Second session of the fifth parliament of Great Britain, sitting from 20 February 1717 New style (1716 Old Style) to 15 July 1717. Note that due to the use of retrospectively dating statutes to the beginning of the parliamentary session, and the use of the Old Style calendar, where the legal / civil year commences on Lady day, 25th March, the acts below are often dated to 1716, although they all received Royal Assent at the end of the session in 1717.
‘Complete Text’, ‘Summary of Act’ and ‘Extract of Act’ links go to Internet Archive page images. ‘Parl. Archive’ links go to the Parliamentary Archive catalogue entry.
Collections of Statutes:
Pickering, Statutes at Large, vol. 13: Internet Archive, Google.
Ruffhead, Statutes at Large, vol. 5: Internet Archive, Google, Wikisource.
Related contemporary materials:
Journal of the House of Commons, vol. 18: Google.
Journal of the House of Lords, vol. 20: British History Online.
Calendar of the Manuscripts of the Lords: Google.
Calendar of Treasury Papers: British History Online.
Calendar of Treasury Books: British History Online.
Cobbett’s Parliamentary Debates, vol. 7: Google.
Historical Register, vol. 2: Hathi Trust; Hathi Trust.
See also: Wikipedia category for Acts passed in 1716, 1717.
Public Acts.
1. An Act to enable his Majesty effectually to prohibit or restrain Commerce with Sweden. Parl. Archives
2. An Act for punishing Mutiny and Desertion, and for the better Payment of the Army and their Quarters. Extract of Act — Parl. Archives
3. An Act for granting an Aid to his Majesty by a Land-Tax in Great Britain, for the Service of the Year 1717. Parl. Archives
4. An Act for continuing the duties on malt, mum, cyder and perry, for the service of the year 1717, and to authorize allowances to be made to certain receivers, and to obviate a doubt concerning goods imported from the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Sark and Alderney; and to ascertain the duties upon sheep-skins and lamb-skins; and to prevent frauds in the duties upon starch; and for making forth duplicates of Exchequer-bills, lottery-tickets and orders, lost, burnt or destroyed; and for enlarging the time for adjusting claims in several lotteries; and for preventing frauds in the duties on low-wines and spirits carried coastwise. Extract of Act — Parl. Archives
5. An Act for continuing the duty of two pennies Scots, or one sixth part of a penny sterling, on every pint of ale and beer that shall be vended or sold within the city of Edinburgh, and privileges thereof, for the benefit of the said city, and for discontinuing the payment of the dues commonly called the petty-port customs at Edinburgh, during the continuance of this act. Complete text — Parl. Archives
6. An Act for laying a duty of two pennies Scots, or one sixth part of a penny sterling, upon every pint of ale or beer that shall be vended or sold within the town of Dumfries, and privileges thereof, for paying the debts of the said town, and for building a church, and making a harbour there. Summary of Act — Parl. Archives
7. An Act for redeeming the duties and revenues which were settled to pay off principal and interest on the orders made forth on four lottery-acts passed in the ninth and tenth years of her late Majesty’s reign; and for redeeming certain annuities payable on orders out of the hereditary excise, according to a former act in that behalf; and for establishing a general yearly fund, not only for the future payment of annuities at several rates, to be payable and transferrable at the bank of England, and redeemable by parliament, but also to raise monies for such proprietors of the said orders as shall choose to be paid their principal and arrears of interest in ready money; and for making good such other deficiencies and payments as in this act are mentioned; and for taking off the duties on linseed imported, and British linen exported. Complete text — Parl. Archives
8. An Act for redeeming several funds of the governor and company of the bank of England, pursuant to former provisoes of redemption; and for securing to them several new funds and allowances redeemable by parliament; and for obliging them to advance further sums, not exceeding two millions five hundred thousand pounds, at five pounds per centum, as shall be found necessary to be employed in lessening the national debts and incumbrances; and for continuing certain provisions made for the expences of his Majesty’s civil government; and for payment of annuities formerly purchased at the rate of five pounds per centum; and for other purposes in this act mentioned. Complete text — Parl. Archives
9. An Act for redeeming the yearly fund of the South-Sea company (being after the rate of six pounds per centum per annum) and settling on the said company a yearly fund after the rate of five pounds per centum per annum, redeemable by parliament; and to raise for an annuity or annuities at five pounds per centum per annum, any sum, not exceeding two millions, to be employed in lessening the national debts and incumbrances, and for making the said new yearly fund and annuities to be hereafter redeemable in the time and manner thereby prescribed. Complete text — Parl. Archives
10. An Act for the better collecting and levying the revenue of the tenths of the clergy. Complete text — Parl. Archives
