List of acts of the Parliament of Great Britain, 1730–1734 facts for kids

This article lists the laws, called Acts of Parliament, that were passed in Great Britain between 1730 and 1734. These laws were made by the Parliament of Great Britain, which was the main law-making body for England, Scotland, and Wales at the time. Understanding these acts helps us learn about what was important in Great Britain during the 1730s.

Each law has a special number, called a "chapter number." This number, along with the year it was passed, helps people find and refer to specific laws. For example, a law might be called "4 Geo. 2 c. 10," which means it was the 10th law passed in the 4th year of King George II's reign. Many of these old laws have since been cancelled or replaced, which is called being "repealed."

Before 1793, a new law was considered to be in effect from the very first day of the Parliament meeting where it was passed, even if it was actually approved much later in that meeting. This means some laws listed here might have been passed in a year that seems earlier than their official date.

Laws of 1730 (4 Geo. 2)

The Parliament met from January 21, 1731, to May 7, 1731.

Important Public Laws

These laws affected everyone in Great Britain.

• Taxation and Money Laws:

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This law continued taxes on things like malt (used for beer), mum (a type of beer), cider, and perry (a drink made from pears). *

This law set a tax on land to help fund the government. *

This law used money from a special fund (the Sinking Fund) to pay off part of the national debt. *

This law raised money through annuities (regular payments) and a lottery.

• Laws about People and Justice:

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This law dealt with rules for the army, including punishment for soldiers who rebelled or deserted. *

This law protected people who had accidentally not followed certain rules to qualify for public jobs. *

This law improved how juries were chosen, specifically for Middlesex County. *

This law allowed legal guardians to manage property for people with mental disabilities. *

This law clarified who was considered a British citizen, especially for children born abroad to British parents. *

This important law made English the official language for all court proceedings in England and the Exchequer Court in Scotland. Before this, Latin or French were sometimes used. *

This law aimed to prevent tenants from committing fraud and made it easier for landlords to collect rent. *

This law made it easier to punish people who stole lead or iron from houses or fences.

• Trade and Industry Laws:

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This law aimed to stop people from cheating on taxes related to starch, coffee, tea, and chocolate. *

This law encouraged the making of British sailcloth by removing taxes and offering rewards for exporting it.

Selected Private Laws

Private acts were laws that affected specific people, families, or small groups, rather than the whole country.

• Short title, popular name or summary			Citation	Royal assent (or the start of session)
  Long title
  Enabling Edward Southwell to take the oaths in Britain and to qualify himself for the legal enjoyment of the offices of Principal Secretary of State and Keeper of the Signet and Privy Seal of Ireland.			4 Geo. 2. c. 1	19 February 1731
  An Act to enable Edward Southwell Esquire to take the Oaths in this Kingdom, and to qualify himself for the legal Enjoyment of the Offices of Principal Secretary of State, and Keeper of the Signet and Privy Seal, of the Kingdom of Ireland.

This allowed Edward Southwell to take important oaths in Britain for his jobs in Ireland.

• Short title, popular name or summary			Citation	Royal assent (or the start of session)
  Long title
  Naturalization of Philip Jacob de Neufville and Others Act 1730			4 Geo. 2. c. 2	19 February 1731
  An Act to naturalize Philip Jacob de Neusville and others.

This law granted British citizenship to Philip Jacob de Neufville and other foreign individuals. Many private acts were for naturalization.

• Short title, popular name or summary			Citation	Royal assent (or the start of session)
  Long title
  Bishop's Tachbrook (Warwickshire) Inclosure Act 1730			4 Geo. 2. c. 3	24 March 1731
  An Act for enclosing the Common Fields and Unenclosed Lands, lying within the Manor and Parish of Bishops Tachbrooke, in the County of Warwick.

This law allowed for the enclosure of common lands in Bishop's Tachbrooke, Warwickshire, meaning shared land was divided into private plots. Many similar acts were passed to improve farming.

