Quartering Act (1765)

The Quartering Act of 1765 was an act passed by British Parliament, which forced people in the US colonies to house and feed British soldiers during times of peace if there was no room in barracks. The symbolic power of this act was great, as it implied that there would now be a British standing army in the colonies during peace time. The act was largely ineffective and expired in 1767, however, it was amended in 1774 as part of the Intolerable Acts.

Even though it was rather ineffective, the act had such high symbolic value and was so unpopular that it is mentioned in the Declaration of Independence and in the US Constitution.

Full texts: http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/quartering.htm

This list is based on paragraph 2, which explains the core aspect of the act.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. magistrate
    a lay judge or civil authority who administers the law
    That for and during the continuance of this act, and no longer, it shall and may be lawful to and for the constables, tithingmen, magistrates, and other civil officers of villages, towns, townships, cities, districts, and other places, within his Majesty's dominions in America, and in their default or absence, for any one justice of the peace inhabiting in or near any such village, township, city, district or place, and for no others; and such constables ... and other civil officers as aforesaid
  2. civil officer
    a person who exercises authority over civilian affairs
    That for and during the continuance of this act, and no longer, it shall and may be lawful to and for the constables, tithingmen, magistrates, and other civil officers of villages, towns, townships, cities, districts, and other places, within his Majesty's dominions in America, and in their default or absence, for any one justice of the peace inhabiting in or near any such village, township, city, district or place, and for no others; and such constables ... and other civil officers as aforesaid
  3. majesty
    impressiveness in scale or proportion
    That for and during the continuance of this act, and no longer, it shall and may be lawful to and for the constables, tithingmen, magistrates, and other civil officers of villages, towns, townships, cities, districts, and other places, within his Majesty's dominions in America, and in their default or absence, for any one justice of the peace inhabiting in or near any such village, township, city, district or place, and for no others; and such constables ... and other civil officers as aforesaid
    This is "his Majesty" with a capital M, referring to the British King.
  4. dominion
    a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
    That for and during the continuance of this act, and no longer, it shall and may be lawful to and for the constables, tithingmen, magistrates, and other civil officers of villages, towns, townships, cities, districts, and other places, within his Majesty's dominions in America, and in their default or absence, for any one justice of the peace inhabiting in or near any such village, township, city, district or place, and for no others; and such constables ... and other civil officers as aforesaid
  5. default
    loss due to not showing up
    That for and during the continuance of this act, and no longer, it shall and may be lawful to and for the constables, tithingmen, magistrates, and other civil officers of villages, towns, townships, cities, districts, and other places, within his Majesty's dominions in America, and in their default or absence, for any one justice of the peace inhabiting in or near any such village, township, city, district or place, and for no others; and such constables ... and other civil officers as aforesaid
  6. absence
    failure to be present
    That for and during the continuance of this act, and no longer, it shall and may be lawful to and for the constables, tithingmen, magistrates, and other civil officers of villages, towns, townships, cities, districts, and other places, within his Majesty's dominions in America, and in their default or absence, for any one justice of the peace inhabiting in or near any such village, township, city, district or place, and for no others; and such constables ... and other civil officers as aforesaid
  7. justice of the peace
    a local magistrate with limited powers
    That for and during the continuance of this act, and no longer, it shall and may be lawful to and for the constables, tithingmen, magistrates, and other civil officers of villages, towns, townships, cities, districts, and other places, within his Majesty's dominions in America, and in their default or absence, for any one justice of the peace inhabiting in or near any such village, township, city, district or place, and for no others; and such constables ... and other civil officers as aforesaid
  8. inhabit
    live in; be a resident of
    That for and during the continuance of this act, and no longer, it shall and may be lawful to and for the constables, tithingmen, magistrates, and other civil officers of villages, towns, townships, cities, districts, and other places, within his Majesty's dominions in America, and in their default or absence, for any one justice of the peace inhabiting in or near any such village, township, city, district or place, and for no others; and such constables ... and other civil officers as aforesaid
  9. require
    make someone do something
    are hereby required to billet and quarter the officers and soldiers, in his Majesty's service, in the barracks provided by the colonies;
  10. quarter
    provide housing for military personnel
    are hereby required to billet and quarter the officers and soldiers, in his Majesty's service, in the barracks provided by the colonies;
  11. soldier
    an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
    are hereby required to billet and quarter the officers and soldiers, in his Majesty's service, in the barracks provided by the colonies;
  12. service
    employment in or work for another
    are hereby required to billet and quarter the officers and soldiers, in his Majesty's service, in the barracks provided by the colonies;
  13. barrack
    a building or group of buildings to house military personnel
    are hereby required to billet and quarter the officers and soldiers, in his Majesty's service, in the barracks provided by the colonies;
  14. provide
    give something useful or necessary to
    are hereby required to billet and quarter the officers and soldiers, in his Majesty's service, in the barracks provided by the colonies;
