All persons who are now possessed of or hold any messuages, lands, tenements or hereditaments whatsoever in this State by and under any original patents, grants or deeds, indented or poll, either made by the former lords proprietors or by their palatine, or his deputy, and any three or more of the lords proprietors, or their deputies, or by any of their governors, and any three or more of the lords proprietors, or the lords proprietors' deputies, or by any other person or persons whatsoever, commissioned by their palatine, and any three or more of the lords proprietors, or by any five of the lords proprietors, their deputies or commissioners, as of fee simple or fee simple conditional or for life or for a term of years and all other persons whatsoever who are now possessed of or do hold any such estates, by virtue of any mesne conveyances derived from and under all or any such original patents, grants and deeds, indented or poll, shall from henceforth quietly and peaceably have, hold, use, occupy, possess and enjoy all and every such messuages, plantations, lands, tenements and hereditaments whatsoever, to them, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, respectively, according to the several tenures in such original patents, grants, deeds indented or deeds poll, mesne conveyances or last wills, derived from and under them respectively mentioned and expressed, and that against the State forever and against the lords proprietors and their heirs and all persons whatsoever, save and except as hereinafter excepted.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 57-52; 1952 Code Section 57-52; 1942 Code Section 8681; 1932 Code Section 8681; Civ. C. '22 Section 5203; Civ. C. '12 Section 3440; Civ. C. '02 Section 2354; G. S. 1762; R. S. 1873; 1731 (3) 298.