the other youngster, but
he stept close up to him, so that he could not use his whip; and then plead his
own cause so well that the old gentleman said no more to him.
He then had to venture upon the marsh at all events. I took a
rake and raked after the cart, but took especial care to keep out of harm's
way, till the hay was all upon the cart; I was then called upon to help bind
the load; I complied, but I kept on tiptoe all the time, ready to start in case
I saw any symptoms of war; but all passed off—we got off the marsh safe and
without any hindrance; and it was well for me, after all, that we met with no
disaster.
And here ends my Introductory Chapter. If the reader thinks that some passages in it record incidents not altogether to my credit as a boy, I can tell him, that I thought at the time I did right, and, to tell the truth, I have not materially altered my opinion respecting them since. One thing I am certain of, and that is, reader, if you had been me you would have done just as I did. What reason have you then to cavil?
SOURCE: Joseph Plumb Martin, A Narrative of Some of the Adventures, Dangers and Sufferings of a Revolutionary Soldier, pp. 5-13
A vessel from Pool brought ye account of ye Repeal of the Stamp Act, ye 20th. Ye Town illuminated upon the occasion.
SOURCE: Henry D. Biddle, Editor, Extracts from the Journal of
Elizabeth Drinker from 1759 to 1807, A.D., p. 22
My newspaper was
delivered in the morning, being the last before the Stamp Act goes into force.
SOURCE: Jacob Cox
Parsons, Editor, Extracts from the Diary
of Jacob Hiltzheimer, of Philadelphia, 1765-1798, p. 9
Whereas, by an act made in the last session of Parliament, several duties were granted, continued, and appropriated towards defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the British colonies and plantations in America; and whereas it is first necessary, that provision be made for raising a further revenue within your majesty's dominions in America, towards defraying the said expenses; we, your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of Great Britain, in Parliament assembled, have therefore resolved to give and grant unto your majesty the several rights and duties hereinafter mentioned; and do most humbly beseech your majesty that it may be enacted, And be it enacted by the king'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 from and after the first day of November, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-five, there shall be raised, levied, collected, and paid unto his majesty, his heirs and successors, throughout the colonies and plantations in America, which now are, or hereafter may be, under the dominion of his majesty, his heirs and successors,
1. For every skin of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any declaration, plea, replication, rejoinder, demurrer, or other pleading, or any copy thereof, in any court of law within the British colonies and plantations in America, a stamp duty of three pence.
2. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written or printed, any special bail, and appearance upon such bail in any such court, a stamp duty of two shillings.
3. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which may be engrossed, written or printed, any petition, bill or answer, claim, plea, replication, rejoinder, demurrer, or other pleading in any court of chancery or equity within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of one shilling and sixpence.
4. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written or printed, any copy of any petition, bill, answer, claim, plea, replication, rejoinder, demurrer, or other pleading, in any such court, a stamp duty of three pence.
5. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written or printed, any monition, libel, answer, allegation, inventory, or renunciation in ecclesiastical matters, in any court of probate, court of the ordinary, or other court exercising ecclesiastical jurisdiction within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of one shilling.
6. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written or printed, any copy of any will, (other than the probate thereof,) monition, libel, answer, allegation, inventory, or renunciation, in ecclesiastical matters, in any such court, a stamp duty of sixpence.
7. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written or printed, any donation, presentation, collation, or institution, of or to any benefice, or any writ or instrument for the like purpose, any register, entry, testimonial, or certificate of any degree taken in any university, academy, college, or seminary of learning, within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of two pounds.
8. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any monition, libel, claim, answer, allegation, information, letter of request, execution, renunciation, inventory, or other pleading in any admiralty court within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of one shilling.
9. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which any copy of any such monition, libel, claim, answer, allegation, information, letter of request, execution, renunciation, inventory, or other pleading shall be engrossed, written, or printed, a stamp duty of sixpence.
10. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any appeal, writ of error, writ of dower, ad quod damnum, certiorari, statute merchant, statute staple, attestation, or certificate, by any officer, or exemplification of any record or proceeding, in any court whatsoever, within the said colonies and plantations, (except appeals, writs of error, certiorari, attestations, certificates, and exemplifications, for, or relating to, the removal of any proceedings from before a single justice of the peace,) a stamp duty of ten shillings.
11. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any writ of covenant, for levying fines, writ of entry for suffering a common recovery, or attachment issuing out of or returnable into any court within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of five shillings.
12. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any judgment, decree, or sentence, or dimission, or any record of nisi prius or postea, in any court within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of four shillings.
13. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any affidavit, common bail, or appearance, interrogatory, deposition, rule, order or warrant of any court, or any dedimus polestatem, capias, subpoena, summons, compulsory citation, commission, recognizance, or any other writ, process, or mandate, issuing out of, or returnable into, any court, or any office belonging thereto, or any other proceedings therein whatsoever, or any copy thereof, or of any record not herein before charged, within the said colonies and plantations, (except warrants relating to criminal matters, and proceedings thereon, or relating thereto,) a stamp duty of one shilling.
14. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any note or bill of lading, which shall be signed for any kind of goods, wares, or merchandise, to be exported from, or any cocket or clearance granted within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of four pence.
15. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, letters of mark or commission for private ships of war, within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of twenty shillings.
16. For every skin or piece of vellum, or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any grant, appointment, or admission of or to any public beneficial office or employment, for the space of one year, or any lesser time, or of above twenty pounds per annum, sterling money, in salary, fees, and perquisites within the said colonies and plantations, (except commissions and appointments of officers of the army, navy, ordnance, or militia, of judges, and of justices of the peace,) a stamp duty of ten shillings.
17. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which any grant of any liberty, privilege, or franchise, under the seal or sign manual of any governor, proprietor, or public officer, alone, or in conjunction with any other person or persons, or with any council, or any council and assembly, or any exemplification of the same, shall be engrossed, written, or printed, within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of six pounds.
18. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any license for retailing of spirituous liquors, to be granted to any person who shall take out the same, within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of twenty shillings.
19. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any license for retailing of wine, to be granted to any person who shall not take out a license for retailing of spirituous liquors, within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of four pounds.
20. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any license for retailing of wine, to be granted to any person who shall take out a license for retailing of spirituous liquors, within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of three pounds.
21. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any probate of will, letters of administration or of guardianship for any estate above the value of twenty pounds sterling money, within the British colonies and plantations upon the continent of America, the islands belonging thereto, and the Bermuda and Bahama islands, a stamp duty of five shillings.
22. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any such probate, letters of administration or of guardianship, within all other parts of the British dominions in America, a stamp duty of ten shillings.
23. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any bond for securing the payment of any sum of money, not exceeding the sum of ten pounds, sterling money, within the British colonies and plantations upon the continent of America, the islands belonging thereto, and the Bermuda and Bahama islands, a stamp duty of sixpence.
24. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any bond for securing the payment of any sum of money above ten pounds, and not exceeding twenty pounds, sterling money, within such colonies, plantations, and islands, a stamp duty of one shilling.
25. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any bond for securing the payment of any sum of money above twenty pounds, and not exceeding forty pounds, sterling money, within such colonies, plantations, and islands, a stamp duty of one shilling and sixpence.
26. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any order or warrant for surveying or setting out any quantity of land, not exceeding one hundred acres, issued by any governor, proprietor, or any public officer, alone, or in conjunction with any other person or persons, or with any council, or any council and assembly, within the British colonies and plantations in America, a stamp duty of sixpence.
27. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written or printed, any such order or warrant for surveying or setting out any quantity of land above one hundred and not exceeding two hundred acres, within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of one shilling.
28. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any such order or warrant for surveying or setting out any quantity of land above two hundred and not exceeding three hundred and twenty acres, and in proportion for every such order or warrant for surveying or setting out every other three hundred and twenty acres, within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of one shilling and sixpence.
29. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any original grant or any deed, mesne conveyance, or other instrument whatsoever, by which any quantity of land, not exceeding one hundred acres, shall be granted, conveyed, or assigned, within the British colonies and plantations upon the continent of America, the islands belonging thereto, and the Bermuda and Bahama islands, (except leases for any term not exceeding the term of twenty-one years) a stamp duty of one shilling and sixpence.
30. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any such original grant, or any such deed, mesne conveyance, or other instrument whatsoever, by which any quantity of land, above one hundred and not exceeding two hundred acres, shall be granted, conveyed, or assigned, within such colonies, plantations and islands, a stamp duty of two shillings.
31. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any such original grant, or any such deed, mesne conveyance, or other instrument whatsoever, by which any quantity of land, above two hundred, and not exceeding three hundred and twenty acres, shall be granted, conveyed, or assigned, and in proportion for every such grant, deed, mesne conveyance, or other instrument, granting, conveying, or assigning, every other three hundred and twenty acres, within such colonies, plantations, and islands, a stamp duty of two shillings and sixpence.
32. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any such original grant, or any such deed, mesne conveyance, or other instrument whatsoever, by which any quantity of land, not exceeding one hundred acres, shall be granted, conveyed, or assigned, within all other parts of the British dominions in America, a stamp duty of three shillings.
33. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any such original grant, or any such deed, mesne conveyance, or other instrument whatsoever, by which any quantity of land, above one hundred and not exceeding two hundred acres, shall be granted, conveyed, or assigned, within the same parts of the said dominions, a stamp duty of four shillings.
34. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any such original grant, or any such deed, mesne conveyance, or other instrument whatsoever, by which any quantity of land, above two hundred and not exceeding three hundred and twenty acres, shall be granted, conveyed, or assigned, and in proportion for every such grant, deed, mesne conveyance, or other instrument, granting, conveying, or assigning every other three hundred and twenty acres, within the same parts of the said dominions, a stamp duty of five shillings.
35. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any grant, appointment, or admission, of or to any beneficial office or employment, not herein before charged, above the value of twenty pounds per annum sterling money, in salary, fees, and perquisites, or any exemplification of the same, within the British colonies, and plantations upon the continent of America, the islands belonging thereto, and the Bermuda and Bahama islands, (except commissions of officers of the army, navy, ordnance, or militia, and of justices of the peace,) a stamp duty of four pounds.
36. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any such grant, appointment, or admission, of or to any such public beneficial office or employment, or any exemplification of the same, within all other parts of the British dominions in America, a stamp duty of six pounds.
37. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any indenture, lease, conveyance, contract, stipulation, bill of sale, charter party, protest, articles of apprenticeship, or covenant, (except for the hire of servants not apprentices, and also except such other matters as herein before charged,) within the British colonies and plantations in America, a stamp duty of two shillings and sixpence.
38. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which any warrant or order for auditing any public accounts, beneficial warrant, order, grant, or certificate, under any public seal, or under the seal or sign manual of any governor, proprietor, or public officer, alone, or in conjunction with any other person or persons, or with any council, or any council and assembly, not herein before charged, or any passport or letpass, surrender of office, or policy of assurance, shall be engrossed, written, or printed, within the said colonies and plantations, (except warrants or orders for the service of the army, navy, ordnance, or militia, and grants of offices under twenty pounds per annum, in salary, fees, and perquisites,) a stamp duty of five shillings.
39. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any notarial act, bond, deed, letter of attorney, procuration, mortgage, release, or other obligatory instrument, not herein before charged, within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of two shillings and three pence.
40. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any register, entry, or enrollment of any grant, deed, or other instrument whatsoever, herein before charged, within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of three pence.
41. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any register, entry, or enrollment of any grant, deed, or other instrument whatsoever, not herein before charged, within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of two shillings.
42. And for and upon every pack of playing cards, and all dice, which shall be sold or used within the said colonies and plantations, the several stamp duties following; (that is to say;)
43. For every pack of such cards, one shilling.
44. And for every pair of such dice, ten shillings.
45. And for and upon every paper called a pamphlet, and upon every newspaper, containing public news, or occurrences, which shall be printed, dispersed, and made public, within any of the said colonies and plantations, and for and upon such advertisements as are hereinafter mentioned, the respective duties following; (that is to say;)
46. For every such pamphlet and paper, contained in a half sheet, or any lesser piece of paper, which shall be so printed, a stamp duty of one half-penny for every printed copy thereof.
47. For every such pamphlet and paper, (being larger than half a sheet, and not exceeding one whole sheet,) which shall be so printed, a stamp duty of one penny for every printed copy thereof.
48. For every pamphlet and paper, being larger than one whole sheet, and not exceeding six sheets in octavo, or in a lesser page, or not exceeding twelve sheets in quarto, or twenty sheets in folio, which shall be so printed, a duty after the rate of one shilling for every sheet of any kind of paper which shall be contained in one printed copy thereof.
49. For every advertisement to be contained in any gazette, newspaper, or other paper, or any pamphlet which shall be so printed, a duty of two shillings.
50. For every almanac or calendar for any one particular year, or for any time less than a year, which shall be written or printed on one side only of any one sheet, skin or piece of paper, parchment, or vellum, within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of two pence.
51. For every other almanac, or calendar, for any one particular year, which shall be written or printed within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of four pence.
52. And for every almanac or calendar, written or printed in the said colonies and plantations, to serve for several years, duties to the same amount respectively shall be paid for every such year.
53. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which any instrument, proceeding, or other matter or thing aforesaid, shall be engrossed, written, or printed, within the said colonies and plantations, in any other than the English language, a stamp duty of double the amount of the respective duties before charged thereon.
54. And there shall be also paid, in the said colonies and plantations, a duty of sixpence for every twenty shillings, in any sum not exceeding fifty pounds sterling money, which shall be given, paid, contracted, or agreed for, with or in relation to any clerk, or apprentice, which shall be put or placed to or with any master or mistress, to learn any profession, trade, or employment. II. And also a duty of one shilling for every twenty shillings, in any sum exceeding fifty pounds which shall be given, paid, contracted, or agreed for, with, or in relation to, any such clerk or apprentice.
55. Finally the produce of all the aforementioned duties shall be paid into his majesty's treasury; and there held in reserve, to be used, from time to time, by the Parliament, for the purpose of defraying the expenses necessary for the defence, protection, and security of the said colonies and plantations.
SOURCE: Donald E. Smith, PhD., Editor-In-Chief, The New Larned History for Ready Reference, Reading and Research, Vol. 10, pp. 8527-30
