I. Whereas the Inhabitants of that Part of Bladen County, within the Lines herein after mentioned, live at such a Distance from the Court House, that it is very inconvenient for them to attend the ordinary Business of the County there; and there being a sufficient Number of Freeholders and others, within the said Lines to support the Charges of a County among themselves: Therefore for the Ease of the said Inhabitants,

II.We pray that it may be Enacted, And be it Enacted, by the Honourable Matthew Rowan, Esq; President, and Commander in Chief, by and with the Advice and Consent of his Majesty's Council, and the General Assembly of this Province, and by the Authority of the same, That the upper part of the said County of Bladen, beginning at the Mouth of Cross Creek, running a South-West Line to the Bounds of Bladen County, and North-East to the Line of Duplin County, thence along the dividing Lines of Duplin, Johnston, Orange and Anson Counties; so that all the Inhabitants in Bladen County to the Northward of the Mouth of Cross Creek aforesaid, shall belong to Cumberland County, and the same shall, and is hereby declared and enacted to be a County and Parish, by the Name of Cumberland County and St. David's Parish, with all and every the Rights, Privileges, Benefits, and Advantages whatever; which any other County or Parish in this Province can or may lawfully hold, use, or enjoy.

III. And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That Hector Mac Neil, Esq; be, and is hereby appointed Sheriff of the said County of Cumberland, until the Time prescribed by Law for appointing Sheriffs of this Province; and that Hector Mac Neil; Esq; shall be and is hereby invested with the same Power and Authority as any other Sheriff of any other County in this Province.

IV. And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That John Brooks, William Roberts, Jonathan Evans, Thomas Armstrong, Thomas Jones, Matthew Rayford, William Dawson Thomas Matthews, John Brown, Archibald McNeal, Gilbert Clark, and William Russell, be and are hereby appointed Vestrymen of the said Parish, until the General Election of Vestrymen shall be summoned by the said Sheriff to meet, at such Time and Place as the Majority of the said Vestrymen shall appoint, and qualify themselves as a Vestry, and proceed to Parish Business.

V. Be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That all County and Parish Taxes, now due from any of the Inhabitants of that Part of Bladen now erected into the County of Cumberland, shall be collected by the Sheriff of Bladen County; and accounted for in the same Manner as if this Act had never been made.

VI. And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That the Justices of the said County shall hold their first Court at the House of Thomas Armstrong, and at the said Court, or the Court suceeding, by a Majority of those present, and qualified, nominate and appoint a certain Place for building a Court House, Prison, and Stocks, as near as may be to the Centre of the said County, and shall divide the said County into Districts, and appoint Commissioners of the Roards for the same; and may also make such Rules and Orders for erecting the said Buildings, and Running the dividing Lines, at the equal Expence of the Inhabitants of the said County of Cumberland, by a Poll Tax, as the Majority of the Justices present, shall think necessary and agree, not exceeding One Shilling, Proclamation Money, per Annum, on each Taxable, for Three Years, and no longer.

VII. And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That where any Action is already commenced in Bladen Court, and the Parties or Witnesses are Inhabitants of Cumberland County, all subsequent Process against such Persons, shall be directed to, and be executed by the Sheriff of Bladen County, to the End and final Determination of such Causes, any Law, Usage, or Custom to the contrary, notwithstanding.

VIII. And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That the said County of Cumberland be, and is hereby obliged to send Jurors to the Courts of Assize, Oyer and Terminer, and General Gaol Delivery at Wilmington, as Bladen County now doth; and the Courts of the said County of Cumberland shall be held on the Fourth Tuesdays in April, July, October, and January, every Year.

Signed by,

MATTHEW ROWAN, ESQ, President.
JAMES MURRAY, President of the Council.
SAMUEL SWANN, Speaker.