An Act for reducing into One Act all such Forgeries as shall henceforth be punished with Death, and for otherwise amending the Laws relative to Forgery.
In 1806, the Commission on Public Records passed a resolution requesting the production of a report on the best mode of reducing the volume of the statute book.[2] From 1810 to 1825, The Statutes of the Realm was published, providing for the first time the authoritative collection of acts.[2] In 1816, both Houses of Parliament, passed resolutions that an eminent lawyer with 20 clerks be commissioned to make a digest of the statutes, which was declared "very expedient to be done." However, this was never done.[3]
In 1812, William Booth was the last person to be hanged for forgery in England. A public outcry at the harshness of his sentence resulted in the death penalty in England and Wales being reserved for capital crimes, making Booth the last person in England hanged for a non-capital crime.[4]
15 June 1830 (House of Lords): congregation of Protestant dissenters commonly called independents, assembling for religious worship in Castle Street Chapel, Exeter.
15 June 1830 (House of Lords): Minister and Society of Protestant Dissenters assembling for religious worship at the Old Meeting House in Saint Nicholas Street, Ipswich.
15 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of different religious congregations meeting for worship in the West Row and other places, Stockton on Tees.
17 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the congregation of Protestants meeting for worship at the Independent Meeting House in the Lion Walk, Colchester.
21 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of a congregation of Protestant dissenters assembling for worship at the Unitarian Chapel, Kingshead Lane, Northampton.
21 June 1830 (House of Lords): ministers and members of the Methodist, Independent and Baptist congregations in Falmouth.
21 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the congregation of Wesleyan Methodists in Settle.
21 June 1830 (House of Lords): Persons whose Names are thereunto subscribed; praying, "That their Lordships will not withhold from them that Protection to their Property which they would derive from a Punishment for Forgery more lenient than that of Death, which the Public and the Petitioners would then think it their Duty to enforce"..
21 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the congregation of Protestant dissenters of the Independent Denomination assembling at North Gate Street Chapel, Bury St. Edmunds.
29 June 1830 (House of Lords): members of the Congregation of Protestant Dissenters of the Baptist Denomination meeting for divine worship in Pembroke Street, Devonport.
9 July 1830 (House of Lords): Ministers and certain of the congregation assembling for divine worship in China Terrace Chapel, Lambeth.
9 July 1830 (House of Lords): Minister and certain of the congregation assembling for divine worship in York Street Chapel, Walworth.
9 July 1830 (House of Lords): Ministers and deputies from the dissenting congregations of the three denominations in the County of Suffolk, assembled at Stowmarket.
Section 21 – Rector etc. not liable to any penalty for correcting, in the mode prescribed, accidental errors in the register
This section read:
Provided always, and be it enacted, That no Rector, Vicar, Curate, or officiating Minister of any Parish, District-Parish, or Chapelry, who shall discover any Error in the Form or Substance of the Entry in the Register of any Baptism, Marriage, or Burial respectively by him solemnized, shall be liable to any of the Penalties herein mentioned if he shall within One Calendar Month after the Discovery of such Error, in the Presence of the Parent or Parents of the Child baptized, or of the Parties married, or in the Presence of Two Persons who shall have attended at any Burial, or in the Case of the Death or Absence of the respective Parties aforesaid, then in the Presence of the Churchwardens or the Chapelwardens, correct the Entry which shall have been found erroneous, according to the Truth of the Case, by Entry in the Margin of the Register wherein such erroneous Entry shall have been made, without any Alteration or Obliteration of the original Entry, and shall sign such Entry in the Margin, and add to such Signature the Day of the Month and Year when such Correction shall be made; and such Correction and Signature shall be attested by the Parties in whose Presence the same are directed to be made as aforesaid: Provided also, that in the Copy of the Register which shall be transmitted to the Registrar of the Diocese, the said Rector, Vicar, Curate or officiating Minister shall certify the Corrections so made by him as aforesaid.
Nothing contained in the Criminal Statutes Repeal Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict. c. 95) in any manner altered or affected any power or authority given by this section to alter or amend any register of births, baptisms, marriages, deaths or burials.[12]
At the start of the parliamentary session in 1853, Lord Cranworth announced his intention to the improvement of the statute law and in March 1853, appointed the Board for the Revision of the Statute Law to repeal expired statutes and continue consolidation, with a wider remit that included civil law.[2] The Board issued three reports, recommending the creation of a permanent body for statute law reform.
