Pennsylvania Act 1818-157 — ALIENS TO PURCHASE AND HOLD REAL ESTATE

Act text

AN ACT

To enable Aliens to purchase and hold real estates within this Commonwealth.

Section 1. Aliens allowed to purchase and hold 5000 acres

From and after the passing of this act, it shall and may be lawful for all and every foreigner and foreigners, alien or aliens, not being the subject or subjects of some Sovereign, State or Power which is or shall be at the time or times of such purchase or purchases at war with the United States of America, to purchase lands, tenements and hereditaments within this Commonwealth, not exceeding five thousand acres, and to have and to hold the same to them, their heirs and assigns forever, as fully to all intents and purposes as any natural born citizen or citizens may or can do. (1818, March 24, P.L. 297, 7 sm 1. 133, Sec. 1.)

Section 2. Purchases of lands by aliens since naturalized confirmed

All purchases of real estate made by emigrants resident within this Commonwealth, previous to declaring their intentions to become Citizens of the United States, and who, since purchasing the same, have been naturalized in conformity with the Laws of the United States on that subject, shall be as valid to all intents and purposes, and shall be construed to vest the title to the said real estate in the purchasers, as fully and absolutely as if they had been citizens at the time they purchased the same. (1818, March 24, P.L. 297, 7 sm. l. 133, Sec. 2.)

Section 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That in all cases where aliens have purchased real estate within this commonwealth and have sold the same, the said sales shall be valid to all intents and purposes, and shall be construed to vest the title to the said real estate, as fully and effectually as if the said aliens had been citizens at the time of purchasing the same; and in all cases where any alien residing in this commonwealth, who shall have purchased or held real estate therein, and shall have died without having been naturalized, the title thereof is hereby confirmed to his heirs, who, in case he had been a citizen, would have inherited the same, and there shall be no escheat by reason of such alienage: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall in any wise affect or impair the vested rights of other individual or individuals.