While the first town meeting elected its main officials, it was up to the selectmen and Town Meeting citizens to appoint or elect a variety of other officers. Did you know that one of the first appointments was for men to “make up accounts with the Treasurer” which might be akin to today’s Finance Committee? And “Men to perambulate the town boundaries” is now a task of the current selectmen.

Also appointed were an Inspector of Highways and Bridges (to both inspect and maintain), Fence Viewers (to handle boundary disputes), a Leather Inspector (all tannery leather had to bear the town’s mark), an Inspector of Rivers (to make sure the herring ran freely) and a Hog Reeve (to be sure no hogs roamed loose, impounded them and imposed fines as needed).

An interesting appointment was that of the Two Tithing Men, or “tidymen” as they were known. These men were required to watch “licensed houses of entertainment” such as taverns and to take care of any complaints of “disorders or misdemeanors.” They were required to report “idle persons, prophane swearers, or cursers, Sabath breakers and the like offenders.”

The Constable was an elected position in town and by law had to be “honest and able” and “not of the meaner sort.” The Town Warrant was addressed to the Constable (and still is today). He was required to notify the citizens of upcoming Town Meetings by nailing the Warrant to the meeting house door.