"The references to deputies I saw in the Plymouth > Records indicated > that they were strictly tools of the court" I had confused "deputies" with members of "Grand Enquest" or "grand Jury" and "committee". The Grand Court was surely both a law court and a political legislature. The deputies' function was the election of the governor and his assistants and overall administrative law. The other three above were judicial. Members of the three were appointed by the court. The offices of constable and Highway Survey seem also to have been appointments. Thus William Carpenter's activities at the General Court were largely legal and the result of someone's appointment. Mr. Brown perhaps? BC

Bruce wrote: > I had confused "deputies" with members of "Grand Enquest" or "grand Jury" > and "committee". The Grand Court was surely both a law court and a political > legislature. If, by Grand Court, you mean the General Court, then, yes. That's exactly what I said in my last message. > The deputies' function was the election of the governor and his assistants > and overall administrative law. Not exactly. The Deputies were also the pool of manpower available for forming the jury and the committee. > The offices of constable > and Highway Survey seem also to have been appointments. I've seen constables appointed and constables elected, but highway surveyors were generally elected. > Thus William Carpenter's activities at the General Court were largely legal > and the result of someone's appointment. No. As Gene pointed out, William Carpenter was a Deputy. He was therefore elected. John Chandler