# Plantation Trade Act 1695, Section XVI: No Ship deemed British or Plantation-built until registered as herein mentioned.


And for a more effectuall prevention of Frauds which may bee used to elude the Intention of this Act by colouring Foreigne Shipps under English Names Bee itt further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That from and after the Five and twentieth day of March which shall bee in the Yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety eight noe Shipp or Vessell whatsoever shall bee deemed or passe as a Shipp of the Built of England Ireland Wales Berwick Guernsey Jersey or of any of His Majesties Plantations in America soe as to bee qualifyed to trade to from or in any of the said Plantations untill the Person or Persons claymeing Property in such Shipp or Vessell shall register the same as followeth (that is to say) If the Shipp att the tyme of such Register doth belong to any Port in England Ireland Wales or to the Towne of Berwick upon Tweed then Proofe shall bee made upon Oath of One or more of the Owners of such Shipp or Vessell before the Collector and Comptroller of His Majesties Customes in such Port or if att the tyme of such Register the Shipp belong to any of His Majesties Plantations in America or to the Islands of Guernsey or Jersey then the like Proofe to bee made before the Governour together with the Principall Officer of His Majesties Revenue resideing on such Plantation or Island which Oath the said Governours and Officers of the Customes respectively are hereby authorized to administer in the Tenour following (vizt)
Oath, of built of Ship, &c. on registering.
Jurat A°. B. That the Ship Name of Port whereof Masters Name is att present Master being a Kind of Built of Burthen Tuns was built att Place where in the Yeare. Time when and that owners name of and of &c are att present Owners thereof and that noe Foreigner directly or indirectly hath any Share or Part or Interest therein.
Oath attested and registered to be delivered to the Master, and Duplicate of such Register transmitted to the Commissioners of Customs in London; Penalty on Ship not having made Proof of Built. Exception. Penalty on Ship not having made Proof of Built. Exception.
Which Oath being attested by the Governour or Custome Officer who administered the same under theire Hands and Seales shall after haveing beene registred by them bee delivered to the Master of the Shipp for the Security of her Navigation a Duplicate of which Register shall bee immediately transmitted to the Commissioners of His Majesties Customes in the Port of London in order to bee entred in a generall Register to bee there kept for this purpose with Penalty upon any Shipp or Vessell tradeing to from or in any of His Majesties Plantations in America after the said Five and twentieth Day of March and not haveing made Proofe of her Built and Property as is here directed that shee shall bee lyable and shee is hereby made lyable to such Prosecution and Forfeiture as any Foreigne Shipp (except Prizes condemned in the High Court of Admiralty) would for trading with these Plantations by this Law be lyable to.

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Will3/7-8/22/section/XVI (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/plantation-trade-act-1695/section-XVI
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.