Definition of various town positions

DESCRIPTION OF OFFICIAL POSITIONS HELD BY THE INHABITANTS OF WINNISIMMET,
RUMNEY MARSH AND PULLEN POINT when still a part of Boston and after
separation to become the TOWN of CHELSEA

CONSTABLE

Constables were elected by town officials to serve the writs and processes described in section ninety-two of the General Court and warrants and processes in criminal cases, where their town, parish, religious society or district is a party or interested. They shall have the powers of sheriffs to require aid in the execution of their duties. They shall take due notice of and prosecute all violations of law respecting the observance of the Lord’s day, profane swearing and gaming. They shall serve all warrants and other processes directed to them by the selectmen of their town for notifying town meetings or for other purposes. They may serve by copy, attested by them, demands, notices and citations, and their returns of service thereof shall be prima facie evidence; but this provision shall not exclude the service thereof by other persons.

COLLECTOR OF TAXES

As the name implies, was the person responsible for the collecton of taxes due the town. In Chelsea, the constable was usually the collector of taxes. The collectors received 3d on a pound for the taxes collected.

FENCE VIEWER

Each year, New England towns appointed a variety of minor officials. One of these offices was that of fence viewer, who was responsible for inspecting each resident's allotted portion of the common fence and any particular [individual] plots to see that regulations were followed.

The fence viewer is not a surveyor and is not concerned with the location of a line. He, or the board of two or three, looks at the line between neighbors to decide who takes care of his half. An attempt is made to divide the responsibility equally, as fencing over rock ledge is more difficult than fencing meadowland. The rule was that a line fence must be "hog tight and horse high." Good fences did make good neighbors, but good neighbors made good fences, and back when everybody had livestock it was equally important either way.

HOG REEVES

New England towns appointed hog reeves (officers charted with the prevention or appraising of damages by stray swine). Hogs were usually supposed to be yoked (wear collars) and have rings in their noses, which reduced the amount of damage they could do to gardens and crops by rooting. This was not a minor concern, because this food was necessary for human survival. There were punishments established for failure to control animals. The fine in Chelsea was "10 shillings for each swine for every time it is found without a keeper." But, the damaged party had to have an adequate fence, as in 1643 Virginia where "if he be deficient therein, what damage he shall systeyne by hoggs, goats or cattle whatsoever shall be to his own losse and detriment." Wandering livestock were called "estrays," they were "taken up," and they often were taken to the "pound." Notice of such actions are found in town records and county court minutes.

If the owner of a hog had not 'rung' and 'yoked' their hogs, and they got loose and became a nuisance in the community, one or more of the men assigned as Hog Reeve would be responsible for capturing the animal and performing the necessary chore for the owner; who could legally be charged a small fee for the service.

Reeve" derives from the same root as the "riff" in sheriff, and a hog reeve rounded up stray hogs. He turned them over to the pound keeper, who fed them until claimed by the owner, who paid set fees.

TITHINGMEN

An act of the General Court passed on November 3, 1675, "the selectmen of every town shall choose some sober and discrete persons to be authorized from the County Court, each of whom shall take charge of ten or twelve families of his neighborhood, and shall diligently inspect them, and present the names of such persons as transgressed the law, receiving as compensation for their services one third of the fines allowed, if faithful in the discharge of their duty, otherwise to be liable to the same fine as the unlicensed houses. The selectmen ordered that these men be notified to inspect their precinct as the law directed "for the preuentinge of disorders in private and unlicensed house of entertainment"

On May 24 and October 10, 1677, and on October 15, 1679 the duties of the Tithingmen were increased and in 1679 they were to be chosen annually. On February 4, 1679 a fine of 40 shillings was decreed for those that refused to serve. It was their duty to seize liquors sold without license, and also "to present the names of all single persons that live under family government, stubborn and disorderly children & servants, night walkers, typlers, saboath breakers, by night or by day, & such as absent themselves from the public worship of God on the Lords dayes, or whatever the course or practise of any person or persons whatsoeuer tending to debauchery, irreligion, prophaness, & atheisme among us, wherein by omission of family government, nurture, & religious duties, & instruction of children & servants, or idleness, profligat, uncivill, or rude practises of any sort."

