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Anno Duodecimo Georgi II Regis
(Copy of an Act of Naturalization)
    An Act for the better enabling divers Inhabitants of the Province of Pennsylvania, to trade and hold Land within the said Province.
    Whereas, by the Royal Charter of the late King Charles the Second, to William Penn, Esq; late Proprietary and Governour of the Province of Pennsylvania, Licence is granted to all Persons not specially forbidden, to transport themselves and Families into the said Province, in such Shipping as by the Laws of the Kingdom of England they ought to use, paying the customs therefore due, and here to settle themselves, dwell and inherit, and plant for the publick and their own private Advantage; with License to purchase and hold Lands in Fee-simple, or otherwise, of the said Proprietary with a purpose to inhabit, or trade with the Natives of this Country, to load, freight, and transport, all and singular their Goods, Wares and Merchandizes, not prohibted by the Laws and Statutes of England, into any Ports whatsoever of the said late King, his Heirs and Successors, according to the Laws made or to be made within the said Kingdom of England, saving always to the said late King, his Heirs and successors, the legal Impositions, Customs, or other Duties, due or to become due by any Law or Statute for the said Wares or Merchandizes, as by the said Royal Charter, among other things, may more fully appear.

And whereas:
 

Michael Albert William Albert Leonhard Bender George Miller John Bushung
Nicholas Candle John Hagey Charles Keller Stephen Remsberger Ludovick Dettenburn
Jacob Bare, jr. John Leiberger Michael Becker John Peter Cooher Christian Lawer
John Libough Bartholomew Shaver Caspar Stump Jacob Becker Tobais Pickle
Peter Rutt George Klein Paul Tittenhoffer Matthias Ties George Ludovick Horst
Sebastian Graff Johan Henry Basseler Matthias Jung Jacob Schlong Henry Michael Immel
Felix Miller Martin Weybrecht Fredrick Eighelberger Sebastian Fink Hans Adam Schreiner
Christian Lang Caspar Tiller Anthony Bretter Leonhard Ellmaker Andreas Bersinger
Hans Graff Jacob Hartman Theophilus Hartman Tehohilus Hartman, jr Benjamin Witmer
Abraham Witmer Johannes Pinkley Turst Buckwalter Henry Neaf, jr Valentine Hergelrat
Henry Basseler Johan Stetler Leonhard Romler Leonhard Heyer Peter Schell
Johan Nohaker Nicholas Miller  Hohan Hock Thomas Knoppenheffer Michael Knoppenhefer
Christian Leaman George Unrook Jacob Scheffer Valentine Keffer Jacob Etshberger
Herman Walburn Caspar Reed Christian Manusmith Nicholas Kutts George Weyrick
Christopher Ley Jaocb Lower Hans Moor Johannes Blum George Steitz
Erasmus Buckenmeyer George Graff

inhabitants of the county of Lancaster; being of the Protestant or Reformed Religion, and subjects of the Emperor of Germany, and other Princes, now in amity with the King of Great Britain, having transported themselves with their families and efects into this province, and being desirous to be made partakers of the immunities, belonging to the natural born subjects of this province; and to be more effectually secured of those privileges and advantages granted by his said late Majesty King Charles the Second, to persons coming into this Province to settle and inhabit, they having (as a testimony of their fidelity and affection to his present Majesty King George the Second and the Crown of Great Britain) taken the qualification to his Majesty and his government by law appointed and enjoined to be taken, obtained leave to bring in this bill to the present Assembly.
    Therefore may it please the Governor that it may be enacted.  And be it enacted by George Thomas, Esq., Lieutenant Governor with the Royal approbation, under the honourable John Penn, thomas Penn, and Richard Penn, Esqs., true and absolute Proprietaries and Governors of the Province of Pennsylvania, that they the said (THE ABOVE LIST REPEATS ITSELF) inhabitants of the county of Lancaster; and every of them, are hereby declared, and shall at all times hereafter be esteemed and taken, to all intents and purpoese, to be and to have been, since their first arrival in this Province, free and fully able, and capable to trade, triffick, load, freight, and transport all and all manner of Goods, Wares and Merchandizes, not by law prohibites to be imported or exported, as if they and every of them had been the natural liege people and subjects of the king of Great Gritain, born in this Province of Pennsylvania; and also they and each of them sahll and are hereby enabled, and adjudged able to all intents, constructions and purposes whatsoever, as well to demand, take, have and enjoy any privileges and immunities belonging to his Majesty's Liege People, and Natural Subjects of this Province, as also to have and enjoy all lands and tenements, and all other hereditaments, by way of purchase of gift, of any person or persons whatsoever; and also to prosecute, pursue, maintain, avow end justify all and all manner of actions, suits and causes, and all other things to do, as lawfully, freely and fully, as if they and every of them had been and were born Natural Subjects of this Province, or as any other Person or Persons born within the Province may lawfully in any wise do, any Law, Custom or Usage to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.

                                                                                                                        Indorsed
                                                                                                                            Philadel'Y, the 18 of September.  Then recived of Abraham Witmer the sum of one povnd and two shillings (and one pound before) which is in full for his Naturalization.  I say recived by me, Christian Grassold, Collector.
 

Authentic History of Lancaster County
by J I Mombert (1869)

© Brenda Creasy
 

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