THE GOVERNOUR AND COMPANY Of the MASSACHUSETS BAY in New-England. AT A General Court Held at Boston, by Adjournment from the 28th of January to the 18th of March, 1684.
WHereas this Court, for the prevention of Questions a [...] Suits at Law, that might arise upon Deeds and Conveyances of Houses and Lands, wherein the word [ Heir] [...] omitted, whenas an Estate of Inheritance was intended [...] be passed, did by the Law, title Conveyances, Deeds a [...] Writings, Sect. 2 d. order, that in all Deeds and Conveyances of Houses an [...] Lands in this Jurisdiction, wherein an Estate of Inheritance is to be passed, shall be expressed in these words, or to the like effect, viz. To Have and to Ho [...] the said House or Lands respectively to the Party or Grantee, his Heirs [...] Assignes for ever: and therein provided that that Law should not extend [...] any Land granted or to be granted by the Inhabitants of a Town; there [...] intending (although it is not so plainly expressed) that such Graunts of La [...] by Towns are an Estate in fee simple notwithstanding the words He [...] and Assignes for ever are therein omitted; the aforesaid Law being intend [...] for the Direction of private Persons only in their particular Deeds and Conveyances of Land frome one to another.
A S an Explanation of the said Law, title Conveyances, Deeds and Writing [...] and Addition thereunto: It is therefore by this Court and the Authority thereof Ordered, Enacted and Declared, that all such Orders or Graun [...] of Land heretofore made by this Court, or by any Town or Towns in th [...] Jurisdiction, were and are intended, and shall be Construed and Adjudged [...] the Law to be an Estate in fee simple, and are hereby confirmed to the sa [...] Persons and Townships their Heirs and Assignes respectively for ever; Provide [...] alwayes, that such Graunts as do expresly declare otherwayes; viz. to be [...] Term of Life, or for Term of Years, or during Pleasure, or the like, shall [...] be included in this Explanation or Law.
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