April 11, 1826 Doings of the first annual town meeting held in the house of Josiah Upson in the town of Port Bay on the 11th day of April 1826 agreeable to an Act of the Legislature of New York State. There being no Justice and no Town Clerk it was voted by a majority of the meeting that Norman Sheldon preside. First by ballot was elected Norman Sheldon as supervisor. Second by ballot was elected Elisha Benjamin as Town Clerk. Wareham Sheldon, Spencer Chapin, Jebediah Wilder as Assessors. Ira Smith as Collector. Josiah Upson and Simeon Bessell as Overseers of the Poor. Alanson Jones, Simeon Bissell, John Frasier as Commissioners of the Highways. Ira Smith, Arad Talcott, Benjamin Parker as Constables. Spencer Chapin and Wareham Sheldon Commissioners of Common Schools. Elisha Benjamin, Ebenezer Jones as Inspector of Common Schools. It was voted that every path master be fence viewer and that Steven Cady be Pound Master. It was voted that double the some of money drawn from the state be raised for the support of Common Schools. It was voted that money be raised to procure necessary blank books for the town and to survey the town lines. It was voted to adjourn the meeting until the first Tuesday of April next (1827) then to be opened at the schoolhouse near Hyde's Corner. Elisha Benjamin. Town clerk. Copied from a typed transcript of the original minute book prepared by a previous (unknown) town historian. While typing this I wondered about a few positions. Path Master - one whose job it is to maintain the public roads and paths. Fence Viewer - a town official who administers fence laws, inspects new fences, and settles disputes arising from trespass by livestock that have escaped the enclosure. Pound Master - a town official responsible for the care and feeding of wayward livestock, and to locate the animal's owner. This official's duties did not include control of cats and dogs.
