We being fully satisfied, that Our Island of Jamaica, being a pleasant
and most fertile soyl, and scituate commodiously for Trade and
Commerce, is likely, through Gods blessing, to be a great Benefit and
Advantage to this and other Our Kingdoms and Dominions, have thought
fit, for encouraging of Our Subjects, as well such as are already
upon the said Island, as all others that shall transport themselves
thither, and Reside and Plant there, to declare and publish, And We
do hereby declare and publish, That Thirty Acres of Improveable Lands
shall be granted and allotted to every such Person, Male, or Female,
being Twelve years old or upwards, who now Resides, or within Two
years next ensuing, shall Reside upon the said Island, and that the
same shall be assigned and set out by the Governor and Council within
Six weeks next after notice shall be given in Writing, subscribed by
such Planter or Planters, or some of them, in behalf of the rest, to
the Governor, or such Officer as he shall appoint in that behalf,
signifying their resolutions to Plant there, and when they intend to
be on the place. And in case they do not go thither within Six moneths
then next ensuing, the said Allotment shall be void, and free to be
assigned to any other Planter; And that every person and persons to
whom such Assignment shall be made, shall hold and enjoy the said
Lands, so to be assigned, and all Houses, Edifices, Buildings, and
Inclosures, thereupon to be built or made, to them and their Heirs
for ever, be and under such Tenure as is usual in other Plantations
subject unto Us. Nevertheless they are to be obliged to serve in Arms
upon any Insurrection, Mutiny, or Foreign Invasion; and that the
said Assignments and Allotments shall be made and confirmed under
the publick Seal of the said Island, with power to create any Mannor
or Mannors, and with such convenient and suitable Priviledges and
Immunities as the Grantee shall reasonably devise and require; And a
draught of such Assignments shall be prepared by Our Learned Council in
the Law, and delivered to the Governor to that purpose; And that all
Fishings and Piscaries, and all Copper, Lead, Tin, Iron, Coals, and all
other Mines (except Gold and Silver) within such respective Allotments,
shall be enjoyed by the Grantees thereof, reserving only a Twentieth
part of the Product of the said Mines to Our use. And we do further
publish and declare, That all Children of any of Our Natural born
Subjects of England to be born in Jamaica, shall from their respective
Births be reputed to be, and shall be free Denizens of England, and
shall have the same Priviledges to all Intents and Purposes as Our
Free-born Subjects of England; And that all Free persons shall have
liberty without Interruption, to transport themselves and their
Families, and any their Goods (except only Coyn and Bullions) from any
of Our Dominions and Territories to the said Island of Jamaica. And we
do straitly charge and command all Planters, Soldiers, and others upon
the said Island, to yield obedience to the lawful Commands of Our Right
Trusty and Welbeloved Thomas Lord Windsor, now Our Governor of the
said Island, and to every other Governor thereof for the time being,
under pain of Our displeasure, and such penalties as may be inflicted
thereupon.
Given at Our Court at Whitehal the Fourteenth day of December, 1661.
In the Thirteenth year of Our Reign.[1]