Alderman

Equivalent to senator or senior. Cowell. In English Law. An associate to the chief civil magistrate of a corporate town or city. The word was formerly of very extended signification. Spelman enumerates eleven classes of aldermen. Their duties among the Saxons embraced both magisterial and executive power, but would seem to have been rather an appellation of honor, originally, than a distinguishing mark of office. Spelman, Gloss. Aldermannus civitatus burgi seu castellce (alderman of a city, borough, or castle). 1 Bla. Com. 475, n. Aldermannus comitatus (alderman of the county), who is thought by Spelman to have held an intermediate place between an earl and a sheriff; by others, held the same as the earl. 1 Bla. Com. 116. Aldermannus hundredi seu wapentachii (alderman of a hundred or wapentake). Spelman. Aldermannus regis (alderman of the king) was so called, either because he was appointed by the king, or because he gave the judgment of the king in the premises allotted to him. Aldermannus totius Anglice (alderman of all England). An officer of high rank whose duties cannot be precisely determined. See Spelman, Gloss. The aldermen of the city of London were probably originally the chiefs of guilds. See 1 Spence, Eq. Jur. 54, 56. For an account of the selection and installation of aldermen of the guild merchant of a borough, see 1 Poll. & Maitl. 648. In American Cities. The aldermen are generally a municipal legislative body; though in many cities they hold separate courts, and have magisterial powers to a considerable extent. Consult 1 Sharsw. Bla. Com. 116; Reeve, Hist Eng. Law; Spence, Eq. Jur. ALE-CONNER (also called ale-taster). An officer appointed by the court-leet, sworn to look to the assize and goodness of ale and beer within the precincts of the leet. Kitchin, Courts 46; Whishaw. An officer appointed in every court-leet. and sworn to look to the assize of bread, ale, or beer within the precincts of that lordship. though the duties are changed or given up; l Crabb, Real Prop. 501.

A judicial or administrative magistrate. Originally the word was synonymous with "elder," but was also used to designate an earl, and even a king.

In English law. An associate. to the chief civll magistrate of a corporate town or city. In American cities. The aldermen are generally a legislative body, having limited judicial powers as a body, as in matters of internal polico regulation, laying out and repairing streets, constructing sewers, and the like; though in many cities they hold separate courts, and have magisterial powers to a considerable extent Bouvier.

A member of the common council of a city or incorporated town, elected by and representing the inhabitants of a particular ward, and having the authority of a civil magistrate, and sometimes of a judge, v. Aldermannus.

A judicial or administrative magistrate, Originally the word was synonymous with “elder,” but was also used to designate an earl, and even a king. In English iaw. An associate te the chief civil magistrate of a corporate town or eity, In American cities. The aldermen are generally a legislative body, having limited judicial powers as a body, as in matters of internal police regulation, laying oul and repairing streets, constructing sewers, and the like; though in many cities they hold separate courts, and have magisteriai powers to a considerable extent. Bouvier. ALDERMANNUS CIVITATIS VEL

[Sax. ealdarman, L. Lat. aldermanni Ls.'] A member of the corporation or common council of a city or corporate town, elected by, and representing the inhabitants of a ward, and having authority to act as a civil magistrate, and sometimes as a judge.* See Aldermannus civitatis. The use of the term alderman as an official title may be traced back to the time of the Anglo Saxons. LL. Edw, Conf, c. 35. The word itself is derived from the Saxon ta Herman or ealdorman, compounded of 8ax. ealder, (Gr. 'ff^ea^vtegogf Lat. senior,) and man; literally, an elder man. The word talder was also used as a substantive, like the modem elder, and was sometimes employed as synonymous with ealderman, but It f Fas generally used as descriptive of age, rather than office. Spelman, Ealderman, (aldermannus,) on the other hand, was employed to denote office or rank, and not age. roeabantur aldermanni, non propter cetatem, sed propter sapientiam et dignitatem, cum gtudemadolescentes essent, juris periti tamen, et super hoe experti; they were called aldermen, not on account of their age, but on account of their wisdom and dignity; for they mieht be young men, provided they were skilled in the law, and possessed of the requisite experience. Ll, Edw, Conf. c. 35. Co. Litt. 168 a. See Ealderman, The title however was not used to desi^ate any particular office, but was applied to officers of various grades, from the highest to the lowest. It was used in the first place, in a general sense, to denote any superior officer or magistrate, {pro seniore vel superiori in quavis prafectura,) and in this sense was applied to a prince, archbishop, bishop, duke and earl. Spelman. It was also used in a stricter sense to denote certain particular officers or magistrates of both general and limited jurisdiction, such as the alderman of all England, {aldermannus totius Anglice;) the king's alderman, {aldermannus regis;) the alderman of a county, {aldermannus comi* tatus;) of a city, {civitatis;) of a borough, {burgi;) of a castle, (castelli;) and of a hundred or wapentake, {hundreai sive wapentackii.) Id. See infra.