"I've seen constables appointed and constables elected, but highway
surveyors were generally elected."
The University of Virginia scholars (quote below) seem to think constables
were appointed. Could Mr. Chandler show me an example of an elected
constable? In my Plymouth Colony Records volumes the "Surveyors of the
Heighwayes" are always listed together with other groups of court
appointments. Could Mr. Chandler find some evidence to convince me
otherwise? Surely land surveys and highway surveys were one of a kind.
"The Governor and seven Assistants were elected annually in the March
General Court session. They then appointed a number of lesser officials,
including "Constables" for the keeping of peace in individual towns (e.g.,
PCR 11: 7). Also appointed were "Messengers" who held a variety of duties,
from publishing announcements of intended marriages, executing punishments,
acting as jailers, maintaining standards of measures, and conducting land
surveys (PCR 11: 18-19)."
BC