It was the duty of the overseers, together with the Constable, to hold Town Courts, for the trial of causes under £5. Their other duties are contained in the following summary. On the death of any person, they were to repair with the Constable, to the house of the deceased, and inquire after the manner of his death, and of his will and testament; and if no will was found, the Constable in the presence of the Overseers was, within 48 hours, to search after the estate of the deceased, and to deliver an account of the same in writing, under oath, to the next Justice of the Peace. They, together with the Constable made all assessments. If any Overseer died during his term, the rest of the Overseers by a major vote, made choice of another in his place; and if the person so chosen refused to serve, he forfeited the sum of £10, towards defraying the town charges. They were to settle the bounds of the town, within twelve months after the bounds were granted. They had the power of regulating fences. They were authorised together with the Constable to make choice of two out of the eight overseers of Church affairs.

They and the Constable, were frequently to admonish the inhabitants “to instruct their children and servants in matters of religion, and the lawes of the country.” They, with the Constable, appointed an officer “to record every man’s particular marke, and see each man’s horse and colt branded.” The Constable and two of the Overseers were to pay the value of an Indian coat for each wolf killed; and they were to cause the wolf’s head to be “nayled over the door of the Constable, their to remaine, as also to cut of both the eares in token that the head is bought and paid for.”

The following is the only list that the Compiler could obtain of the Overseers of this town.

In the year 1683, the “Overseers” were changed to “Commissioners.” The “act for defraying the publique and necessary charge of each respective citty, towne, and county throughout this province; and for maintaining the poore and preventing vagabonds.” Passed by the General Assembly of this colony, November 1st, 1683, provides—“That annually and once in every yeare there shall be elected a certaine number out of each respective citty, towne, and county throughout this province; to be elected and chosen by the major part of all the ffreeholders and ffreemen; which certaine number so duely elected shall have full power and authority to make an assessment or certaine rate within their respective cittys, townes and countys annually, and once in every yeare, which assessment and certain rate so established as aforesaid, shall bee paid into a certaine Treasurer, who shall be chosen by a major part of all the ffreemen of each respective citty, towne, and county; which Treasurer soe duly chosen, shall make such payment for the defraying of all the publique and necessary charges of each respective place above-menconed, as shall bee appointed by the commissioners, or their President, that shall be appointed in each respective citty, towne, and county within this province, for he supervising the publique affaires and charge of each respective citty, towne and county aforesaid.” And the said act proceeds further to say, “And whereas it is the custome and practice of his Majesties realme of England, and all the adjacent colonyes in America, that every respective county, citty, towne, parrish, and precinct, doth take care and provide for the poore who doe inhabit in their respective precincts aforesaid; Therefore it is enacted, &c. That for the time to come the respective commissioners of every county, citty, towne, parish, precinct aforesaid, shall make provision for the maintainance and support of their poore respectively.”[17]

The following is a list of the Commissioners of this town from 1684, to 1690, inclusive.

The town made choice of Hansen and De Rapalie; and were ordered by the Court of Sessions to make a new selection by the 12th of April, 1686, and return the same to one of the Justices of the Peace for Kings County.