Laws of 1731 (5 Geo. 2)

The Parliament met from January 13, 1732, to June 1, 1732.

Important Public Laws

• Financial and Economic Laws:

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This law brought back taxes on salt. *

This law made it easier to collect debts in the British colonies in America. *

This law rewarded Sir Thomas Lombe for bringing Italian silk-making technology to Britain, helping the silk industry. *

This law tried to boost hat manufacturing in Great Britain by limiting hat production and export in the American colonies. *

This law aimed to encourage British ships to fish for whales in Greenland.

• Laws about Public Order and Administration:

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This law was about investigating fraud within the "Charitable Corporation," which was a group that lent money to the poor. *

This law set more requirements for people to become Justices of the Peace, who were important local officials. *

This law made sure that appeals in court were judged on their actual facts, not just on small mistakes in paperwork. *

This law made it easier to punish people who damaged turnpikes (toll gates on roads) or structures used to make rivers navigable.

Selected Private Laws

• Short title, popular name or summary			Citation	Royal assent (or the start of session)
  Long title
  Hyde Park Waters Act 1731			5 Geo. 2. c. 8	1 June 1732
  An Act for vesting the Conduits, Springs, and Waters, in Hyde Park, in Trustees, for the Benefit of His Majesty.

This law transferred control of water sources in Hyde Park to trustees for the King's benefit.

• Short title, popular name or summary			Citation	Royal assent (or the start of session)
  Long title
  Enlargement of Paddington Churchyard (Middlesex) Act 1731			5 Geo. 2. c. 10	1 June 1732
  An Act for enlarging the Church yard of the Parish of Paddington, in the County of Middlesex.

This allowed the churchyard in Paddington to be made larger.

Laws of 1732 (6 Geo. 2)

The Parliament met from January 16, 1733, to June 13, 1733.

Important Public Laws

• Laws about Money and Trade:

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This law allowed diamonds, pearls, and other precious stones to be imported and exported freely, without special taxes. *

This was a significant law that aimed to protect the British sugar colonies in America by placing high taxes on molasses and sugar imported from non-British colonies. *

This law continued to encourage British subjects to participate in whale fishing.

• Laws about Justice and Public Services:

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This law gave more time for Catholics to register their property documents and helped protect Protestants who bought land from Catholics. *

This law clarified that the English language rule for courts also applied to the Exchequer (treasury) court. *

This law improved the rules for loading and unloading ships on the River Thames. *

This law aimed to reduce the financial burden on parishes for supporting children born outside of marriage.

Selected Private Laws

• Short title, popular name or summary			Citation	Royal assent (or the start of session)
  Long title
  Welsborne Hastings and Newbold Pacy (Warwickshire) Inclosures Act 1732			6 Geo. 2. c. 1	22 February 1733
  An Act for enclosing several large Common Fields, within the Parishes of Wellsbourne Hastings and Newbold Pacy, in the County of Warwick.

This was another law allowing the enclosure of common fields for private use.

• Short title, popular name or summary			Citation	Royal assent (or the start of session)
  Long title
  Barston (Warwickshire) Inclosure Act 1732			6 Geo. 2. c. 3	21 March 1733
  An Act for dividing and enclosing the Common Fields and Common Meadows, in the Parish of Barston, in the County of Warwick.

Similar to the above, this allowed for the division and enclosure of common lands.

• Short title, popular name or summary			Citation	Royal assent (or the start of session)
  Long title
  Bazil Hamilton Restoration Act 1732			6 Geo. 2. c. 36	13 June 1733
  An Act for restoring Bazil Hamilton in Blood.

This law restored Bazil Hamilton's legal rights and status, which had been lost due to a past conviction or attainder.

Laws of 1733 (7 Geo. 2)

The Parliament met from January 17, 1734, to April 16, 1734.

