1777 Pa. Laws 61 An Act, obliging the male white inhabitants of this state to give assurances of allegiance to the same, and for other purposes therein mentioned, ch. XXI, §§ 2, 4.

Sect. 2. . . . Therefore, Be it enacted by the representatives of this freemen of Pennsylvania, in general assembly met, and by the authority of the same, That all male white inhabitants of this state, (except of the counties of Bedford, Northumberland and Westmoreland) above the age of eighteen years, shall, on or before the first day of July next, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation before some one of the justices of the peace of the city or county where they shall respectively inhabit; and the inhabitants of the said counties of Bedford, Northumberland and Westmoreland, above the said age, shall, on or before the first day of August next, take and subscribe the said oath or affirmation . . . Sect. 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That every person above the age aforesaid refusing or neglecting to take and subscribe the said oath or affirmation, shall during the time of such neglect or refusal, be incapable of holding any office or place of trust in this state, serving on juries, suing for any debts, electing or being elected, buying, selling or transferring any lands, tenements or hereditaments, and shall be disarmed by the lieutenant or sublieutenants of the city or countries respectively.