To establish and incorporate the Town of Shieldsborough.
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Mississippi in General Assembly convened, That the place situated on the West side of the Bay St. Louis, in the County of Hancock, known by the name of Shieldsborough, is hereby declared to be a town, under the name of Shieldsborough; and it shall be the duty of the owners, thereof, to deposite in the clerk’s office of the county court of the county aforesaid, within six months after the passage of this act, a plat of said town.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the town of Shieldsborough be, and the same is hereby incorporated, and the citizens of said town are hereby authorized, on the first Monday in April, annually, at the court house in said town, to vote for five persons, inhabitants of said town, as trustees; a majority of whom shall constitute a quorum to do business: also a town treasurer, assessor and collector, to serve for the term of one year, which said election shall be superintended by a justice of the peace, and shall commence at ten o’clock in the forenoon, and close at three o’clock in the afternoon of the same day.
Sect 3. And be it further enacted, That the said trustees shall be a body corporate and politic, by the name and style of the Trustees of the town of Shieldsborough, and as such, they and their successors shall be capable, in law, of suing and being sued, of pleading and being impleaded [sic], defend and defended, in all manner of suits and actions, in either law or equity; and also, to do all acts which are incident to bodies corporate and politic.
Sect 4. And be it further enacted, That a majority of said trustees, at heir first or any subsequent meeting, in each and every year, have power and authority, to raise such sum or sums of money, as they shall think necessary for the well regulation of said town; which sum or sums shall be assessed upon the land holders, freeholders and householders within the said town, but the assessor, according to regulations to be established by the trustees, and collected by the collector, by such a time, and be paid and disposed of in such a manner, as the said trustees shall provide; provided such sum shall not, in any one year exceed one half of the amount directed by law to be collected as a state tax, on persons and property within said town; but if that sum be insufficient to answer the purpose of well regulating the said town, it shall be lawful for a majority of said trustees to call a meeting of the landholders, freeholders and householders of said town, by giving a five days previous notice of such meeting , and the said landholders, freeholders and householders, by a majority of votes, may order and direct, that a further sum be raised, as to them may appear expedient; which further sum or sums shall be assessed, collected and paid, as shall be directed by the said trustees.
Sect 5. And be it further enacted, That all free white male inhabitants, subject to taxation, who shall be in the occupancy of a room or rooms, separate and apart to himself, shall be deemed a householder, with the meaning of this act, and shall be entitled to vote at the town elections.
Sect 6. And be it further enacted, That the said trustees shall meet, on their own adjournment, and have power, from time to time, to make such laws and regulations, in writing, as to them may appear expedient, for the well regulation and good government of said town; provided such laws and regulations are not inconsistent with the laws of this state they shall also have power, and they are hereby authorized to impose reasonable fines against and upon all persons who shall offend against the laws and regulations made by the trustees, and all such fines to demand and recover, before any justice of the peace, or court of record, having jurisdiction of such sums.
Sect 7. And be it further enacted, That in case of death, resignation or removal from town, of any of the trustees, that then the citizens shall have authority to elect such persons as they may think proper, to fill the vacancy, at such time and place as the balance of said trustees may appoint by advertisement at the court house, and such other public place, within said town, as they may think proper.
Tho. Barnes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives
David, Stewart,
President of the Senate and Lieut. Governor
Approved, 21st day of January, 1818
David Holmes,
Governor of the State of Mississippi