Important Public Laws

• Laws about the Royal Family:

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This law prepared for the naturalization of the Prince of Orange. *

This important law granted British citizenship to Prince William Charles Henry Friso of Orange and Nassau, who married Princess Anne, King George II's daughter. *

This law arranged for a yearly payment to the Princess Royal if she outlived her father, the King.

• Laws about Business and Trade:

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This law, also known as "Sir John Barnard's Act," tried to stop unfair practices in the stock market. *

This law set limits on how much ship owners were responsible for the actions of their captains or sailors. *

This law aimed to stop the illegal import of foreign hops and prevent people from adding things to hops to change their color or smell.

• Laws about Justice and Government:

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This law made it simpler to deal with mortgages, both for paying them off and for taking back property if payments were missed. *

This law improved how Members of Parliament were elected in Scotland and prevented judges from being elected to the House of Commons.

Selected Private Laws

• Short title, popular name or summary			Citation	Royal assent (or the start of session)
  Long title
  Robert Dalzell (Relief) Act 1733			7 Geo. 2. c. 3	21 March 1734
  An Act to enable Robert Dalzell, late Earl of Carnwath, to sue or maintain any Action or Suit, notwithstanding his Attainder; and to remove any Disability in him, by reason of his said Attainder, to take or inherit any Real or Personal Estate that may or shall hereafter descend or come to him.

This law helped Robert Dalzell, the former Earl of Carnwath, regain his legal rights and ability to inherit property, despite a past conviction.

• Short title, popular name or summary			Citation	Royal assent (or the start of session)
  Long title
  Walter Calverley Name Act 1733			7 Geo. 2. c. 4	21 March 1734
  An Act to enable Walter Calverley Esquire, now called Walter Blackett Esquire, and his Issue Male, to take and use the Surname of Blackett only, pursuant to the Will of Sir William Blackett Baronet, deceased.

This allowed Walter Calverley to change his surname to Blackett, as required by a will.

Laws of 1734 (8 Geo. 2)

The Parliament met from January 14, 1735, to May 15, 1735.

Important Public Laws

• Laws about Public Records and Rights:

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This law created a public registry for all property documents (deeds, wills, etc.) in the North Riding of Yorkshire, making property ownership clearer. *

This important law, known as "Hogarth's Act," was one of the first copyright laws. It protected the rights of artists who created designs, engravings, and etchings. *

This law improved the system of "hue and cry," where people were expected to help catch criminals.

• Laws about Local Governance:

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This law improved the organization of the night watch (like a police force) in parts of Westminster. *

This law allowed residents around Lincoln's Inn Fields to tax themselves to improve and maintain the area. *

This law provided for the rebuilding of the church in Shoreditch.

• Laws about the Military:

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This law set rules for where soldiers could be housed during elections, to prevent them from influencing the voting.

Selected Private Laws

• Short title, popular name or summary			Citation	Royal assent (or the start of session)
  Long title
  Younger Sons of the Duke of Rutland's Names Act 1734			8 Geo. 2. c. 2	24 March 1735
  An Act for enabling the Two Younger Sons of John Duke of Rutland, by Bridget late Dutchess of Rutland, and their respective Children, Progeny, and Issue, to take and use the Surname of Sutton, pursuant to the Will of Robert Lord Lexington, deceased, and in such Manner as is therein mentioned.

This law allowed the Duke of Rutland's younger sons to use the surname Sutton, as required by a will.

• Short title, popular name or summary			Citation	Royal assent (or the start of session)
  Long title
  Late Earl of Seaforth Act 1734			8 Geo. 2. c. 22	15 May 1735
  An Act to enable William Mackenzie late Earl of Seafort to sue or maintain any Action or Suit, notwithstanding his Attainder; and to remove any Disability in him, by reason of his said Attainder, to take or inherit any Real or Personal Estate that may or shall hereafter descend or come to him.

This law helped William Mackenzie, the former Earl of Seaforth, regain his legal rights and ability to inherit property, despite a past conviction.

See also

• List of acts of the Parliament of Great Britain