years the people seem to have managed their affairs under the
administration of the Court of Assistants by means of meetings. At such
a meeting, held October 8, 1633, it was ordered "for the generall good
and well ordering of the affaires of the plantation," that there should
be a general meeting of the inhabitants at the meeting-house every
Monday morning before the court, which was four times a year, or became
so the next year, "to settle & sett downe such orders as may tend to the
general good as aforesayd, & every man to be bound thereby without
gainsaying or resistance." This very interesting order is given entire
in the Memorial History of Boston.[A] There were also appointed _twelve
selectmen_, "who were to hold monthly meetings, & whose orders were
binding when confirmed by the Plantation."

[Footnote A: Vol. i, p. 427.]

Here was our New England town almost exactly as it is to-day. The
inhabitants met at stated times and voted what seemed necessary for
their own local order and welfare, and committed the execution of their
will to twelve selectmen, who were to meet monthly. Our towns now have
an annual meeting for the same purpose, and elect generally three
selectmen, who meet at stated times,--sometimes as often as once a week.
Watertown followed, about the same time, selecting three men "for the
ordering of public affairs." Boston appears to have done the same thing
in 1634, and Charlestown in the following year, the latter being the
first to give the name _Selectmen_ to the persons so chosen, a name
which soon was generally adopted and has since remained.

The reason of this action it is easy to conjecture, but it is fully
stated in the order of the inhabitants of Charlestown at the meeting in
which the action for the government of the town by selectmen was taken: