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.