Source: Colonial Records
Written: 1778

Acts of the North Carolina General Assembly, 1778
April 14, 1778 - May 02, 1778
Volume 24, Pages 154 - 183

CHAPTER XXIV.

An Act to impower the Justices of Duplin County to take into their Possession 
the Records of said County, now in the Possession of James Sampson.

I. Whereas it is represented by the Justices of Duplin County, that James 
Sampson, heretofore Clerk of the same County, upon the Appointment of William 
Dickson to that Office, refused to deliver up to the said Court the Records 
and other Papers belonging to the County; that among the said Records are many 
Wills, Inventories, and Settlements of Estates, which contain the only 
Evidence of the Property of great Numbers of Persons, particularly of Orphans; 
and that on the Dockets are many Suits yet undetermined, and many Judgments 
which remain unsatisfied, to the great Injury of the Inhabitants of the said 
County, and others: In order therefore that the Records may be restored to the 
proper Office, that the injured may be redressed, and the obstinate and wilful 
brought to a Sense of their Duty, and a proper Respect for the Laws;

II. Be it Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and 
it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same, That the Justices of the 
said County be appointed, and they, or any Three or more of them, are hereby 
authorized and impowered to demand and receive of and from the said James 
Sampson, and of and from every other Person or Persons who are or may be in 
Possession of the same, the Records and other Papers of the said County; and 
upon the Refusal or Neglect to deliver the same, then the said Justices, or 
any Three or more of them, shall and may issue their Warrant, directed to the 
Sheriff and other Officers of the same County, commanding him the said Sheriff 
or other Officers to take with him such Force as he may think necessary, and 
to apprehend the said James Sampson, and such other Person or Persons as may 
have the said Records, or any of them, in Possession, and him or them commit 
to the common Goal of the said County until the Records shall be produced and 
delivered up; and also impowering the Sheriff, and other Officers of the said 
County, to make diligent Search in all suspected Places within the same County 
for the said Records and Papers, and for that Purpose to break open Doors and 
Locks where they are suspected to be concealed.

III. And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That all Fees and 
Sums of Money which may hereafter be paid into the Court of Duplin County, 
upon any Suit depending, or Judgment not satisfied, on the Docket, detained by 
the said James Sampson, as well such Fees and Monies which are due to the said 
James Sampson as to others, shall be paid by the Clerk of the Court for the 
Time being to the Person or Persons to whom the same shall appear to be due.





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