SECTION 1. Any five or more persons may associate themselves together and become a corporation for either of the following purposes: First. To establish and maintain literary and scientific associa tions. Second. To promote knowledge and skill among the members by the establishment of a library, lyceum, musical, agricultural, literary or scientific association. Third. To organize fire-engine companies. SEC. 2. Every such association shall be formed by written articles, specifying the object of the association, and the conditions on which it is formed and subscribed by each member thereof. SEC. 3. The first meeting shall be notified, organized, and holden in the manner prescribed in the articles of association. SEC. 4. Any such association may adopt a corporate name, either in the original articles or by vote at the first meeting thereof. SEC. 5. Any such corporation shall give public notice of its formation, name and object, by publishing such notice three weeks successively, in some newspaper printed in the county in which such association is formed, or if no newspaper is published in such county then in some adjoining county; and by causing its articles of association and any alteration thereof to be recorded in the town clerk's office of the town where such association is formed. SEC. 6. Any such corporation may take, hold, transmit and convey real and personal estate to any amount not exceeding five thousand dollars, in addition to the value of its building, and the lot whereon it stands, and of its books, maps, pictures and library furniture. SEC. 7. When such corporation shall be organized, it shall have all the powers and privileges and be subject to all the duties and liabilities of a corporation organized according to the provisions of the one hundred and twenty-fifth chapter, so far as the said provisions shall be applicable in such case and not inconsistent with this chapter. CHAPTER 133. OF PROPRIETORS OF COMMON AND UNDIVIDED LANDS. SECTION 1. Powers of proprietors of common and undivided lands. WHEREAS, there is still remaining within several of the towns of this state, lands belonging to the original proprietors thereof, lying common or undivided, for the better government of said proprietors, the management of their prudential affairs, the more just and equal division of said lands, and the allotments thereof, and the preservation of the boundaries of the same: SECTION 1. It shall be lawful for the proprietors of the several towns within this state, being convened by warrant specifying the occasion thereof, under the hand and seal of a justice of the peace of said town, to choose a clerk and a surveyor or surveyors, and such other officers, as they shall judge necessary for the orderly carrying on and management of their affairs, and in like manner to proceed from time to time as shall be necessary. TITLE XX. Of the Domestic Relations. CHAPTER 134. Of marriage. CHAPTER 135. Of husband and wife. CHAPTER 136. Of the property of married women, and of the disposition of the same. CHAPTER 137. Of divorce. CHAPTER 138. Of guardian and ward. CHAPTER 139. Of masters, apprentices, and of factory and other laborers. SECTION 4. Exception in favor of Jews. 5. Marriage of married person, idiot or lunatic, void. 6. Marriage between a white, Indian, 7 and 8. Who may join in marriage. 10. Right to object to marriage. 11. Penalty for joining in marriage without certificate, or after objection. SECTION 12. Penalty for joining in marriage one already married. 13. Penalty for being married contrary to 14. Witnesses to marriage, how many. SECTION 1. No man shall marry his mother, grandmother, daughter, son's daughter, daughter's daughter, stepmother, grandfather's wife, son's wife, son's son's wife, daughter's son's wife, wife's mother, wife's grandmother, wife's daughter, wife's son's daughter, wife's daughter's daughter, sister, brother's daughter, sister's daughter, father's sister, mother's sister. SEC. 2. No woman shall marry her father, grandfather, son, son's son, daughter's son, stepfather, grandmother's husband, daughter's husband, son's daughter's husband, daughter's daughter's husband, husband's father, husband's grandfather, husband's son, husband's son's son, husband's daughter's son, brother, brother's son, sister's son, father's brother, mother's brother. SEC. 3. If any man or woman shall intermarry within the degrees aforesaid, every such marriage shall be null and void; and the issue thereof shall be deemed and adjudged illegitimate, and be subject to all the disabilities of such issue. SEC. 4. The above shall not extend to, or in any way affect any marriage which shall be solemnized among the Jews, within the degrees of affinity or consanguinity allowed by their religion. SEC. 5. All marriages when either of the parties have a former wife or husband living at the time of such marriage, or where either of them shall be an idiot or lunatic at the time of such marriage, shall be absolutely void; and no dower shall be assigned to any widow in consequence of such marriage, and the issue shall be deemed illegitimate, and be subject to all the disabilities of such issue. SEC. 6. All marriages between a white person and a negro, Indian or mulatto, shall be absolutely null and void; and the person joining them in marriage shall be subject to a penalty of two hundred dollars. SEC. 