Bruce Carpenter wrote: "Could Mr. Chandler show me an example of an elected constable?" But what good would that do? You can argue (and apparently WILL) until the proverbial cows come home, & quote from every primary & secondary source on the planet, and still end up disagreeing. Perhaps we can convince rootsweb that we need 2 levels of surname groups: one "basic" and one "Ph.D" Then you could entertain yourself with etymological & historical ephemera without prohibiting other people from asking about old uncle Henry Carpenter for fear of derision. Have a nice day! P. Hobson From: "Bruce E Carpenter" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 12:28 AM Subject: [CARPENTER] surveys constables > > > "I've seen constables appointed and constables elected, but highway > surveyors were generally elected." > > The University of Virginia scholars (quote below) seem to think constables > were appointed. Could Mr. Chandler show me an example of an elected > constable? In my Plymouth Colony Records volumes the "Surveyors of the > Heighwayes" are always listed together with other groups of court > appointments. Could Mr. Chandler find some evidence to convince me > otherwise? Surely land surveys and highway surveys were one of a kind. > > "The Governor and seven Assistants were elected annually in the March > General Court session. They then appointed a number of lesser officials, > including "Constables" for the keeping of peace in individual towns (e.g., > PCR 11: 7). Also appointed were "Messengers" who held a variety of duties, > from publishing announcements of intended marriages, executing punishments, > acting as jailers, maintaining standards of measures, and conducting land > surveys (PCR 11: 18-19)." > > BC > >