AN HISTORICAL ANECDOTE ABOUT TOWN MEETINGS
When the British passed the Massachusetts Government Act in 1774 to ban town meetings, it was taken as a direct assault on liberty. In response, many towns barred their doors against British soldiers to continue meeting, often enumerating the grievances later listed in the Declaration of Independence. Nearly 60 Massachusetts towns in 1776 alone debated the notion of Independence. Some issued Declarations on their own…….and in 1776, actually beginning in 1775, our 3 Towns on the Vineyard – Chilmark, Edgartown and Tisbury – were taking up their own declarations…..
FOR MORE INFORMATION on actions that were taken by our 3 towns, we refer you to our MV Museum’s archives.
AN HISTORICAL ANECDOTE ABOUT TOWN ELECTIONS
During the 1630’s the office of Constable was one of the first, and often compulsory, elected or appointed positions created in the original colonial communities. And by the 1640’s, the Town Clerk, along with the Select Board (formerly known as Townsmen and then Selectmen) were being elected at the Town (Municipal) level.
(Information provided by Deborah Medders, LWV-MV member and former Tisbury Town Moderator)