The Quakers Act 1695 was an act of the Parliament of England which allowed Quakers to substitute an affirmation where the law previously required an oath. The act did not apply to the oaths required when giving evidence in a criminal case or to serve on a jury or to hold any office of profit from the Crown. It allowed legal proceedings to be taken against Quakers before a justice of the peace for refusing to pay tithes if the amount claimed did not exceed £10.
The act would have expired in seven years but, in 1702, Parliament extended it for another eleven years by the 13 & 14 Will. 3. c. 4. In 1715, it was made permanent and applied also to Scotland.
The act was made perpetual and extended to Scotland by the (1 Geo. 1. St. 2. c. 6).
Subsequent developments The whole act, except sections 3 and 4, was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1867 (30 & 31 Vict. c. 59), which came into force on 15 July 1867.
The whole act, so far as unrepealed, was repealed by section 1 of, and part II of the schedule to, the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969, which came into force on 1 January 1970.
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References
External links Chapter XXXIV. Rot. Parl. 7 & 8 Gul. III. p.9. n.3. History of Parliament Trust