Judicial History

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1840. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIH. Personal notices of the Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas during the continuance of the Province charter. The territory of Massachusetts was early divided into counties, of which at the time of the Revolution, there were eleven in number. Suffolk, Essex and Middlesex were incorporated in 1643, Hampshire in 1662, Plymouth, Bristol and Barnstable in 1685, Dukes and Nantucket in 1695, Worcester in 1731, and Berkshire in 1761. Under the province charter a Court of Common Pleas was established in each of these counties, consisting of four judges. As it is my purpose to present, so far as I have been able to learn them, the names of the several judges who have held places in these courts, the most proper course seems to be to consider each county by itself. SUFFOLK COUNTY. The courts of this county have uniformly been held in Boston. A term of the Common Pleas was held here July 26, 1692, in pursuance of a special act of the General Court, before the organization of the courts under the charter had been made. This term was held by Chief Justice Stoughton, John Richards, Wait Winthrop and Samuel Sewall, who have severally been noticed in their connexion with the Superior Court. The first regular term of the Court of Common Pleas in this county, was holden March 7, 1693, when the com mis sions of its judges were formally published. These and their successors before the Revolution, so far as they have been ascertained, were as follow. Elisha Hutchinson,1 March 3, 1693, to Dec. 10, 1717. John Foster, March 3, 1693, to January 1710. Peter Sergeant, March 3, 1693, to 1702. Isaac Addington, March 3, 1693, to 1702. Penn Townsend, 1702, to August 21, 1727. Jeremiah Dummer, 1702, to 1715. Thomas Palmer, 1711, to 1740. Edward Lyde, December 29, 1715, to 17...