Maryland Acts – October 1778

An Act for the relief of disabled and maimed officers, soldiers, marines, and seamen.

Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That every commissioned officer, non-commissioned officer, and private soldier, who have or shall lose a limb, or have been or shall be so disabled in the service of the United States of America, as to render him incapable of getting a livelihood, and who, at the time of entering into the service of the said United States, was or shall be enlisted or recruited by this state, shall receive during his life, or the continuance of such disability, the one half of his monthly pay, from and after the time that his pay as an officer or soldier ceases. And that every commander of any ship of war or armed vessel, commissioned officer, warrant officer, marine, or seaman, belonging to the United States of America, who have or shall lose a limb, or have been or shall be otherwise so disabled in the service of the said States, as to be rendered incapable of getting a livelihood, and who, at the time of engaging in the said service, was or shall be enlisted or recruited by this state, shall receive during his life, or continuance of such disability, the one half of his monthly pay, from and after the time that his pay as an officer, or marine, or seaman, ceases.

And be it further enacted, That every commissioned officer, non commissioned officer, and private soldier, in the army, and every commander, commissioned officer, warrant officer, marine, or seaman, of any of the ships of war or armed vessels belonging to the United States of America, who have been or shall be wounded in any engagement, so as to be rendered incapable of serving in the army or navy, though not totally disabled from getting a livelihood, and who at the time of entering into the service of the said States, was or shall be enlisted or recruited by this state, shall receive such monthly sum as shall be adjudged adequate by the justices of the orphans court of the county in which such commissioned officer or private soldier of the army, or commander, commissioned officer, warrant officer, or seaman, of the navy, shall reside; provided the same doth not exceed his half pay.

And be it enacted, That the justices of the said courts are hereby enjoined to cause due entries to be made in their proceedings, of the name or names of all persons to whom drafts or orders shall be given in pursuance of this act; also of their places of residence, in what regiment or company they served, the engagement or action in which they received their wound, and the sums alloted [sic] them; also of the death of such disabled person, or ceasing of such allowance.

And be it further enacted, That all such officers and soldiers, who may be entitled to the provisions under this act, and shall be found to be capable of doing guard or garrison duty, may be formed into a corps of invalids, and subject to the said duty; and all officers, marines, and seamen, of the navy, who shall be entitled to the same provision, and shall be found capable of doing any duty on board the navy, or any department thereof, shall be liable to be so employed.”

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