7. Any ordained minister or elder of any religious denomination who shall be domiciled in this state, and either justice of the supreme court may join persons in marriage in any town of the state. SEC. 8. Wardens of the town of New Shoreham may join per. sons in marriage in said town. SEC. 9. No minister, elder or magistrate shall join any persons in marriage unless such persons shall, previous thereto, sign and deliver to such minister, elder or magistrate, a certificate setting forth the names and surnames of the parties, the age, color, occupation, birthplace and residence of each, whether either or both have been before married, and if before married, whether the marriage intended is the first, second, third, or other marriage, and the names, occupations and birthplace of each of their parents. SEC. 10. If any person shall have any lawful objection to the marriage of any two persons, he may state the same in writing, under his hand, to the minister, elder or magistrate about to solemnize the same, whereupon such minister, elder or magistrate shall proceed no farther in such marriage, until such lawful objection be removed. SEC. 11. Every minister, elder or magistrate who shall be convicted of joining persons in marriage, without first receiving the certificate required by the ninth section of this chapter, and containing the information therein required, or when the solemnization of such marriage has been lawfully objected to, and the impediment is not removed, shall be imprisoned not exceeding six months, or fined not exceeding one thousand dollars. SEC. 12. Every person authorized by law to join persons in marriage, who shall be convicted of marrying any man or woman whom he knows to have a husband or wife living, or whom he knows has had a husband or wife, and does not know that such husband or wife is dead in fact or in law, or that the person offering to be married has been lawfully divorced, shall be imprisoned not exceeding six months, or fined not exceeding one thousand dollars. SEC. 13. Whoever shall be married without duly proceeding, as by this chapter is required, shall be fined not exceeding fifty dollars. SEC. 14. The solemnization of marriage shall be in the presence of two witnesses at least, besides the minister, elder or magistrate officiating. SEC. 15. Any marriage which may be had and solemnized amongst the people called Quakers or Friends, in the manner and form used or practised in their societies, or amongst persons professing the Jewish religion according to their rites and ceremonies, shall be good and valid in law. SEC. 16. The parties to any marriage solemnized in the manner prescribed in the next preceding section, or one of them, shall, before the celebration thereof, sign and deliver to the town clerk or register of births, deaths and marriages of the town in which such marriage is celebrated, the certificate required by the ninth section of this chapter, specifying the facts therein mentioned, or shall be imprisoned not exceeding six months, or be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars. 27 SECTION 1. When any married woman shall, or shall have, come from any other state or country into this state without her husband, he never having lived with her in this state, and she shall continue or shall have continued to reside in this state, without her said husband, for the space of one year continuously, she may afterwards, during her separate residence therein, transact business, make contracts, prosecute and defend suits in her own name, and dispose of such of her property which she may acquire by her own industry or otherwise. SEC. 2. Such married woman shall have the exclusive care, custody and guardianship of her minor children, if any be living with her, in like manner, and in all respects as if she were unmarried. SEC. 3. She may make and execute any deeds and other instru ments in her own name, and do all other lawful acts that may be necessary or proper to carry into effect the power granted to her. SEC. 4. She shall be liable to be sued as if she were unmarried, upon all contracts, and for all other acts made or done by her after the expiration of said term of one year. SEC. 5. If the husband of any such woman shall afterwards come into this state and claim his marital rights, his arrival here shall have the same effect with regard to any suit then pending in which she is a party, except to abate the same, and to any contract or business transacted by her under the power granted in the foregoing sections, as if they had been first married at the time of his arrival here, and shall have no other effect. SEC. 6. If during her separate residence such married woman shall have obtained a decree of divorce against her said husband, under the laws of this state, or if her said husband, previous to his coming into this state, shall have caused the marriage contract to be dissolved by an act or decree of divorce obtained against her in any state or country in any suit or proceeding to which she is not a voluntary party nor present thereat, so as to have like opportunity of defence as she would have if such suit were brought against her in this state, she shall not thereafter be liable in this state, if resident therein for the space of six months, to be deprived by her late husband of her separate earnings therein, nor of any |