The territorial terms of the act led to several acts being for the avoidance of doubt for Scotland and Ireland repealed by later Statute Law Revision Acts, including:
The whole act, except section 21, was repealed as to New Zealand by section 3 of, and the First Part of the Schedule to, the Repeals Act 1878 (42 Vict. c. 28).[19]
The words " marriage " and " or of the parties married " in section 21 of the act were repealed by section 79(1) of, and the fifth schedule to, the Marriage Act 1949 (12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 76).
Section 31 of the act repealed 27 acts, listed in that section, for England and Wales, to take effect on 20 July 1830.[11] Section 31 of the act provided that for offenses and other matters committed or done before 20 July 1830, that were previously punishable by death, the new punishment options were transportation "beyond the Seas" (likely to colonies) for life or a term not less than 7 years, or Imprisonment with or without hard labor for between 2 and 4 years.[11]
An Act passed in the first Year of the Reign of Queen Mary, intituled An Act that the counterfeiting of strange Coins being current within this Realm, the Queen's Highness' Sign Manual, Signet, or Privy Seal, be adjudged Treason.
As relates to forging or counterfeiting the Queen's Sign Manual, Privy Signet, or Privy Seal.
An Act passed in the Twenty-first Year of the Reign of King James the First, intituled An Act against such as shall levy any Fine, suffer any Recovery, acknowledge any Statute, Recognizance, Bail, or Judgment in the Name of any other Person or Persons not being privy and consenting thereto.
An Act passed in the Fourth Year of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary, intituled An Act for taking Special Bails in the Country upon Actions and Suits depending in the Courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer at Westminster.
An Act passed in the Eighth and Ninth Years of the Reign of King William the Third, intituled An Act for making good the Deficiencies of several Funds therein mentioned, and for enlarging the Capital Stock of the Bank of England, and for raising the Public Credit.
As relates to forging or counterfeiting the Common Seal of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, or any sealed Bank Bill, or any Bank Note, or altering or raising any Indorsement on any Bank Bill or Note.
An Act passed in the Eighth Year of the Reign of King George the First, intituled An Act to prevent the Mischiefs by forging Powers to transfer such Stocks or to receive such Annuities or Dividends as are therein mentioned, or by fraudulently personating the true Owners thereof; and to rectify Mistakes of the late Managers for taking Subscriptions for increasing the Capital Stock of the South Sea Company, and in the Instrument founded thereupon.
As relates to any Forgery or other capital Felony therein mentioned.
An Act passed in the Twelfth Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for better securing the Monies and Effects of the Suitors of the Court of Chancery, and to prevent the counterfeiting of East India Bonds and Indorsements thereon, as likewise Indorsements on South Sea Bonds.
As relates to any Person who shall forge or counterfeit, or procure to be forged or counterfeited, or wilfully act or assist in forging or counterfeiting, any Bond or Obligation of the East India Company, or any Indorsement or Assignment thereon, or on any Bond or Obligation of the South Sea Company, or shall utter or publish the same knowing the same to be forged or counterfeited.
An Act passed in the Second Year of the Reign of King George the Second, intituled An Act for the more effectual preventing and further Punishment of Forgery, Perjury, and Subornation of Perjury, and to make it Felony to steal Bonds, Notes, or other Securities for Payment of Money.
Except so far as relates to Perjury and Subornation of Perjury.
An Act passed in the Seventh Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for the more effectual preventing the forging the Acceptance of Bills of Exchange, or the Numbers or Principal Sums of accountable Receipts for Notes, Bills, or other Securities for Payment of Money, or Warrants or Orders for Payment of Money or Delivery of Goods.
An Act passed in the Fifteenth Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for establishing an Agreement with the Governor and Company of the Bank of England for advancing the Sum of One million six hundred thousand Pounds towards the Supply for the Service of the Year One thousand seven hundred and forty-two.
As relates to any Person who shall forge, counterfeit, or alter any Bank Note or other Matter specified in the said Act, or shall knowingly offer, dispose of, or put away such forged, counterfeit, or altered Note or other Matter, or knowingly demand the Money therein contained or pretended to be due thereon, or any Part thereof, as in the said Act is mentioned.
