Applicability of colonial law - 1 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1503

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     § 1503.  Applicability of colonial law.
        (a)  English law.--The common law and such of the statutes of
     England as were in force in the Province of Pennsylvania on May
     14, 1776 and which were properly adapted to the circumstances of
     the inhabitants of this Commonwealth shall be deemed to have
     been in force in this Commonwealth from and after February 10,
     1777.
        (b)  Provincial statutes.--The statutes enacted on or before
     May 14, 1776 under the authority of the late Proprietaries of
     the Province of Pennsylvania have the same validity and effect
     as statutes enacted under the authority of this Commonwealth.
        (c)  Exceptions.--The rules specified in subsections (a) and
     (b) of this section shall not be applicable to any statute or
     law which:
            (1)  has been heretofore or is hereafter amended or
        repealed or which has expired by its own limitation;
            (2)  orders the taking or subscribing any oath,
        affirmation or declaration of allegiance or fidelity to the
        British crown;
            (3)  acknowledges any authority in the heirs or devisees
        of William Penn, Esq., deceased, the former Governor of the
        Province of Pennsylvania, or any other person whomsoever as
        Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania; or
            (4)  is repugnant to the Constitution of this
        Commonwealth or of the United States.

Last modified: November 27, 2007