Note 17 — ANCIENT GOVERNMENT.
Reading edition
This law provides, that any person not having a visible estate, or a manual craft or occupation, coming into any place within this province, should give security, not to become chargeable within two years: and the captains of vessels bringing passengers into this province, were required to report them to the chief magistrate of the place, within 24 hours after their arrival. Under the Dutch government the poor were supported out of the fines imposed for offences committed, and by contributions taken up in the Churches.