HAYWARD

An officer formally charged with the repair of cattle fences and the retention of cattle in the town common. Also, an officer of a township in charge of fences and enclosures

The hayward was elected by the villagers to lead the sowing and harvesting, to impound stray cattle, and to supervise hedging and temporary fencing around hay meadows. The ancient hayward's symbol of office was a horn, which he blew to give warning that cattle were invading the crops.

The nursery rhyme character Little Boy Blue was a hayward.

ASSESOR

An officer formally charged with assesing the value of property within the munincipality or town.

SURYEYOR OF HIGHWAYS

"By 1638 the General Court, the Colony's legislative body, ordered that roads be laid out, and in 1640, that roads between the early towns be maintained. Soon thereafter, the construction, care and maintenance of highways was formally placed on the towns by the General Court, primarily to ensure the care of the routes in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1643, the Court ordered each Municipality to appoint two officials, known as surveyors, who were given the power to "call out every Teeme and person fitt for labour, in their course, one day every yeare, to mend said highwayes wherein they are to have a spetiall to those Common wayes which are betwixt Towne and Towne." This compulsory labor statute was enlarged in the 1650 Code of Laws, which authorized financial penalties on those men who failed to meet their annual road work obligation of two days work a year: "if any refuse or neglect to attend the service in any manner aforesaid He shall forefeit for every dayes neglect of a mans worke two shillings sixpence, and of a Teame, sixe shillings . . ." This act formalized a custom that dated at least from medieval England. It would continue to remain in effect until the nineteenth century, providing the main source of workers for road and bridge construction.

Bridges were also under the jurisdiction of the General Court. In 1651, the Court resolved that a bridge should be built over the Connecticut River at Hartford (although such a bridge was not to be built until 1810). Throughout the seventeenth century, the Court ordered that bridges be built in a variety of locations.

POUNDER

Responsible for maintaining the district or town animal pound.

SEALER OF LEATHER

The leather sealer was the town officer who had authority to see that all sales of leather were made honestly as to quality and quantity. The sealer of leather was authorized to put his "seal" or stamp of approval on items he inspected, tested and certified.

SEALER OF HEMP + FLAX

Similar to the sealer of leather, the sealer of hemp and flax was the town officer who had authority to see that all sales of hemp and flax were made honestly as to quality and quantity. The sealer of hemp and flaxr was authorized to put his "seal" or stamp of approval on items he inspected, tested and certified.


