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Town clerks
(Municipal clerk, city clerk, village clerk …)
From Wikipedia
A clerk (pronounced "clark" in British and Australian[1] English) is a senior official of many municipal governments in the English-speaking world. In some communities, including most in the United States, the position is elected, but in many others, the clerk is appointed to their post. In the UK, a Town or Parish clerk is appointed by the Town or Parish Council Members. In almost all cases, the actual title of the clerk reflects the type of municipality they work for, thus, instead of simply being known as the clerk, the position is generally referred to as the town clerk, township clerk, city clerk, village clerk, borough clerk, board secretary, or county clerk. Other titles also exist, such as recorder and corporate officer. The office has existed for centuries, though in some places it is now being merged with other positions.
The duties of a municipal clerk vary even more than their titles. In the United Kingdom, a clerk is generally responsible for a Local Council (Town or Parish). Particularly in the United States, it is difficult to fully describe a clerk's duties, because there are hundreds of different jobs a clerk may fulfill. In some U.S. states, there are provisions in the state constitutions delineating the clerk's duties,[2][3] but in other states, each municipality decides for itself what role the clerk plays.
History of the County Clerk’s Office
From https://coanj.com/history/clerks/
A review of the history of recording real estate documents offers a unique perspective on the evolution of the County Clerk. Historically to undertake the transfer of ownership of real estate, the only persons who could read and write were the clergy who were held in great regard by the kings and their courts. The clergy appointed other learned people who could read and write but were not necessarily “religious”, and under “vows of the church”. They were called “clericus”. So important were “clericus” or “clerks” thought to be, that they enjoyed the protection of the church and doctrine of “benefit of clergy” which prohibited the courts from gaining jurisdiction over these persons and gave them a total privilege of exemption from punishments for crimes. This was not abolished in England until 1827 but was so abhorred by the colonists that one of the first acts of the United States Congress on April 30, 1790 was to abolish the benefit of clergy where it existed. (Blackstone, supra., sec. 60)
For 500 years, through the 16th century, the transfer of property occurred by documents written and held by the “clerks.” And because these “clerks” could read and write, they became “clerks to the courts” of the various lords in England maintaining records of the Court proceedings. With the colonialization of the United States, that procedure was adopted within the legal jurisdictions of the various lords and the attendant “clerks.”
References
- < “Municipal Clerks: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz” >
- “History of the City Clerk” < link > The Municipal Clerk is the oldest of public servants in local government, along with the tax collector. …