An Act passed in the Thirty-first Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for granting to His Majesty several Rates and Duties upon Offices and Pensions, and upon Houses, and upon Windows or Lights; and for raising the Sum of Five Millions by Annuities and a Lottery, to be charged on the said Rates and Duties.
As relates to any Forgery or other capital Felony therein mentioned.
An Act passed in the Fourth Year of the Reign of King George the Third, intituled An Act for establishing an Agreement with the Governor and Company of the Bank of England for raising certain Sums of Money towards the Supply for the Service of the Year One thousand seven hundred and sixty -four; and for more effectually preventing the forging Powers to transfer such Stock or receive such Dividends or Annuities as are therein mentioned, and the fraudulent personating the Owners thereof.
As relates to any Forgery or other capital Felony therein mentioned.
An Act passed in the Thirteenth Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for the more effectual preventing the forging of the Notes or Bills of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, and for the preventing the obtaining a false Credit by the Imitation of the Notes or Bills of the said Governor and Company.
An Act passed in the Eighteenth Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act to explain an Act passed in the Seventh Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Second, intituled An "Act for the more effectual preventing the forging the Acceptance of Bills of Exchange, or the Numbers or Principal Sums of accountable Receipts for Notes, Bills, or other Securities for Payment of Money, or Warrants or Orders for Payment of Money or Delivery of Goods".
An Act passed in the Twenty-seventh Year of the Reign of King George the Third, intituled An Act for taking and swearing Affidavits to be made use of in the Court of Session of the County Palatine of Chester, and for taking of Special Bail in Actions and Suits depending in the same Court.
An Act passed in the Thirty-third Year of the Reign of King George the Third, intituled An Act for the better preventing Forgeries and Frauds in the Transfers of the several Funds transferrable at the Bank of England.
An Act passed in the Thirty-seventh Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for the better preventing the forging or counterfeiting the Names of Witnesses to Letters of Attorney or other Authorities, or Instruments for the Transfer of Stocks or Funds which now are, or by any Act or Acts of Parliament shall hereafter be made transferrable at the Bank of England, or for the Transfer of any Part of the Capital Stock of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, called Bank Stock, or for the Transfer of any Part of the Capital Stock, or any Stocks or Funds under the Management of the South Sea Company, or for the Transfer of any Part of the Capital Stock of the East India Company, or for the Receipt of Dividends upon any of such Stocks or Funds.
An Act passed in the Forty-first Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for the more effectually preventing the Forgery of Bank Notes, Bank Bills of Exchange, and Bank Post Bills.
An Act passed in the same Year, intituled An Act for the better Prevention of the Forgery of the Notes and Bills of Exchange of Persons carrying on the Business of Bankers.
An Act passed in the Forty-third Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for preventing the forging and counterfeiting of Foreign Bills of Exchange, and of Foreign Promissory Notes and Orders for the Payment of Money; and for preventing the counterfeiting of Foreign Copper Money.
As in anywise relates to any Foreign Bill of Exchange, or Foreign Promissory Note, Undertaking, or Order for the Payment of Money.
An Act passed in the Forty-fifth Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act to alter and extend the Provisions of the Laws now in force for the Punishment of the Forgery of Bank Notes, Bills of Exchange, and other Securities, to every Part of Great Britain.
An Act passed in the Fifty-second Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for the further Prevention of the counterfeiting of Silver Tokens issued by the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, called Dollars, and of Silver Pieces issued and circulated by the said Governor and Company, called Tokens; and for the further Prevention of Frauds practised by the Imitation of the Notes or Bills of the said Governor and Company.
An Act passed in the same Year, intituled An Act for the better regulating and preserving Parish and other Registers of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials in England.
An Act passed in the Fourth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Fourth, intituled An Act for amending the Laws respecting the Solemnization of Marriages in England.
As relates to any Person who shall knowingly and wilfully insert in the Register Book any false Entry of any Matter relating to any Marriage, or shall falsely make, alter, forge, or counterfeit any such Entry in the Register, or any Licence of Marriage, or shall utter or publish as true any false, altered, forgered, or counterfeited Register of Marriage, or a Copy thereof, or any false, altered, forged, or counterfeited Licence of Marriage, knowing such Register or Licence of Marriage respectively to be false, altered, forged , or counterfeited, or shall wilfully destroy any Register Book of Marriages, or any Part thereof, or shall cause or procure or assist in the Commission of any of the said several Offences.
