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. 1671. Frederick Lubertse and Peter Perniedeare. 1675. John Peterson Mackhike, and Jerome De Rapostelley. 1676. Tunis Guis Bergen, and Thomas Lambertson. 1679. John Harrill, and Martyn Reyandsen. 1680. Symon Aeresen, and Michael Harsen. 1683. John Aeresen, and Daniel Rapellie. 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]