CONSTABLE	Constables were elected by town officials to serve the writs and processes described in section ninety-two of the General Court and warrants and processes in criminal cases, where their town, parish, religious society or district is a party or interested. They shall have the powers of sheriffs to require aid in the execution of their duties. They shall take due notice of and prosecute all violations of law respecting the observance of the Lord’s day, profane swearing and gaming. They shall serve all warrants and other processes directed to them by the selectmen of their town for notifying town meetings or for other purposes. They may serve by copy, attested by them, demands, notices and citations, and their returns of service thereof shall be prima facie evidence; but this provision shall not exclude the service thereof by other persons.
COLLECTOR OF TAXES	As the name implies, was the person responsible for the collecton of taxes due the town. In Chelsea, the constable was usually the collector of taxes. The collectors received 3d on a pound for the taxes collected.
FENCE VIEWER	Each year, New England towns appointed a variety of minor officials. One of these offices was that of fence viewer, who was responsible for inspecting each resident's allotted portion of the common fence and any particular [individual] plots to see that regulations were followed. The fence viewer is not a surveyor and is not concerned with the location of a line. He, or the board of two or three, looks at the line between neighbors to decide who takes care of his half. An attempt is made to divide the responsibility equally, as fencing over rock ledge is more difficult than fencing meadowland. The rule was that a line fence must be "hog tight and horse high." Good fences did make good neighbors, but good neighbors made good fences, and back when everybody had livestock it was equally important either way.
HOG REEVES	New England towns appointed hog reeves (officers charted with the prevention or appraising of damages by stray swine). Hogs were usually supposed to be yoked (wear collars) and have rings in their noses, which reduced the amount of damage they could do to gardens and crops by rooting. This was not a minor concern, because this food was necessary for human survival. There were punishments established for failure to control animals. The fine in Chelsea was "10 shillings for each swine for every time it is found without a keeper." But, the damaged party had to have an adequate fence, as in 1643 Virginia where "if he be deficient therein, what damage he shall systeyne by hoggs, goats or cattle whatsoever shall be to his own losse and detriment." Wandering livestock were called "estrays," they were "taken up," and they often were taken to the "pound." Notice of such actions are found in town records and county court minutes. If the owner of a hog had not 'rung' and 'yoked' their hogs, and they got loose and became a nuisance in the community, one or more of the men assigned as Hog Reeve would be responsible for capturing the animal and performing the necessary chore for the owner; who could legally be charged a small fee for the service. Reeve" derives from the same root as the "riff" in sheriff, and a hog reeve rounded up stray hogs. He turned them over to the pound keeper, who fed them until claimed by the owner, who paid set fees.
TITHINGMEN	An act of the General Court passed on November 3, 1675, "the selectmen of every town shall choose some sober and discrete persons to be authorized from the County Court, each of whom shall take charge of ten or twelve families of his neighborhood, and shall diligently inspect them, and present the names of such persons as transgressed the law, receiving as compensation for their services one third of the fines allowed, if faithful in the discharge of their duty, otherwise to be liable to the same fine as the unlicensed houses. The selectmen ordered that these men be notified to inspect their precinct as the law directed "for the preuentinge of disorders in private and unlicensed house of entertainment" On May 24 and October 10, 1677, and on October 15, 1679 the duties of the Tithingmen were increased and in 1679 they were to be chosen annually. On February 4, 1679 a fine of 40 shillings was decreed for those that refused to serve. It was their duty to seize liquors sold without license, and also "to present the names of all single persons that live under family government, stubborn and disorderly children & servants, night walkers, typlers, saboath breakers, by night or by day, & such as absent themselves from the public worship of God on the Lords dayes, or whatever the course or practise of any person or persons whatsoeuer tending to debauchery, irreligion, prophaness, & atheisme among us, wherein by omission of family government, nurture, & religious duties, & instruction of children & servants, or idleness, profligat, uncivill, or rude practises of any sort."
HAYWARD	An officer formally charged with the repair of cattle fences and the retention of cattle in the town common. Also, an officer of a township in charge of fences and enclosures The hayward was elected by the villagers to lead the sowing and harvesting, to impound stray cattle, and to supervise hedging and temporary fencing around hay meadows. The ancient hayward's symbol of office was a horn, which he blew to give warning that cattle were invading the crops. The nursery rhyme character Little Boy Blue was a hayward.
ASSESOR	An officer formally charged with assesing the value of property within the munincipality or town.
SURYEYOR OF HIGHWAYS	"By 1638 the General Court, the Colony's legislative body, ordered that roads be laid out, and in 1640, that roads between the early towns be maintained. Soon thereafter, the construction, care and maintenance of highways was formally placed on the towns by the General Court, primarily to ensure the care of the routes in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1643, the Court ordered each Municipality to appoint two officials, known as surveyors, who were given the power to "call out every Teeme and person fitt for labour, in their course, one day every yeare, to mend said highwayes wherein they are to have a spetiall to those Common wayes which are betwixt Towne and Towne." This compulsory labor statute was enlarged in the 1650 Code of Laws, which authorized financial penalties on those men who failed to meet their annual road work obligation of two days work a year: "if any refuse or neglect to attend the service in any manner aforesaid He shall forefeit for every dayes neglect of a mans worke two shillings sixpence, and of a Teame, sixe shillings . . ." This act formalized a custom that dated at least from medieval England. It would continue to remain in effect until the nineteenth century, providing the main source of workers for road and bridge construction. Bridges were also under the jurisdiction of the General Court. In 1651, the Court resolved that a bridge should be built over the Connecticut River at Hartford (although such a bridge was not to be built until 1810). Throughout the seventeenth century, the Court ordered that bridges be built in a variety of locations.
POUNDER	Responsible for maintaining the district or town animal pound.
SEALER OF LEATHER	The leather sealer was the town officer who had authority to see that all sales of leather were made honestly as to quality and quantity. The sealer of leather was authorized to put his "seal" or stamp of approval on items he inspected, tested and certified.
SEALER OF HEMP + FLAX	Similar to the sealer of leather, the sealer of hemp and flax was the town officer who had authority to see that all sales of hemp and flax were made honestly as to quality and quantity. The sealer of hemp and flaxr was authorized to put his "seal" or stamp of approval on items he inspected, tested and certified.