By the act of May 8, 1699, the representatives were elected by the freeholders of £40 in value, who were residents of the electoral district at least three months prior to the issue of the act. The elections were held by the sheriff at one place in each county, and voting was rira voce. The act of November 25, 1751, directed the sheriff to hold his court of election near the Presbyterian meeting-house at White Plains. Previously it had been held in the southern part of the county, doubtless at Westchester. Catholics could neither vote nor hold office, and at one time the Quakers and Moravians were also virtually disqualified by their unwillingness to take the oath." 1 1 Scharf, i., 647.

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Their Majefties Province

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EARLIEST

VOLUME

YORK

STATUTES.

GENERAL

HISTORICAL

REVIEW

Excepting- the representatives in the general assembly, only the strictly local officers -- supervisors, collectors, assessors, and constables-- were elective. The most important of these, the supervisors, date from an early period. By the " Duke's Laws," promulgated in 1665, the Courts of Sessions levied the taxes upon the towns. By an act of the general assembly, passed October 18, 1701 (13th William III.), the justices of the peace, in special or general session, were directed to levy once a year the necessary county and town charges and allowances for their representative in the general assembly, to make provision for the poor, and to issue warrants for the election of two assessors and one collector, and for the collection of taxes. These duties were transferred to a board of supervisors by an act of general assembly passed June 19, 1703 (2d Anne), entitled " An Act for the better explaining and more effectually putting into execution an act of general assembly made in the third year of the reign of their late majesties, King William and Queen Mary, entitled An Act for defraying the publick and necessary charges thro'out this province, and for maintaining the poor and preventing vagabonds." The freeholders and inhabitants of each town were authorized to choose once each year, on the first Tuesday of April (unless otherwise directed), one supervisor, two assessors, and one collector.