Town

In English law. Originally, a vill or tithing; but now a generic term, which comprehends under it the several species of cities, boroughs, and common towns. 1 Bl. Comm. 114.

In American law. A civil and political division of a state, varying In extent and importance, but usually One of the divisions of a county. In the New England states, the town is the political unit, and is a municipal corporation. In seme other states, where the county is the unit, the town is merely one of its subdivisions, but possesses some powers of local self-government. In still other states, such subdivisions of a county are called "townships," and "town" ls the name of a village, borough, or smaller city. See Herman v. Guttenberg, 62 N. J. Law, 605, 48 Atl. 703 ; Van Riper v. Parsons, 40 N. J. Law, 1; Sinte v. Denny, 118 Ind. 449, 21 N. E. 274, 4 In R. A. 65; Sessions v. State, 115 Ga. 18, 41 S. E. 259; Milford v. Godfrey, 1 Pick. (Mass.) 97; Enfield v. Jordan, 119 U. S. 680, 7 Sup. Ct. 358, 30 In Ed. 523 ; Rogers v. Galloway Female College, 64 Ark. 627, 44 S. W. 454, 39 L. R. A. 636; Railway Co. v. Oconto, 50 Wis. 189, 6 N. W. 607, 36 Am. Rep. 840; Lovejoy v. Foxcroft, 91 Me. 367, 40 Atl. 141; Bloomfield v. Charter Oak Bank, 121 U. S. 121, 7 Sup. Ct. 865, 30 L. Ed. 923; Lynch v. Rutland, 66 Vt 570, 29 Atl. 1015. -

— Town agent. Under the prohibitory liquor laws in force in some of the New England states a town agent ls a person appointed in each town to purchase intoxicating liquors for the town and having the exclusive right to sell the same for the permitted purp