In 1649 the Town of Plymouth made choice of “seven discreet men whose duty it was to act in behalf of the town in disposing of lands; to make inquiry into the state and condition of the poor, to provide for their comfortable support and to find them employment; to direct to the proper means of relief for the aged and decrepid; and to attend to the affairs of the town generally.” The foregoing together with a law passed in 1665 extended the functions of the board, “a group which may well have been the forerunner of our present Board of Selectmen.” Conclusion It would be interesting to follow in detail the development of the Plymouth Colony and its gradual transition from the primitive settlement to the flourishing shire town of the county. But this is a Pilgrim story and the writer bows to the limitations of time and space. The Pilgrims sought refuge far from their homeland. They established a separate church, but they were still subjects of the crown. They were to know little or nothing of the future developments which were to lead eventually to complete independence from the mother country. Nevertheless they left an unparalleled example of devotion to a cause. In pursuit of religious freedom, in reverence, in the exigencies of primitive government, they sowed the seed of an ideal Americanism, that God willing, will forever endure. Complete Genealogical List of “Mayflower” Passengers Prepared and reprinted through the courtesy of George Ernest Bowman, editor of “The Mayflower Descendant” The 50 passengers from whom descent can be proved: John Alden Isaac Allerton wife Mary daughter Mary daughter Remember John Billington wife Eleanor son Francis William Bradford William Brewster wife Mary son Love Peter Brown James Chilton wife —— daughter Mary Francis Cooke son John Edward Doty Francis Eaton wife Sarah son Samuel Edward Fuller wife —— son Samuel Dr. Samuel Fuller Stephen Hopkins 2nd wife, Elizabeth son Gyles (by 1st wife) daughter Constance (by 1st wife) John Howland Richard More William Mullins wife Alice daughter Priscilla Degory Priest Thomas Rogers son Joseph Henry Sampson George Soule Myles Standish John Tilley, and wife —— daughter Elizabeth Richard Warren William White wife Susanna son Resolved son Peregrine Edward Winslow The 54 passengers from whom we cannot prove descent: