They were not, as Church wardens and Vestrymen now are, officers of a purely ecclesiastical organization, but the civil officers of the parishes or territorial organizations of the church of England, as established by law in the County of Westchester. They were elected by all the freeholders resident in their respective parishes, whatever their religious views might be. And before entering upon the duties of their offices, pursuant to a law of the Province passed the 27th day of July 1721, took the following oath annually, which of itself demonstrates their powers in one of the important respects just mentioned : --

" You do -Swear on the Holy Evangelist, That you and every of you shall well and truly execute the Duty of an Assessor, and Equally and Impartially assess the several Freeholders and inhabitants, according to the value of their respective Estates, in an equal proportion, in every of your respective City, Counties, and Precincts, for lehich you are chose Vestry-men and according to your best Skill and Knowledge therein. You, shall spare no persons for Favour or Affection, or

THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE MANORS.

grieve any person for Hatred or III Will. So Help you God!" 1

Their powers and duties of every nature were perfectly well understood and acknowledged, and their authority obeyed, without hesitation, by the people of Westchester County throughout the Colonial era. Occasionally some bitter opponent of the church of England would try to prevent the performance of their legal duties or the legal exercise of their powers, by word, and deed, sometimes with great heat and violence, just, as the dissenting clergy did in matters of the exercise of clerical functions. But their legal rights and duties as parish officers under the laws of the Province were never contested or denied in the Courts of the Province.