fair-play men

1 definition found

fair-play men - Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) :

  FAIR-PLAY MEN. About the year 1769, there was a tract of country in 
  Pennsylvania, situate between Lycoming creek and Pine creek, in which the 
  proprietaries prohibited the making of surveys, as it was doubtful whether 
  it had or had not been ceded by the Indians. Although settlements were 
  forbidden, yet adventurers settled themselves there; being without the pale 
  of ordinary authorities, the inhabitants annually elected a tribunal, in 
  rotation, of three of their number, whom they denominated fair-play men, who 
  had authority to decide all disputes as to boundaries. Their decisions were 
  final, and enforced by the whole community en masse. Their decisions are 
  said to have been just and equitable. 2 Smith's Laws of Pennsylvania 195; 
  Serg. Land Laws, 77."