A.D. 1700. Anno undecimo 6c duodecimo Gulielmi III. C. 21: 57 Wherrymen and Watermen ; and the faid Wherrymen, Watermen, and Lightermen, are declared to be, and are hereby made and conftituted, one Society and Company, and as fuch fhall be hereafter deemed and taken. II. And be it enabled by the Authority aforefaid. That all and every Perfon and Perfons, who now Lightermen tobe Jceep, or fhall hereafter keep or work, or mall be employed in rowing or any ways navigating any Lighter regifoed at Wa- or Lighters, or other great Craft, on the River of Tbarms {Trinity Men, Fifhermen, Ballad Men, '«^™3"3 Hall. Weftern Barges, and Mill Boats, Chalk Hoys, Faggot and Wood Lighters, and other Craft carrying the fame excepted) fhall be duly and truly regiftred in a Book or Books for that Purpofe to be kept by Exception, the Company of Watermen and Lightermen, and fhall likewife be liable to fuch Orders, Rules and Con- See 4 Anns, c, ilitutions, made or to be made, for the better Rule and Government of the faid Society or Company of ig- §• i^- Watermen and Lightermen, and the Pains and Penalties to enforce due Obedience thereunto. III. And be it alfo enacted by the Authority aforefaid. That there fhall be yearly appointed, elcfted Rulers, &c. to be and chofen, by the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Londoyi for the Time being, the "^Is^'** )e"ly. Number of eight Perfons, of the moft wife, difcreet, and beft Sort of Watermen, and the Number of three Perfons, out of twelve Perfons to be yearly nominated by the Lightermen, of the moft wife, dif- creet, and beft Sort of Lightermen, being Houfholders, having two Lighters or Flat Boats upon the faid River, between Gravefend and Windfor ; which Eleiftions fhall be yearly at the firft Court of Aldermen . to be holden within the faid City, next after the firft Day of June ; and the faid eleven Perfons fo elefled fhall be named and called The Overfeers mid Rulers of all the Wherrymen, Watermen, and Lightermen, that from and after the faid firft Day of June fhall ufe, occupy, or exercife any Rowing upon the faid River of Thames betwixt Gravefend and Windfor aforefaid ; which faid Overfeers and Rulers fhall keep and maintain good Orders and Obedience amongft the faid Watermen and Lightermen, according to the true Meaning of this prefent and former Aifts ; and the faid eleven Overfeers and Rulers, or the greater and to regifter all Part of them, are hereby authorized from Time to Time to convene and call before them, at the Hall of )-'ghh;rmen row- the faid Company, within the City of London and Liberties thereof, all and every fuch Perfon or Perfons, Gravefend and which from and after the nine and twentieth Day of June one thoufand feven hundred, fhall keep or ufe windfor, in rowing or any ways navigating any Lighter or other great Craft (except as before excepted) betwixt Gravefend and Windfor aforefaid, and fliail enter and regifter the Name and Names of them and every of them for Lightermen to row on the faid River, in a Book to he kept for the fame Intent and Purpofe ; and from Time to Time to take fuch Order and Dire£tion therein, with every of the faid Parties, by Au-' thority of this prefent A£t, as it fliall feem meet and neceffary by the Difcretion of the faid Overfeers and Rulers for the Time being, or the greater Part of them, for the common Benefit of his Majefty's Subjedts, ' IV. And in regard the Numbers of Wherrymen, Watermen and Lightermen, are more numerous and ' diforderly than heretofore;' Be it enafted by the Authority aforefaid. That for the better Order and Rulers yearly to Government of the faid Society and Company, the faid Rulers and Affiftants for the time being ihall appoint Aflift- and are hereby required, on the firft Court Day after the firft Day of June next, and fo yearly and every ' Year, by their Order, to appoint the Watermen of the principal Towns, StairS and Places of plying, or the major Part of them refpeiftively, ietwe.e.n Gravefend 2.nii Wtndfor ; and fuch Watermen fhall and are hereby required tochooie one free Waterman, being an Houfnolder, to be of their Aflifl'ants, fo as they exceed not fixty, nor be lefs than the Number of forty Watermen ; and on the firft Day of June for Watermfn . next, the Lightermen which fhall meet at the Hall of the faid Company, between the Hours of Eight not under forty, and Twelve in the Morning, or the major Part of them then prefent, and fo yearly and every Year, Ihall choofe nine Lightermen, who, together with the faid Watermen, ftiall be and be called The AJfiJlants ^""^ ^°^ LigVaei- of the faid Society and Company, to adyife and affift the Rulers of the faid Company for tlie time being, '"'^" """' in the Difco^-ery and Regulation of Mifcarriages from time to time done on the faid River of Thames, for putting the former Laws and this prefent A6t in due and full Execution, and in prcferving good Rule and Government am.ongft the faid Society and Company ; and the faid Rulers and Affiftants, or the major Part of them, fhall yearly and every Year, on the firft Day of Jidy, prefent to the Court of Lord ' Mayor anjl Aldermen for the time being, for their Approbation, five Perfons able and fit Watermen, and Seven Auditors two Perfons able and fit Lightermen, to be called Auditors of the faid Society and Company, who (hall, '" ^ elected .or the major Part of them, audite the Accounts of the Rulers and others of the faid Society jnd Com- 3'="'5 *-'*^' pany for the time being; and that upon auditing and true ftating of the faid Accounts, the fame Ihall be fairly entred in a Book to be kept for that Purpofe, and figned by the iaid Auditors, or the major Part of them, to be fet in fome publick Place of the Company's Hall aforefaid, to be infpedted by afiy Perfon concerned at Times convenient ; and if any Perfon or Perfons, which at any Time hereafter fhall be ele6ted or appointed Ruler, Afliftant, or Auditor of the faid Company, do, after Notice given him or them, obftinately refufe to take upon him or them the Place or Places to which he or they fhall be fo' ' , elected, or fhall negligently exercife or ufe fuch his or their Place or Places, that then every iuch Ofl^ender or Offenders fhall forfeit and pay five Pounds ; and the faid Rulers, Auditors and Affiftants, or the Rulers.Auditor?, .major Part .of them prefent, bein^ all duly fummoned by Summons in Writing left it the Place of their '"^"e- may make ufual Abode, fhall and may, and they are hereby impowered and authorized, from time to time, for the By-laws, to be better and more efi^e£tual keeping and maintaining good Order and Obedience amongft the faid Society cmiTt^f Aid' and Company, to make, ordain, and provide fuch reafonable and lawful Rules, Orders and Conftitu-. men of London tions, as in their Difcretion they fhall think fit, with reafonable Pains and Penalties to the fame annexed ; and confirmed by which faid Rules, Orders and Conftitutions fliall, from time to time, be laid before the Court of Lord one of 'be t«-o "Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London for the time being, to be by them examined, altered or ao- ciiief Juftices. ■i„, T-fr ' ■ T '1 By-Laws made VOL. ly.- ' ■. I . - proved, i„.>„f„,„,^ >ereof rsftraining Watermen as to taking Apfrenticcfj S:c. are piade vcid by 4 Anns, c. 13 §. i.'
