Powder, MASS. ACTS (Rockwell & Churchill 1889) (Passed 1651).

"Powder.

VVHERAS by Favour of the Government in England, several quantities of Powder, and other Ammunition, are yearly Imported into this jurisdiction, for our necessary use and defence. To the end, the favour we receive, may not bee abused, nor our selves deprived of the just and necessary use thereof, It is hereby Ordered and Enacted, That all Merchants or others, that shall import into this Jurisdiction, either powder, lead, bullets, shot, or any ammunition whatsoever, shall give particular notice of the quantity thereof, to the publick Notary, upon the pain and penalty of fourty pounds, within one month after the landing of such goods, who is hereby enjoyned to take particular notice of the same, with the mark & number, and faithfully to enter the same in a book, and the names of the persons to whom they are sold, or into whose custody or power they are committed, that he may give account thereof, upon Oath to the Governour, Deputy Governour, or any of the Councill from time to time, and the said Notary is hereby prohibited upon the penalty of one hundred pounds, to grant Certificate to any Merchant or other, of any such goods but such as he shall have particular notice of, & entered as aforesaid. And to the end this Order may be duely observed, and that no person may plead ignorance thereof, It is hereby Ordered, That the Captain of the Castle, shall upon the arrivall of any ship or vessel, in the Massachusets Bay from any forreign parts, give notice of the Contents of this Order, to the Master or Merchant of any such vessels, and the Constables of all other Port townes in this jurisdiction, are hereby required to do the same
    2. And it is further Ordered, That no Perso (except for the defence of themselves and their vessels at Sea) shall transport any Gunpowder out of this jurisdiction, without License first obteined, from some two of the Magistrates, upon penalty of forfeiting all such powder, as shall be transporting or transported, or the value thereof;
    And that there may be no defect for want of an Officer to take care herein, This Court, the Court of Assistants, or any Shire Court, shall appoint meet Persons, from time to time in all needfull places who have hereby power granted them, to search all persons & vessels, that are or any way shall be suspicious to them, to be breakers of this Order, and what they find in any Vessel or bancs without licenses as aforesaid; to seize the same; and to keep the one half to their own use, in Recompence for their paines, and to deliver the other half forthwith unto the Treasurer. [1645, 51]."