  15. colony
    a geographical area controlled by a distant country
    are hereby required to billet and quarter the officers and soldiers, in his Majesty's service, in the barracks provided by the colonies;
  16. sufficient
    of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement
    and if there shall not be sufficient room in the said barracks for the officers and soldiers, then and in such case only,
  17. residue
    matter that remains after something has been removed
    to quarter and billet the residue of such officers and soldiers for whom there shall not be room in such barracks, in inns, livery stables, ale houses, victuallinghouses, and the houses of sellers of wine by retail to be drank in their own houses or places thereunto belonging, and all houses of persons selling of rum, brandy, strong water, cyder or metheglin, by retail, to be drank in houses;
  18. livery stable
    stable where horses and vehicles are kept for hire
    to quarter and billet the residue of such officers and soldiers for whom there shall not be room in such barracks, in inns, livery stables, ale houses, victuallinghouses, and the houses of sellers of wine by retail to be drank in their own houses or places thereunto belonging, and all houses of persons selling of rum, brandy, strong water, cyder or metheglin, by retail, to be drank in houses;
  19. retail
    the selling of goods to consumers
    to quarter and billet the residue of such officers and soldiers for whom there shall not be room in such barracks, in inns, livery stables, ale houses, victuallinghouses, and the houses of sellers of wine by retail to be drank in their own houses or places thereunto belonging, and all houses of persons selling of rum, brandy, strong water, cyder or metheglin, by retail, to be drank in houses;
  20. victual
    any substance that can be used as food
    to quarter and billet the residue of such officers and soldiers for whom there shall not be room in such barracks, in inns, livery stables, ale houses, victuallinghouses, and the houses of sellers of wine by retail to be drank in their own houses or places thereunto belonging, and all houses of persons selling of rum, brandy, strong water, cyder or metheglin, by retail, to be drank in houses;
    The word is "victuallinghouse," a historical term that refers to a place in which food is housed or stored.
  21. account
    the grounds or reason for
    that in such and no other case, and upon no other account, it shall and may be lawful for the governor and council of each respective province in his Majesty's dominions in America,
  22. governor
    the head of a state authority
    that in such and no other case, and upon no other account, it shall and may be lawful for the governor and council of each respective province in his Majesty's dominions in America,
  23. council
    a body serving in an administrative capacity
    that in such and no other case, and upon no other account, it shall and may be lawful for the governor and council of each respective province in his Majesty's dominions in America,
  24. respective
    considered individually
    that in such and no other case, and upon no other account, it shall and may be lawful for the governor and council of each respective province in his Majesty's dominions in America,
  25. province
    the territory in an administrative district of a nation
    that in such and no other case, and upon no other account, it shall and may be lawful for the governor and council of each respective province in his Majesty's dominions in America,
  26. authorize
    grant permission or clearance for
    to authorize and appoint, and they are hereby directed and impowered to authorize and appoint, such proper person or persons as they shall think fit, to take, hire and make fit
  27. appoint
    assign a duty, responsibility, or obligation to
    to authorize and appoint, and they are hereby directed and impowered to authorize and appoint, such proper person or persons as they shall think fit, to take, hire and make fit
  28. proper
    appropriate for a condition or purpose or occasion
    to authorize and appoint, and they are hereby directed and impowered to authorize and appoint, such proper person or persons as they shall think fit, to take, hire and make fit
  29. neglect
    fail to attend to
    or in default of such person or persons so appointed neglecting or refusing to do their duty, in that case it shall and may be lawful for any two or more of his Majesty's justices of the peace in or near the said villages, towns, townships, cities, districts, and other places,
  30. refuse
    show unwillingness towards
    or in default of such person or persons so appointed neglecting or refusing to do their duty, in that case it shall and may be lawful for any two or more of his Majesty's justices of the peace in or near the said villages, towns, townships, cities, districts, and other places,
  31. reception
    the act of taking in
    and they are hereby required to take, hire and make fit for the reception of his Majesty's forces, such and so many uninhabited houses, outhouses, barns, or other buildings, as shall be necessary
  32. constable
    a law officer with limited authority
    That for and during the continuance of this act, and no longer, it shall and may be lawful to and for the constables, tithingmen, magistrates, and other civil officers of villages, towns, townships, cities, districts, and other places, within his Majesty's dominions in America, and in their default or absence, for any one justice of the peace inhabiting in or near any such village, township, city, district or place, and for no others; and such constables ... and other civil officers as aforesaid
    Historically, the constable is an officer with the responsibilities of keeping the peace, serving the courts, and executing court orders.
  33. billet
    provide housing for (military personnel)
    are hereby required to billet and quarter the officers and soldiers, in his Majesty's service, in the barracks provided by the colonies; and if there shall not be sufficient room in the said barracks for the officers and soldiers, then and in such case only, to quarter and billet the residue of such officers and soldiers for whom there shall not be room in such barracks, in inns, livery stables, ale houses, victuallinghouses, and the houses of sellers of wine by retail to be drank in their own h
Created on Wed May 15 09:43:39 EDT 2013 (updated Wed May 15 14:57:16 EDT 2013)

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