Judicial records, 1686-1780.

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Judicial records, 1686-1780.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84584635

During the period of the colonial charter (1629-1686), a Council assisted the governor of Massachusetts in an executive capacity, its members consisting of current and former assistants, who also functioned judicially as the Court of Assistants and as the upper house of the General Court. After an interval during which the Council was appointed by the English Crown (1686-1689), under a revival of colonial government (1689-1692) and during the provincial and later Revolutionary periods (1692-1774, 1775-1780), the Council served in a dual capacity as legislative upper house and executive body. In the latter role (from 1692 onward, but as well during 1686-1689), the Council had certain judicial functions, though fewer than its predecessor, the Court of Assistants. Series includes public documents identified with the Council from 1686 onward (and a few related earlier items) in such a judicial role, including testimonies, depositions, writs, warrants, bonds, and divorce petitions.

For current extent consult index database (see below)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Archives

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SNAC Resource ID: 8322994

Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Archives

Related Entities

There are 2 Entities related to this resource.

Massachusetts. Council

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6323n47 (corporateBody)

Samuel Adams was an American patriot and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. From the description of Order for powder magazine guard, 1779 July 21. (Buffalo History Museum). WorldCat record id: 56357672 During the colonial period (1629-1686) certain members of the Court of Assistants (which functioned not only judicially but also legislatively as part of the General Court, constituting from 1644 its upper house, though without the formal title--see: Mas...

Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6z934cb (corporateBody)

St 1832, c 166 authorized county commissioners in Massachusetts to grant liquor licenses to innholders and retailers. St 1852, c 322 (revised by St 1855, c 215) established state-wide prohibition, forbidding the sale of all liquor except for medicinal, chemical, or mechanical purposes. This was changed by St 1868, c 141, passed in April of that year, which authorized county commissioners (in Suffolk County specially-elected license commissioners) to issue licenses for the sale of liquor in their...