I. Whereas divers inconveniences attend the Inhabitants of Edgecomb County, by reason of the large extent thereof, and the great Distance that many of them live from the Court House, and other Places usually appointed for Public Meetings;

II. Be it therefore Enacted, by the Governor, Council, and Assembly, and by the Authority of the same, That from and immediately after the First Day of January next ensueing, the said County of Edgecomb be divided, by the dividing Line between the Parish of Edgecomb and the Parish of St. Mary; and that that Part of the said County which is now the Parish of St. Mary, remain, be called, and known by the Name of Edgecomb County; and that that Part of the said County which is now the Parish of Edgecomb, be thence forth erected into one distinct County, and called and known by the Name of Halifax.

III. And for the due Administration of Justice, Be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That after the said first Day of January, a Court for the said County of Edgecomb be constantly held, by the Justices thereof, at Redman's Oldfield, on Tyoncoca, upon the Days and Times by Law appointed for that purpose; and also that a Court for the said County of Halifax be constantly held, by the Justices thereof, at Enfield, upon the first Tuesdays in March, June, September, and December, in every Year, as by the Laws of this Province is Provided, and shall be, by Commission to the Justices of the said Counties, respectively, directed.

IV. And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to debar the Sheriff of the said County of Edgecomb, as the same stands now undivided, to make Distress for any Levies, Fees, or other Dues, that shall be due from the Inhabitants of the said County on the said First Day of January, in the same Manner as by Law the said Sheriff could or might have done if the said County had remained undivided; and the said Levies, Fees, and other Dues, shall be collected and accounted for in the same Manner as if this Act had never been made; any Thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

V. Be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That after the said First Day of January, the said County of Halifax shall be, continue, and remain part of the District Supreme Court of Justice, Oyer and Terminer, and General Gaol Delivery, usually held for the Counties of Northampton, Edgecomb, and Granville; and the Sheriff or Collector of the said County of Halifax shall, from Time to Time account for and pay to the Public Treasurer of the Northern District of this Province for the Time being, all Public Levies by him Collected, or wherewith he shall stand Chargeable, in the same Manner, and under the like Pains and Penalties, as other Sheriffs.

VI.Provided always, That nothing herein contained shall be construed, deemed or taken, to alter or derogate from the Rights and Royal Prerogative of his Majesty, his heirs or Successors of granting Letters of Incorporation to the said Counties, and of ordering, appointing, and directing the Election of a Member or Members to represent them in Assembly, and of granting Markets and Fairs to be kept and held in them respectively; but that the said Right and Prerogative shall and may, at all Times hereafter, be exercised therein by his said Majesty, his Heirs or Successors, in as full and ample manner, to all Intents and Purposes whatsoever, as if this Act had never been made.

Signed by,

ARTHUR DOBBS, ESQ, Governor.
MATTHEW ROWAN, ESQ, President.
SAMUEL SWANN, Speaker.