The Town Clerk of this town was appointed by the Governor, and confirmed by the Court of Sessions, as will appear by the following record: At a Court of Sessions held at Gravesend for the West Riding of Yorkshire upon Long-Island, December 15, 1669. “Whereas Derick Storm presented an order from his Hon. the Governor, for the approbation of the Court of Sessions, to allow him to be towne clerk of Breucklen, taking his oath, the Court having allowed thereof, and doe hereby confirme him of Clerke of the said towne.”

In the year 1669, the first mention is made in the records of the “Constable of Breucklen;” which office at that period was held by Michael Lenell. The duties of constable as laid down in the Duke’s laws were, holding town courts with the overseers, and with them making assessments, &c. whipping, or punishing offenders, raising the hue and cry after murderers, manslayers, thieves, robbers, burglarers; and also to apprehend without warrant such as were overtaken with drink, swearing, Sabbath breaking, vagrant persons, or night walkers; “provided they bee taken in the manner, either by the sighte of the constable, or by present informacon from others; as alsoe to make searche for all such persons either on ye Sabbath daye, or other, when there shall bee occation in all houses licensed to sell beere or wine, or any other suspected or disordered places, and those to apprehend and keepe in safe custody till opportunity serves to bring them before the next Justice of ye Peace for further examinacon.” The Constable was chosen out of the number of Overseers, whose term of service had expired.

The following is a list of the Constables of Brooklyn, from 1669 to 1690:

Brooklyn and Newtown were ordered to make a new choice according to law.

Shortly after the conquest of this Colony by the English from the Dutch, the towns of Brooklyn, Bushwyck, Midwout, or Flatbush, Amersfort, or Flatlands, and New-Utrecht, were formed into a separate district for certain purposes, by the name of the “Five Dutch towns.” A Secretary was specially appointed for these five towns, whose duties appear to have been confined to the taking acknowledgment of transports, and marriage settlements, and proof of wills, &c. This office in 1674, was held by “Nicasius De Sille, in the absence of Sr Ffrancis De Brugh.” This same Mr. De Sille, was in authority under the Dutch government, in the year 1658, as Schout of the city of New-Amsterdam. He was styled, “Heer Nicasius De Sille.” There was no uniformity in the title of those acknowledging officers of the Five Dutch towns. In 1675, Machiel Hainelle exercised that office, and styled himself “Clerk.” In the same year the Court of Sessions for this Riding, after setting forth the appointment of Hainell, and calling him “Secretary,” said, “It is the opinion of the Court that for what publique or private business he shall doe he ought to have reasonable satisfacon.[16]

There were also in this town, officers, who were called “Overseers.” The Duke’s Laws provide for their appointment in the following manner. “Overseers shall be eight in number, men of good fame, and life, chosen by the plurality of voyces of the freeholders in each towne, whereof foure shall remaine in their office two yeares successively, and foure shall be changed for new ones every yeare; which election shall preceed the elections of Constables, in point of time, in regard the Constable for the yeare ensuing, is to bee chosen out of that number which are dismist from their office of Overseers.”

The following is a copy of the oath which was administered to the overseers elect.

“Whereas you are chosen and appointed an Overseer for the Towne of Breucklen you doe sweare by the Ever-living God, that you will faithfully and diligently discharge the trust reposed in you, in relation to the publique and towne affaires, according to the present lawes established, without favour, affection or partiality to any person or cause which shall fall under your cognizance; and at time when you shall bee required by your superiors to attend the private differences of neighbours, you will endeavour to reconcile them: and in all causes conscientiously and according to the best of your judgment deliver your voyce in the towne meetings of Constable and Overseers. So helpe you God.” These officers were commonly sworn by the Court of Sessions; but in the year 1671, the Constable of Newtown objected to the Court’s swearing the overseers of that town, “alledginge that accordinge to the amendments of the law iff special occation required, itt is in the power of the Constable to sweare them, otherwise not, which is left to his Honor the Governor to decide.” The inhabitants of the town for which the overseers were elected were authorised to determine by a major vote whether the said overseers should, on admission to office, take the oath prescribed as above; and in case the said overseers were not sworn, it was a legal objection against their proceedings on the part of any person prosecuted in their court, unless the overseers immediately on objection being made, took the oath, which the Constable was permitted to administer.