Forgery Act 1830

The Forgery Act 1830 (11 Geo. 4 & 1 Will. 4. c. 66) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It consolidated into one Act all legislation imposing the death penalty for forgery (except for counterfeiting coins). (It did not apply to Scotland or Ireland. ) Two years later the death penalty was abolished for most of these offences, and for the remaining offences in 1837.

This act was adopted in New South Wales by section 1 of the act 4 Will 4 No 4.

The whole act, except for section 21, was repealed on 1 November 1861 by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the 24 & 25 Vict c 95.

The whole act, except section 21, was repealed as to New Zealand by section 3 of, and the First Part of the Schedule to, the Repeals Act 1878 (42 Vict No 28).

The Forgery Act 1830 was repealed for the Republic of Ireland by sections 2 and 3 and Part 4 of Schedule 2 to the Statute Law Revision Act 2007.

As to trial of offences under this act at quarter sessions, see section 17 of the Central Criminal Court Act 1834 (4 & 5 Will 4 c 36).

Background
In 1812, William Booth was the last person to be hanged for forgery in England. A public outcry at the harshness of his sentence resulted in the death penalty in England and Wales being reserved for capital crimes, making Booth the last person in England hanged for a non-capital crime.

Section 2 – Forging the Great Seal, Privy Seal, Privy Signet, Royal Sign Manual etc, treason and capital
This section replaced the corresponding provisions in the Treason Act 1351 and the Treason Act 1553 (1 Mar. Sess. 2. c. 6). (This form of treason was reduced to felony when section 2 was replaced by the Forgery Act 1861.)

Section 21 – Rector etc not liable to any penalty for correcting, in the mode prescribed, accidental errors in the register
This section read:

Nothing contained in the act 24 & 25 Vict. c. 95 in any manner altered or affected any power or authority given by this section to alter or amend any register of births, baptisms, marriages, deaths or burials.

The words "and be it enacted" were repealed by section 1 of, and the Schedule to, the Statute Law Revision (No. 2) Act 1888 (51 & 52 Vict. c. 57).

This section was repealed by section 26(2) of, and Schedule 4 to, the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978 (No. 2). It is replaced by section 4 of that Measure.