11. An Act to explain and amend several laws therein mentioned for the better preservation of the game. Complete text — Parl. Archives
12. An Act to impower commissioners in commissions of bankrupts, issued since the four and twentieth day of June 1706, and on or before the six and twentieth day of June 1716, to make certificates for bankrupts, and the lord chancellor, lord keeper, commissioners of the great seal, or two judges, to confirm the same, notwithstanding the acts of the fourth and fifth, and the fifth of Queen Anne, are expired; and for continuing a clause in a former act for adjusting accounts between bankrupts and their debtors. Summary of Act — Parl. Archives
13. An Act for the better regulating of pilots for conducting of ships and vessels from Dover, Deal, and the isle of Thanet, up the rivers of Thames and Medway. Complete text — Parl. Archives
14. An act for taking and stating the debts due and growing due to Scotland by way of equivalent, in the terms of the union; and for relief of the creditors of the publick, and the commissioners of the equivalent. Complete text — Parl. Archives
15. An Act for the better regulating the office of sheriffs, and for ascertaining their fees, and the fees for suing out their patents, and passing their accounts. Complete text — Parl. Archives
16. An Act for the better enabling sheriffs to sue out their patents, and pass their accounts. Complete text — Parl. Archives
17. An Act to enable his Majesty to appoint commissioners to take, examine, state and determine the debts due to the army. Parl. Archives
18. An Act for explaining an act passed the last session of parliament, intituled, An act to oblige papists to register their names and real estates and for enlarging the time for such registring, and for securing purchases, made by protestants. Complete text — Parl. Archives
19. An Act for the King’s most gracious, general, and free pardon. Parl. Archives
20. An Act to enlarge the time for making claims before the commissioners appointed to inquire of the forfeited estates. Parl. Archives
21. An Act for continuing the liberty of exporting Irish linen cloth to the British plantations in America duty-free; and for the more effectual discovery of and prosecuting such as shall unlawfully export wool and woollen manufactures from Ireland; and for relief of John Fletcher, in respect of the duty by him paid for a quantity of salt lost in the exportation for Ireland. Complete text — Parl. Archives
Private Acts.
1. An Act for enlarging the Time granted by an act passed in the eighth Year of the Reign of her late Majesty Queen Anne, intitled, An Act for making a convenient Dock or Bason at Liverpool, for Security of all Ships trading to and from the said Port of Liverpool. Parl. Archives
2. An Act for naturalising Isaac Kuyck van Mierop. Parl. Archives
3. An Act for the Preservation and Improvement of the River Wear, and Port and Haven of Sunderland, in the County of Durham. Parl. Archives
4. An Act for repairing the Highways from several Places therein mentioned, leading towards Highgate Gate-house and Hampstead, in the County of Middlesex, and for electing Trustees for keeping up a sufficient Number for the repairing the Highways upon the Roads from Highgate Gate-house to Barnet Block-house; also of the Highways between Kilburne Bridge and Sparrows Herne, in the County of Hertford. Parl. Archives
5. An Act to enable the Parishioners of the Parish of St. Mary Rotherhith in the County of Surrey (by certain Funeral Rates therein mentioned) to finish the said Parish Church. Parl. Archives
6. An Act for settling the Estates of the most Noble John Duke of Rutland, and John Manners, Esq; commonly called Marquis of Granby, Son and Heir apparent of the said Duke, on the Marriage of the said Marquis of Granby with the Honourable Bridget Sutton, only Child of the Right Honourable Robert Lord Lexington, and Bridget Sutton therein mentioned, in Trustees, to be sold for raising Money for the Marriage Portion of the said Bridget Sutton. Parl. Archives
7. An Act for confirming a Partition lately made of the Estate of Sir John Brownlowe, Bart, deceased, in the Counties of Lincoln, York, Middlesex and Hertford remaining unsold, and Articles of Agreement relating thereunto; and also the several Conveyances made of the divided Parts; and for making effectual a Fine and Recovery intended to be levied and suffered of a fee-farm Rent of twenty Pounds per Annum, Part of the Estate in the said County of Hertford. Parl. Archives
8. An Act to enable John Barrington, alias Shute, Esq; and his Issue Male, to change their Surname to Barrington, according to the Settlement of Francis Barrington, Esq. Parl. Archives
9. An Act to empower the Barons of the Exchequer in Ireland to grant a Commission to some of the Barons of the Exchequer in England, to administer to Thomas Hopkins, Esq; the Oaths for the due Execution of the Office or Offices of Searcher, Packer and Gauger in the Port of the City of Dublin, granted to him for his Life. Parl. Archives
10. An Act to enable Susanna Catherina Nugent, to sue for, recover, and hold the Portion of fourteen hundred Pounds, provided for her out of her Father’s Estate, notwithstanding her Coverture and the Outlawry of her Husband Hyacinthus Nugent, Esq; Parl. Archives
11. An Act to enable Francis Fulford, Esq; and his first and other sons successively, to put in Execution the Power of granting Leases given by the last Will and Testament of Francis Fulford, Esq; deceased. Parl. Archives
12. An Act for vesting an Estate late of Sir Thomas Heath, Knt. deceased, in Trustees, to be sold for Payment of his Debts and other Uses. Parl. Archives
13. An Act for rectifying Defects in a Settlement made by Robert Davis, Esq; deceased, of certain Estates in the Counties of Denbigh and Flint, and effectually securing the Payment of his Debts, and making Provision for the younger Children of Robert Davis his Son, and settling the said Estates subject thereto. Parl. Archives
14. An Act for repairing the Highways from that Part of Counters Bridge which lies in the Parish of Kensington in the County of Middlesex, to the Powder Mills in the Road to Stains, and to Cranford Bridge in the said County in the Road to Colnebrooke. Parl. Archives
15. An Act for explaining and making more effectual the Acts of the fifth and eighth Years of her late Majesty Queen Anne, for amending the Road between Hockley in the County of Bedford and Stony-Stratford in the County of Bucks. Parl. Archives
16. An Act for Sale of Part of the Duke of Montague’s Estate, for the Intents and Purposes therein mentioned. Parl. Archives
17. An Act to enable Richard Earl of Scarborough to take in Great Britain the Oath of Office as Vice-Treasurer and Receiver General, and Paymaster General of all his Majesty’s Revenues in the Kingdom of Ireland, and to qualify himself for the Enjoyment of the said Office. Parl. Archives
18. An Act to enable his Majesty to make Provision for the respective Wives and Children of James late Earl of Southesque, James late Lord Drummond, the late Sir Hugh Paterson of Bannockburn, and James Sterling late of Keir. Parl. Archives
19. An Act to enable his Majesty to make such Provision for, and Settlement upon, Margaret the Wife of James late Earl of Panmuir, as the would have been entitled to in case her said Husband was naturally dead. Parl. Archives
20. An Act to enable his Majesty to make Provision for Margaret Lady Nairn and her Children, out of her paternal Estate, forfeited during the Life of William Murray, late Lord Nairn, her Husband. Parl. Archives
21. An Act for raising and paying the Lady Amelia Butler’s Portion out of Lands in Ireland. Parl. Archives
22. An Act for confirming a Partition made between Robert Dashwood, Esq; and Cholmley Turner, Esq; of certain Manors, Lands and Hereditaments in the County Of Oxon. Parl. Archives
23. An Act for confirming an Agreement made between John Wind, Clerk, Vicar of Thirkleby in the County of York, and Sir Thomas Frankland, Bart, for Exchange of the vicarage house, and certain Lands therein mentioned. Parl. Archives
24. An Act for Sale of the Estate of Thomas Middleton, Esq; deceased, for the more speedy raising of Maintenance money and Portions for his Daughters, and for the other Purposes in the Bill mentioned. Parl. Archives
25. An Act to enable Edward Rolt, Esq; to exchange a certain Parcel of Wood lands in the County of Hertford with John Boteler, Esq; for other Wood-Lands of equal Value in the said County, and for settling the same respectively as therein mentioned. Parl. Archives
26. An Act for vesting an Estate at Corsham in Wiltshire in the surviving Trustee and Executor of the last Will of Henry Frederic Thynne, Esq; deceased, and his Heirs, to make Sale thereof for the Execution of the Trusts created by his Will. Parl. Archives
27. An Act to enable Roger Stafford, Esq; and his Issue Male, to change their Surname to Wollocombe, according to the Will of Roger Wollocombe, Esq; deceased. Parl. Archives
28. An Act for Sale of the Estate of John Stone the elder, and John Stone the younger, in the County of Sussex, for discharging the Encumbrances thereon, in respect of the Infancy of one of the Coheirs of John Stone the younger, and for securing the Residue of the Money as therein is mentioned. Parl. Archives
29. An Act to enable William Newman, Esq; to sell Part of the Estate included in his Marriage settlement for Payment of Debts, and to settle another Estate in Lieu, thereof. Parl. Archives
30. An Act for vesting in Trustees the Estate of Thomas Richmond, Esq; deceased, in the County of Essex, to be sold for Payment of his Debts, Legacies, and Funeral Expenses, according to the Will of the said Thomas Richmond. Parl. Archives
31. An Act declaring the Uses of two several Fines levied by John Cuffe, Esq; and Margaret his Wife, to Joseph Kelley, Esq; deceased, and Maurice Cuffe, Esq; and the Heirs of the said Joseph Kelley, of certain Lands and Tithes in the Counties of Down and Cavan in the Kingdom of Ireland, Parl. Archives
32. An Act to enable Patrick Wemys, Esq; to sell certain Houses in Dublin for Payment of Debts, and for the settling Lands in the County of Kilkenny, and elsewhere, to the same Uses to which the Houses to be sold were settled. Parl. Archives
33. An Act to naturalize John Jacob Heldt, Theodore Van Rheden, John Gercken, John Henry Vassmer, Peter Rameyer, Christopher Gildemeester, John Andrew Heyman, Godfrey Weckell, Peter Simond, Peter Devisme, Peter Vallete, Francis Caussen and Christian Benjamin Mentzel. Parl. Archives