^The citation of the act by this short title was authorised by section 1 of, and the First Schedule to, the Short Titles Act 1896. Due to the repeal of those provisions, it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978.
The Law of Forgery; including the alterations effected by the late Act 1. Will. 4. c. 66. together with the Act, and Explanatory Notes, Forms of Indictments, and the Evidence in support of each Indictment. J & W T Clarke. Portugal Street, Lincoln's Inn, London. 1831. Google Books. Said to be by John Frederick Archbold: catalogues: New York City Bar Association; J & W T Clarke, pp 2, 3, 47 & 105.
"The Forgery Act, 1830". Halsbury's Statutes of England. First Edition. Butterworth & Co (Publishers) Ltd. Bell Yard, Temple Bar, London. 1930. Volume 15. Page 699.
William Newland Welsby and Edward Beavan. Chitty's Collection of Statutes. Second Edition. S Sweet. London. Hodges and Smith. Dublin. 1851. Volume 2. Title "Criminal Law". Subtitle "Forgery and False Personation". Pages 225 to 238.
"Forgery Act 1830". The Statutes Revised, Northern Ireland. Second Edition. 1982. Volume A. Page 487.
Thomas Walter Williams. "Forgeries". An Accurate Abstract of the Public General Statutes passed in 11 George IV. & 1 William IV. Printed for George Wightman. Paternoster Row. London. 1830. Pages 239 to 259.
John Collyer. "Forgery". The Criminal Statutes of England. Printed for S Sweet. London. Printed for W Wrightson, Birmingham. 1832. At pages 142 to 162, 166 to 169, 205, 206, and 221m to 221o.
William Evans, Anthony Hammond and Thomas Colpitts Granger. A Collection of Statutes Connected with the General Administration of the Law. Third Edition. Thomas Blenkarn. Edward Lumley. W H Bond. London.1836. Volume 10. A Supplement to the Collection of Statutes Connected with the General Administration of the Law. Part 5. Pages 816 to 828.
Archibald John Stephens. The Statutes Relating to the Ecclesiastical and Eleemosynary Institutions of England, Wales, Ireland, India, and the Colonies. John W Parker. West Strand, London. Volume 2. Pages 1436 to 1438.
John Jervis and William Newland Welsby. Archbold's Pleading, Evidence and Practice in Criminal Cases. Twelfth Edition. London. 1853. Pages 441 to 446, 457 to 459, 468 to 474, 477 to 479, 490, 762 and passim.
Thomas Chitty. The Justice of the Peace and Parish Officer. S Sweet. A Maxwell. London. 1831. Volume 2. Pages 828 to 840.
Joseph Chitty and John Walter Hume. "Of the Forgery of Bills, Notes, and Checks, and Offences of that Nature". A Practical Treatise on Bills of Exchange, Checks on Bankers, Promissory Notes, Bankers' Cash Notes and Bank Notes. Tenth American Edition from the Ninth London Edition. By O L Barbour. G & C Merriam. Springfield. 1842. Part 3. Chapter 1. Page *764 et seq. Twelfth American Edition from the Ninth London Edition. By J C Perkins. 1854. Part 3. Chapter 1. Page 844 et seq.
Ratcliffe Pring. Statutes in Force in Colony of Queensland, to the Present Time. Brisbane. 1862. Volume 1. Pages 293 to 297.
Alexander Oliver. A Collection of the Statutes of Practical Utility, Colonial and Imperial, in Force in New South Wales. Thomas Richards, Government Printer. Sydney. 1879. Volume 1. Pages 408 to 422.
Henry Cary. A Collection of Statutes affecting New South Wales. Sands and Kenny. Sydney. Sands, Kenny & Co. Melbourne. 1861. Volume 1. Pages 309 to 323.
Travers Adamson. Acts and Ordinances in Force in Victoria. John Ferres, Government Printer. Melbourne. 1855. Volume 1. Pages 428 to 432.
The Law Relating to India, and the East-India Company. Second Edition. Wm H Allen & Co. London. 1841. Pages 349 to 351.
"Criminal Law Report" (1835) 13 The Law Magazine 1 at 9