Defence Act 1842

XV Compensation to be made where equitable Rights are established; but not to exceed the Purchase Money received by such principal Officers.

Provided always, and be it enacted, That in case any Person or Persons shall have any just and legal or equitable Right to any of the Messuages, Buildings, Castles, Forts, Lines, or other Fortifications, Manors, Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, which shall be so sold, exchanged, and conveyed as aforesaid, or to any Part or Parts thereof, or to any Charge, Incumbrance, or Demand affecting the same, and not being under any of the Disabilities herein-after mentioned, and shall, within Five Years next after such Right shall by Law or Equity accrue to or become vested in him, her, or them respectively, or, being Femes Covert (except Femes Covert whose Estates have been or may be sold under the Authority of this or any other Act for that Purpose), Persons within the Age of Twenty-one Years, or out of the Realm, or not of whole Mind, at the Time of such Sale, Exchange, and Conveyance as aforesaid, shall, within Five Years next after they shall respectively come and be discovert, at their full Age of Twenty-one Years, out of Prison, within this Land, or of whole Mind, make out and establish such Right or Claim to the Satisfaction of the said principal Officers, then and in such Case the said principal Officers shall make or cause to be made a fair and reasonable Compensation or Satisfaction for every such Right and Claim so made out and established as aforesaid ; but such Compensation or Satisfaction shall not in any Case exceed the Amount of the Purchase Money or Purchase Monies which shall have been paid to and received by the said principal Officers for the Messuages, Buildings, Castles, Forts, Lines, or other Fortifications, Manors, Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, in respect whereof such Right or Claim shall be so made out as aforesaid, or a proportional Part thereof, exclusive of the Value of any Buildings or Improvements which shall have been erected or made thereon for the Use of the said Ordnance or Barrack Departments, or for the Defence of the Realm.